Colts fire defensive coach Larry Coyer, change QBs

[November 30, 2011]  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The winless Colts will have a new quarterback and a new defensive coordinator when they head to New England this weekend.

And they may not be finished making changes.

On Tuesday, Indianapolis fired defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and announced that quarterback Dan Orlovsky will make his first start since 2008 as the team suffers through its first 0-11 season since 1986.

Coach Jim Caldwell, whose own job could be in jeopardy, said the decision on Coyer was made to "improve communication and production."

"We feel this is the most effective and realistic way to move forward and win games this season," Caldwell said in a statement before a scheduled news conference. "We appreciate all of the effort and hard work Larry Coyer put forth in his three years with the Colts."

Coyer was a defensive assistant for two years in Tampa Bay and in Denver from 2000-06, and he coached Caldwell in college at Iowa. Colts linebackers coach Mike Murphy will take over the defense.

Indianapolis has struggled on both sides of the ball this season after losing quarterback Peyton Manning, who hasn't played in a game while he recovers from Sept. 8 neck surgery -- his third procedure in a span of 19 months.

Firing Coyer is the first move in what will likely be many for the Colts as the front office faces key decisions about Manning, Caldwell and at least a half-dozen other key veterans. Indianapolis is the clear front-runner to land the No. 1 pick next spring and many wonder if the Colts will choose Stanford's Andrew Luck or another top quarterback with an eye toward the end of the Manning era.

The decision about Orlovsky has only added to the speculation.

Indy signed 17-year veteran Kerrry Collins to a $4 million contract to back up Manning. But when Collins sustained a concussion late in a Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh, Curtis Painter took over. Painter, who grew up in Indiana and played at Purdue, started the next seven games and played well early.

Painter then posted four straight weekly quarterback ratings below 51.0 heading into Indy's bye week, prompting many fans to call for another change.

Caldwell stuck with Painter on Sunday against Carolina, and after another slow start, he twice got the Colts into position to possibly force overtime. But both drives ended with interceptions in the end zone and the Colts lost 27-19.

Orlovsky has started seven games in his NFL career, all during the 2008 season when the Detroit Lions went 0-16. This season, Orlovksy is 14 of 21 for 122 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Changes shouldn't be a surprise at this point, not for a team going through a jaw-dropping crash.

After going 14-2 and winning an AFC title in his rookie season, then winning another AFC South crown last season despite a rash of debilitating injuries to his team, Caldwell is staring at a winless season that would drop his overall regular-season mark to 24-24. Team officials have said they believe in Caldwell, but the calls are growing louder from fans for dramatic changes.

Owner Jim Irsay has fired only two coaches since taking over from his father in 1997 (Lindy Infante and Jim Mora), and he has offered staunch support for the front office. He's been less enthusiastic about Caldwell.

As for Coyer, his defenses performed relatively well. In 2009, the Colts ranked eighth in the NFL in scoring defense (19.2 points allowed). Dwight Freeney piled up 13.5 sacks and earned a Pro Bowl bid with Robert Mathis and Antoine Bethea. Last year was tougher after a series of injuries, thought the Colts still advanced to the playoffs. Besides his stints in Tampa and Denver, Coyer was also the defensive line coach for the New York Jets in 1994.

Murphy, his replacement, is in his 27th season as an NFL coach and 14th year with the Colts.

[Associated Press; By MICHAEL MAROT]

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