Shane Steichen, Eagles Head to Super Bowl as Colts Interview Looms

Because the search enters its fourth week, the Indianapolis Colts are lastly closing in on selecting their subsequent head coach.

13 candidates got an interview. The candidates ranged from coordinators from all three phases and an interim head coach.

Final week the Colts started to conduct second interviews with their finalists. Whereas the primary spherical of interviews was carried out just about with every lasting round 4 hours, the second spherical has been in individual, with the candidates staying on the facility for 11-12 hours.

It has been reported the Colts wish to interview round seven or eight candidates in individual earlier than making a last choice. 4 finalists have already undergone their second interview. These have been Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejero Evero, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, and New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

It was introduced on Sunday that the Colts can be bringing in two extra candidates for second interviews: Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and Inexperienced Bay Packers particular groups coordinator Wealthy Bisaccia. Of all of the candidates that the Colts have introduced in for second interviews, the one one which has a workforce nonetheless enjoying in the mean time is Steichen.

With the best way his unit has been enjoying this postseason, it might give Steichen a leg up on his competitors.

The Eagles confronted off in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon in a much-anticipated NFC Championship showdown. The Eagles’ offense underneath Steichen has been buzzing all season. Within the common season, Philly ranked third in whole yards (389.1/gm), fifth in dashing yards (147.6/gm), and third in scoring (28.1/gm). The offense was on full show in opposition to the Giants within the divisional spherical, blowing out their division rivals 38-7.

Equally, the 49ers’ protection underneath defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has been dominant all season. The Niners ranked first in whole yards allowed (300.6/gm), second in dashing yards allowed (77.7/gm), and first in scoring (16.3/gm). Their protection carried the best way for the 49ers within the divisional spherical, stifling the Dallas Cowboys offense on the best way to a 19-12 victory.

It will be a matchup of strength-on-strength with a visit to the Tremendous Bowl on the road. Nothing was going to come back straightforward for the Eagles’ offense, however one factor Steichen has been in a position to do all season is locate an space to use in-game.

The 49ers had success defending the go all through the sport, which had been their relative “weak spot” within the common season. However Steichen noticed early that, with the specter of quarterback Jalen Hurts taking off and operating, the RPO recreation would freeze the Niners’ speedy linebackers within the second stage. This allowed the Eagles to get the operating recreation going, and it might be the distinction within the recreation staying shut versus a Philly blowout.

Whereas the numbers usually are not staggering by any means – the Eagles had 148 dashing yards on 44 makes an attempt (3.4 ypc) – the operating recreation allowed the Eagles to regulate the tempo and beat up on a 49ers protection pushing to maintain their workforce within the recreation. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy suffered an elbow harm at first of the sport, and backup quarterback Josh Johnson was knocked out within the second half attributable to a concussion. By operating the ball as efficiently and creatively because the Eagles have been, it took the life out of the 49ers’ protection.

On prime of just about doubling the typical quantity of dashing yards allowed by the 49ers, the Eagles scored all 4 of their touchdowns on the bottom. The onslaught was an excessive amount of for the 49ers because the Eagles got here out with a 31-7 victory. The 31 factors put up by the Eagles was solely the third time this season the 49ers have allowed a workforce to attain over 30.

Via two video games this postseason, the Eagles’ offense is averaging 208 dashing yards a recreation and a 4.7 ypc common. Creativity within the operating recreation has made them very onerous to defend. Whereas the Eagles have a gifted quarterback, gifted operating backs, and an awesome offensive line, Steichen and head coach Nick Sirianni have their fingerprints throughout this offense.

The Colts are watching what the Eagles are doing on offense and have to like what they’re seeing. Basic supervisor Chris Ballard would love for his workforce to arrange the go with the operating recreation, one thing he feels helps groups win within the chilly months of December and January. It isn’t onerous to get excited considering of the injury a wholesome Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss might do in a dynamic operating scheme like this.

However as we all know, one of the essential elements for the subsequent head coach of the Colts can be how they may help develop a younger rookie quarterback. Steichen has labored with many profitable quarterbacks over time, with all crediting him partially for serving to enhance their recreation.

From 2016-2019, Steichen labored with Philip Rivers because the quarterbacks coach and interim offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers. Rivers threw for 17,824 yards, 116 touchdowns, and 63 interceptions whereas working with Steichen. Steichen was additionally the offensive coordinator for the Chargers in 2020 when Justin Herbert took over the beginning function, serving to lead him to 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

For the final two years, Steichen has been working with Hurts in Philadelphia. Hurts has gone from a mission quarterback who many puzzled if he might even begin in NFL to an MVP candidate main his workforce to a Tremendous Bowl. Hurts threw for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in 15 video games this season. He additionally added one other 760 yards on the bottom with 13 dashing touchdowns.

Steichen has at all times been in a position to get probably the most out of the quarterbacks he has labored with, tailoring the offense to their strengths and emphasizing what they do finest. As a coach with confirmed success at a number of stops across the league, it’s straightforward to see what makes him a horny head teaching candidate. The Colts have definitely been impressed, and Steichen is taken into account one of many favorites for the job.

The final time the Eagles made it to the Tremendous Bowl, the Colts employed their offensive coordinator to be their head coach. We’ll see if historical past repeats itself.

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