What we know (and don't know) about the Colts' coaching search

INDIANAPOLIS – The news is barely trickling in during the Indianapolis Colts’ slow-moving head-coaching search.

A new name here. A small development there. But there’s been little in the way of substantial movement in this process, which is going on 12 days and counting.

Since firing Chuck Pagano on Dec. 31, the Colts have conducted several interviews, but have done so in relative silence.

As we get closer to the process’ eventual end, let’s take stock of what we know and don’t know.

We know Chris Ballard is methodical

That the search has reached almost two weeks in length should not surprise you. General Manager Chris Ballard promised to turn over every stone and made it clear he was in favor of going slow.

“We’re going to take our time and we’re going to make sure,” Ballard said on Jan. 1 when previewing the search.

The Colts are believed to have interviewed at least five candidates, though the team has neither confirmed nor denied that any specific coach is a candidate. There are conflicting reports on the Colts' interest in Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

Ballard likely isn’t going to be influenced by other coaching searches concluding if he feels confident about how things are proceeding. Since he won’t be swayed by that, maybe you shouldn’t be either.

We don’t know that Josh McDaniels is the favorite

There’s been reporting that suggests the New England Patriots offensive coordinator is the front runner. But to assume so feels presumptuous. This week’s revelation, according to an ESPN report, that the Colts interviewed Baylor coach Matt Rhule, tells you the process is fluid. (NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night that Rhule has told the Colts he will stay at Baylor.)

Anyone who says they know what the Colts are doing probably doesn’t know as much as they think. Team officials have gone underground, adhering to their promise to keep the details internal.

That being said, McDaniels is the most known commodity of the identified candidates. And that will understandably make him the subject of much speculation. McDaniels is reportedly a finalist for the New York Giants’ opening, too. He also interviewed with the Chicago Bears, who hired former Kansas City assistant Matt Nagy earlier this week.

As it relates to McDaniels and the Colts, here’s a fun fact: He and Ballard have the same representative, super agent Bob LaMonte. That’s not necessarily a reason to connect dots, but it’s not something to ignore, either.

As a league source explained, LaMonte has a history of trying to engineer situations where clients can work in coach-GM tandems. There have been several such arrangements in the past – whether intentional or not. They include Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman in Philadelphia in 2016, Mike McCoy and Tom Telesco in San Diego in 2013 and Pat Shumur and Mike Holmgren in Cleveland in 2011. That’s a lot of coincidences, right?

Will it happen again in 2018 in Indianapolis? We shall see.

We know there’s been further coaching-staff upheaval

The Colts, according to sources, did not offer assurances about 2018 to Pagano’s assistant coaches. That has left them in limbo, choosing between seeking work elsewhere or hoping to land a spot on the new coach’s staff.

Those who can seem to be choosing the former.

So far, we’ve learned of the departures of special teams coach Tom McMahon (Broncos), offensive line coach Joe Philbin (Packers), defensive backs coach Greg Williams (Broncos) and running backs coach Jemal Singleton (Raiders). Quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer’s name has been mentioned in connection with the Seahawks’ vacant offensive coordinator post.

It's not likely that many of Pagano’s assistants are going to be retained. But a couple key members, like McMahon and Singleton, in particular, are highly regarded and could prove to be big losses.

We don’t know if there are other candidates

With the way this search has been conducted – in silence – it’s not out of the question that other candidates will or have been interviewed. The Rhule news this week is a great example of this. Ballard said he would not exclude college coaches, and he’s said he gained a lot of knowledge about good coaches during his college scouting days.

Make no assumptions about who is or isn’t a candidate.

We know the kind of coach Ballard wants

Ballard didn’t say this in his news conference, but if you know anything about him or talk to people who know him, they know he values toughness.

This is a quality he will undoubtedly seek in his new coach. It’s also a quality that seemed lacking in Pagano.

If you don’t believe that Ballard values this above most all else, just look at the players he acquired in free agency in his first year. Jabaal Sheard is as tough as they come. John Simon is a wrecking ball. Al Woods and Johnathan Hankins proved to be two of the most physical players on the team.

Ballard is likely to want a coach who can bring more of that. They’ll have to continue reshaping the roster in order to truly do it. But the Colts will be on the lookout for a coach who can speed up that process and set a tougher tone.