Don’t cry for the two defensive staff members who were hired by Indianapolis before Josh McDaniels walked away from the Colts' head coaching job.
A source told Sporting News that defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and defensive line coach Mike Phair remain bullish on their roles with the franchise no matter who is named the next head coach.
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Earlier media reports had linked McDaniels and Eberflus together if the former was going to land a head coaching position. Ballard, though, already had held Eberflus in high regard with the Colts organizationally wanting to resume running a "Tampa-Two" style of defense. Ballard was familiar with that attack during his time scouting for head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo with the Chicago Bears.
During a Wednesday news conference, Ballard described the system as "easy for young players to play because it’s simple and it allows them to play fast and physical. That’s what we want to be."
Eberflus coached linebackers in Dallas the past seven seasons, including the past four years under "Tampa-Two" guru Rod Marinelli. Balllard also got to see Phair coach first-hand when both were with the Bears in 2011 and '12.
The Colts adroitly deployed a "Tampa-Two" system when Tony Dungy was head coach from 2002-08. The unit was spearheaded by standouts such as safety Bob Sanders, linebacker Gary Brackett and defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
The system itself is largely predicated upon zone-coverage concepts, outside speed rush and defensive tackles who can clog offensive linemen and allow scraping linebackers to make tackles.
"I feel very lucky to have Matt in the building running a scheme that I think fits our team that we can scout for and that fits our building," Ballard said. "We’re playing on an indoor surface. We’re going to be playing in ideal weather 8-12 games a year that’s going to be based on athletic ability and speed. That’s how this defense is built."
The third staff member recently hired by the Colts, offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo, did have direct ties to McDaniels from when both were with New England. DeGuglielmo, though, also remains wanted by Indianapolis even after McDaniels reneged on taking the HC job.
"We will not abandon them," Ballard said. "They’re good coaches. They’re good people. They’re good developer of men and that’s what we want."
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New Orleans assistant head coach Dan Campbell and Philadelphia offensive coordinator Frank Reich are considered the two frontrunners for the Indianapolis head-coaching job. NFL Network reported the Colts also have submitted a request to interview Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.
The Colts had announced Tuesday that McDaniels agreed to contract terms, but a written agreement was never finalized. Later that day, McDaniels informed Ballard he was returning to New England as offensive coordinator.
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