INDIANAPOLIS — Everybody related to the Indianapolis Colts has their very own story of their first assembly with new head coach Shane Steichen.
These preliminary interactions got here at totally different moments, elsewhere and amid totally different conditions.
And but, so most of the first encounters sound comparable.
“I might simply really feel his depth,” defensive deal with DeForest Buckner stated.
“All you see is the hearth in his eyes,” assistant linebackers coach Cato June stated.
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“I used to be like, man, ‘I am able to lace ’em up proper now,'” cornerback Kenny Moore II recalled.
Steichen, 38, is among the many NFL’s youngest head coaches and certain stays an unfamiliar identify and face to many. He typically walks round unrecognized in Indianapolis regardless of being named to the job in February. However Steichen’s persona and strategy have already been nicely established throughout the partitions of the Colts’ coaching facility on the west aspect of Indianapolis.
What has been revealed is a perception that every part have to be earned, a deal with the smallest element and a command of the room.
“I’ve talked to numerous former head coaches across the league and requested them for any recommendation,” Steichen stated. “And so they’ve all stated, ‘Be you.’ That’s the very best piece of recommendation: Be who you might be as an individual. Present who you might be. If you happen to’re a passionate man, be a passionate man.
“So, I attempt to stay by that each day.”
The Colts are banking closely on Steichen’s capacity to show issues round after he served the previous two seasons because the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and the 12 months earlier than that for the Los Angeles Chargers. Solely time will inform what he’ll have the ability to do with a crew that completed final season 4-12-1, however he has already managed to scale one massive impediment for brand new coaches: He has gotten legit buy-in from his gamers.
He has already needed to steer his crew by means of an explosive controversy as All-Professional working again Jonathan Taylor has requested a commerce due to his contract scenario. Steichen has resisted the urge to touch upon Taylor’s scenario, referring all inquiries to common supervisor Chris Ballard, who stated the scenario “sucks” for the crew.
That is not precisely an optimum runway into his first season as an NFL head coach, however Steichen has been leaning on his capacity to deal with the duty at hand.
“Shane will get it,” Moore stated. “And simply to have a coach like that, I undoubtedly wish to put all of it on the road for him.”
There’s maybe nothing gamers stay up for much less after toiling by means of a protracted and scorching follow than conferences.
Essential because the messages being delivered may be, it’s human nature for minds to wander and for focus to fluctuate. And for this reason Steichen’s crew conferences are not like these of most groups.
Flash again to a latest crew assembly throughout coaching camp. The identical matchups you would possibly see on a given day on the sphere — offensive line versus defensive position — have been recreated within the assembly room.
On one aspect was Buckner and nostril deal with Grover Stewart. Throughout from them have been guard Quenton Nelson and middle Ryan Kelly. The quartet has a formidable 10 Professional Bowl choices between them, which could imply one thing if this competitors had something to do with soccer.
“It’s a taking pictures sport,” Buckner defined.
Sure, there’s a basketball hoop within the Colts’ crew assembly room, an idea that dates again to Nick Sirianni’s days as offensive coordinator in Indianapolis. However Steichen, who labored below Sirianni the previous two seasons in Philadelphia, has taken the idea a bit additional.
Every participant will get three makes an attempt at a 3-point shot. The crew with extra makes in its six makes an attempt wins.
“They missed all six photographs between them,” Buckner stated of his offensive teammates. “After which Grove simply stepped up there, made the primary shot and we received.”
The defensive gamers within the room launched into celebration, which solely additional demonstrates that Steichen’s plan labored.
“Conferences are, nicely, you want some juice typically,” Buckner stated. “So, we began the time without work competing [in practice] after which we ended the day competing within the assembly. It is identical to ingrained. He is ingrained it in us.”
However make no mistake: Conferences are severe enterprise (no telephones allowed). And Steichen is demanding of his gamers and coaches. They’re anticipated to know their stuff, on demand.
That is one other method Steichen shows who he’s, by establishing a excessive bar for what’s anticipated of his gamers and employees.
“One thing he is accomplished since Day 1 is saying there’s a commonplace right here,” Kelly stated. “As an expert athlete, if you happen to do not uphold that, there will probably be fines [or] a reprimand for that. And I believe it is the way you maintain all people accountable. It would not matter if you happen to’re Yr 1 or Yr 12.”
This can be a marked shift from the latest previous when some within the group took subject with former coach Frank Reich’s strategy to self-discipline. Reich, who was fired halfway by means of the 2022 season, didn’t all the time take a tough line, however the strategy labored for him — till it didn’t. It’s not a shock the Colts went in a unique route to attempt to tackle no matter considerations existed on this space.
“I believe each crew wants it,” Kelly stated. “We’ve a really younger crew as nicely. I believe if you happen to set that precedent from the get-go, it is a reminder for the older guys.”
Reggie Wayne doesn’t have many regrets from his illustrious 14-year enjoying profession. The previous Colts nice gathered 1,070 receptions and 14,345 receiving yards. However he did fumble just a few too many instances for his liking.
And that’s why Steichen’s ever-present deal with ball safety strikes a chord with Wayne, now in his second season because the Colts’ huge receivers coach. The emphasis is extra heightened than Wayne can keep in mind from his enjoying days, and that’s to the good thing about present Colts gamers, he stated.
“We discuss ball safety each single day,” Wayne stated. “Each. Single. Day. And I say to myself like, ‘Rattling, I hope we do not fumble not one time.’ We discuss that on a regular basis. And on the finish of the day, the increasingly you watch movie, you see guys … deal with getting the ball excessive and tight and maintaining the ball on the skin arm. So, you are wanting and also you begin [thinking], ‘All proper, I assume it’s sinking in.'”
It has given Wayne one thing to consider in relation to his personal profession.
“It’s like, ‘Rattling, I want I’d’ve had that spotlight to element so far as ball safety once I performed,'” he stated. “I most likely wouldn’t have fumbled seven instances.”
Wayne truly fumbled 10 instances, however his level continues to be nicely taken.
Steichen’s strategy can solely assist rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 general choose Indianapolis hopes can get the franchise off its yearslong experience on the quarterback carousel. Steichen’s work with one other dual-threat quarterback — Jalen Hurts — in Philadelphia, provides the Colts confidence.
Steichen’s arrival in Indianapolis comes after a dozen earlier NFL seasons throughout which his id was established. The previous UNLV quarterback has had stints with the Chargers, Browns, Chargers (once more) and Eagles earlier than discovering his newest alternative in Indianapolis. He has gained numerous data alongside the best way, all of it informing the best way he’s now main the Colts.
Most not too long ago, Sirianni’s affect left a giant impression.
“He was so captivated with, like, receiver play and each little factor,” Steichen stated. “He’d say, ‘You can’t line up 2 inches wider as a result of that 2 inches may be the distinction.’ So, numerous that got here from him and different coaches alongside the best way, like [former Chargers coach] Norv Turner.”
Now, it’s Steichen’s strategy that’s rubbing off on others.
“When he is locked in, it is like, ‘I’ve to be on the main points as a result of I do know that he’ll be,'” June stated. “I bought to be a step forward as a result of I do not need him to ask me a query and be like, ‘Uh, uh, let me see.’ Like, you should know. And he needs you to comprehend it now. Like, quick.”
Steichen’s message is getting by means of.
“When every part you do is competing, each day, on the highest degree that you could presumably go,” Buckner stated, “then Sundays are simple.”
