Will Colts Need to Start Looking for New OL Coach?
As the Indianapolis Colts narrow their search for a head coach, they may soon need to look for a new coach along the offensive line.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Colts offensive line coach Chris Strausser is the leading candidate to replace George Warhop as the offensive line coach of the Houston Texans.
Strausser joined the Colts before the 2019 season after the Colts fired Dave DeGuglielmo following the 2018 season. Strausser was a disciple of the late Howard Mudd, the legendary Colts' offensive line coach through the 2000s.
Strausser was one of the first coaches former head coach Frank Reich brought onto his staff with the Colts. Strausser got to work right away, and helped coach the Colts' offensive line into one of the best in the NFL from 2019-2020.
However, the offensive line started to regress in 2021 after the retirement of left tackle Anthony Castonzo. The Colts signed Eric Fisher before the 2021 season, but he could never regain his Pro Bowl form after tearing his Achilles the year prior. Other positions began to regress that year as well.
Everything came to a head in 2022 as the offensive line performed its worse under Strausser. The Colts allowed 60 sacks last season, the second worst in the NFL behind only the Denver Broncos. While the line play improved towards the end of the season, it was nowhere near the standard the Colts were used to.
Many fans pushed for Strausser to be fired in the middle of the season. While two offensive coaches were fired by the Colts mid-season in Reich and offensive coordinator Marcus Brady, Strausser held onto his job and finished out the season. Part of the reason for this was that the Colts did not have anyone else on staff they trusted to take over as OL coach if Strausser was let go.
Strausser now looks to be in line to join the Texans. The Texans allowed far fewer sacks than the Colts in 2022, only giving up 38 all season. The 38 sacks allowed by the Texans ranked tenth best in the NFL a season ago.
But with the Texans assembling a new staff under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, Warhop was let go. Strausser is still well respected around the NFL, despite what has transpired in Indy over the past couple of seasons.
It is unlikely that Strausser would have been retained in Indianapolis for next season. The Colts are expected to announce their new head coach within the next couple of days, and, just like Ryans in Houston, he will look to bring in his own staff in many areas. While most of the defensive and special teams staff of the Colts could return, the offensive staff could experience major turnover.
The Chris Strausser era in Indianapolis saw a dramatic rise and fall of the Colts' offensive line. Hopefully, the next offensive line coach for the Colts will be able to have sustained success with one of the highest-paid units in the NFL.
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