There are still Tony Dungy fans here, and as such, there is more than a passing interest in how Dungy will fare in Indianapolis this fall. As head coach of the Colts, Dungy inherits a luxury he hasn't possessed before as an NFL head coach; a potent offense. Any offensive set with Payton Manning at the helm has to be considered a playoff contender, perhaps (certainly Colts fans are hopeful of this) a Super Bowl contender.
But fan interest here will also be to see if Dungy maintains what has long been his mantra: Speed over size. Granted, speed is revered in Indianapolis, at least on the 21⁄2-mile; oval. But speed over size on the gridiron didn't help Dungy in Tampa Bay, and with the Colts bringing on seven new members to their defense (which has been, admittedly, more than lacking in recent years), Dungy has the chance to shape this team's destiny. It might also be his best opportunity to change his long-standing philosophy.
Regardless, most NFL fans will have to agree that Dungy is a very good fit in Indy. We'll watch with interest to see how well he puts the other puzzle pieces together.
John Head
jhead@postbulletin.com
