Throughout the offseason, observers and fans of the Indianapolis Colts have wondered just what changes defensive coordinator Larry Coyer might bring. As is right and expected, the team hasn’t gotten much into details.

Four-time Bowl DE Dwight Freeney didn’t get much into detail, either. But he did say there were some changes.

And he said he likes what he has seen so far.

Under Coyer, hired by new Head Coach Jim Caldwell to replace longtime coordinator Ron Meeks, will continue to run the 4-3 defense, and Caldwell several times has said the defense won’t be undergoing a major philosophical overhaul. But Freeney said this week during the Colts’  2009 organized team activites there will be some wrinkles.

 

Said Freeney . . .

I think it’s a little bit of both. He definitely has new stuff; some very interesting things that help out a lot and are a lot different from last year. We also have a lot that is the same and I think, sometimes, change is a good thing. So, we’ll see what happens.

 
A bit more Freeney . . .

I think you’ll probably see more movement and maybe some different coverages and fronts. Mostly doing some things just to tweak it up a bit and keep the offense on their toes. Ery year going into a new year there is always change. Even with the same coordinator there is going to be change, because you always have to improve from the year before. Obviously, we have a new coordinator this year and there’s probably a little bit more change than what we’re used too, but it might be a good thing. The same pieces are out there doing what we do.

 

Freeney also joked about the possibility of being used to drop back in coverage in certain schemes. He smiled.

I don’t think so, but if they do ask me (to) I’ll be all right.

 

Freeney also discussed the importance of the Colts’ organized team activities session . . .

I think it’s very important for obvious reasons. We’re learning a new style, but just to have the whole group together and trying to learn this thing together from the beginning. We get used to each other, he (defensive coordinator, Larry Coyer) can get used to me, and I can get used to him and the way he likes to coach.

 

All of this jibes with the overall feeling Caldwell has given since taking over and hiring Coyer, that while the Colts won’t be making drastic changes defensively, there will be some tweaks. Which only makes sense. If you didn’t want to make any changes, you would keep the same coordinator. As I’ve said before, I’m not sure how much of merit there is to the whole Colts-are-getting-bigger-defensively theory. The Colts drafted to 300-pound defensive tackles, but they have had 300-pound tackles before — Anthony “Booger” McFarland, Corey Simon, Quinn  Pitcock, etc. — only to lose them to various circumstances. I still get the idea their defensive-tackle approach is generally to have guys who can run and ideally, they’d like those guys who can run to be big. The lone departure in philosophy is Terrance Taylor, a defensive tackle from Michigan drafted in the fourth round as the protypical nose tackle the Colts haven’t had in recent seasons.

The feeling you’re starting to get is the Colts won’t stick to the get-to-the-quarterback-with-four-linemen philosophy all the time under Coyer, something that may be as attributable to Caldwell as it is Coyer. Dungy recently said much of the reason that the Colts blitzed so seldom under Meeks was that Dungy believed so strongly that you needed to pressure the passer with four linemen and four linemen only.

I doubt the Colts will stray too much. When you have Freeney and Robert Mathis, building a defense around their ability to get to the quarterback makes sense, but one watching the changes Coyer brings will be an interesting storyline as the 2009 season unfolds.