Tony Dungy spent seven seasons as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and he won a Super Bowl with them thanks in large part to his relationship with quarterback Peyton Manning. So he knows a thing or two about what works to win with the Colts.
On paper, he sees a lot of the same things in Indianapolis between a quarterback and a head coach who knows what to do with him.
Dungy appeared on the Colts Official Podcast on Tuesday and discussed what’s gone right for Carson Wentz this season and how the relationship with head coach Frank Reich is at the heart of it.
“I think we saw it in 2016-17 when Carson Wentz was being talked about as the MVP of the league and they’re on their way to a Super Bowl,” Dungy said. “Frank Reich is running that offense, he knows what Carson likes to do, he knows his strengths so he’s dialing up plays he’s comfortable with. But I think just giving Carson that confidence that you don’t have to make the spectacular plays, you don’t have to do more than we ask, I think it’s just a comfort level with each other and a confidence that he’s re-instilled in Carson. I thought for sure we’re going to have a great season out of Carson Wentz and I still believe it.”
Wentz is coming off a huge weekend in which he went 11 of 20 for 223 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-3 win over the Houston Texans. The former Eagles QB now has 20 pass plays for 20-plus yards through just six games and appears to be looking like his former self when he was helping the Philadelphia Eagles get to a Super Bowl. And if there’s anyone who knows what that looks like, it’s Reich, who was Philly’s offensive coordinator at the time.
“This is the guy I knew in Philadelphia,” Reich said after Sunday’s win. “He can be a big-play machine. What I’ve been more impressed with, I know he can make those plays, but I like the way he’s taking care of the football.
“I like the way he’s handling the game, getting us in and out of the right run checks, just being in control out there and trusting his guys to make the big plays and making good decisions and being accurate with the ball, especially down the field, which he’s been off the charts.”
While 2-4, the Colts still have plenty of time to turn things around this season. They’ll get a chance to make a statement this weekend when they take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. We’ll find out if Wentz and Reich can keep the good times rolling and recapture what worked so well in Philadelphia.
[Colts, CBS Sports]