RSJ Update: On Sunday, Tony Dungy became the second African-American coach to lead his team to the Super Bowl. His good friend, Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, beat him by a few hours. What a day.
Tony Dungy is a man of great faith. We know that. We learned that 13 months ago when the soft-spoken coach of the Indianapolis Colts spoke of how his belief in Jesus helped him and his family endure the tragic suicide of his 13-year-old son, James. In many ways, faith is easy in those times of greatest need – in those times when all you have left is faith. The loss of a loved one – especially a child – can take you to the depths of humans can hope to endure. What else then is there to do but have faith?
The trick is to have faith at all times, at times great blessings and times of great challenges. When perhaps a decision or a strategy or even a job is perhaps at stake. And the faith you need lies not only in Him but in yourself. These are times when it’s easy to doubt yourself, your decisions, your preparation. It’s easy to doubt what you know you know.
Tony Dungy’s faith in himself and those around him won’t likely be discussed in the wake of his team’s impressive 15-6 victory over the favored Ravens in Baltimore on Saturday. Dungy showed faith in his offensive staff for its strategy of putting itself in a position to score against the NFL’s most fearsome defense. And faith his kicker, Adam Vinatieri, to close the deal. He showed faith in his beleagured Defensive coordinator, Ron Meeks, that he would devise a scheme to confound Ravens QB Steve McNair and slow RB Jamaal Lewis.
Word is that Dungy’s job is on the line. After five seasons of frustration there are winds that he’ll be fired if the Colts do not get to the Super Bowl. In times like these, faith is a wonderful thing.
This is one occasion when I do not mind that my prediction was wrong.
Gamer: Tony Dungy
Ballers, Gamers and Scoundrels 
I can’t believe that Dungy’s job would be anywhere close to being on the line. That’s madness.
Mr. Johnson, it’s Stephen from your class. I don’t have your e-mail address so I won’t be able to send in the Herb Williams profile. Well, unless you see this.
Lawrence, I disagree. I think he could be fired as soon as this off-season, depending on what happens against New England. If they lose because of the defense and Maroney & Dillon run all over them, I’d lean 60/40 toward him getting axed.
Tony really doesn’t have anything to do with the offense. That’s left to Tom Moore and Peyton Manning. He was hired to be the soft, laissez-faire leader who would allow Manning to be the front man (unlike Jim Mora Sr.) and fix the defense. He was the architect of that Tampa defense; the Cover 2-4 specialist. With an offense that prolific, opposing teams would be forced to throw on the defense a lot so they needed someone to slow that down. Tony’s 2-deep zones were supposed to be the answer. Most of the defense has been brought in under his watch. Dwight Freeney is his new Simeon Rice (and Robert Mathis), Cato June is a poor man’s Derrick Brooks and he traded for Booger McFarland. He drafted Marlin Jackson 1st round hoping he’d be a physical corner in the ilk of Ronde Barber. They’ve finished among the top defenses a couple years (I think they were top 5 in points allowed in 2003), but they always fold in the playoffs. So far so good, but if the Patriots win next week with a final score like 38-34 and total 180 yards on the ground, it’ll mean that the offense did its thing and the defense failed them again. Tony can’t get credit for the offense and he’ll take blame for the defense. Not many coaches keep their jobs after 5 consecutive disappointing seasons.
Plus there are some options out there. Jim Mora Jr. is considered a good defensive mind and he’s got some head coaching experience. Ron Rivera (Bears), Rob (Raiders) and Rex (Ravens) Ryan are hot defensive coordinators.
I don’t want him to get fired, but if he did, I think it would be justifiable.
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