Frank Reich might not have been the Indianapolis Colts' first choice as head coach

Turns out Cheap D.J. Humphries Jersey , he might be the better fit anyway.Just three days into training camp, the 56-year-old former quarterback has injected energy, enthusiasm and excitement into a team desperately needing to change directions after three straight seasons of missing the playoffs."I think he brings a really neat perspective," Andrew Luck said this week. "He's certainly had an amazing career as a player and has done an amazing job as a coach. I've really enjoyed talking to him, learning from him, talking with him and figuring out what the best course of action is in many different arenas."The new tandem is just getting started.Throughout the first two public workouts in suburban Indianapolis, Luck and Reich have been conversing regularly as Luck learns his fourth offense in seven pro seasons.But Reich does more than just talk.He's innovative, passionate and personable, and players seem to respect the unique journey Reich took to his first head coaching gig.After graduating from Maryland, he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills and joined a cast of future Hall of Famers while playing for the only team to appear in four straight Super Bowls.His coaching career began when another Hall of Famer, Tony Dungy, hired Reich as an intern with the Colts in 2006. Peyton Manning earned his first championship ring that season, though Reich did not receive one.In 2009, Reich was promoted to quarterbacks coach as Manning captured his fourth MVP Award, led the Colts to a 14-0 start and another AFC title.Then after stints in Arizona and San Diego where he worked directly with Larry Fitzgerald and Philip Rivers, Reich was named the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator in 2016 and finally picked up the elusive ring when Nick Foles beat New England in February.Not enough?Even before he replaced injured Bills quarterback Jim Kelly in the 1992 playoffs and overcame a 32-point deficit to complete the largest comeback in NFL history, Reich threw three second-half TD passes in relief of Stan Gelbaugh and led the Terrapins back from a 31-poinnt deficit to beat highly-ranked Miami in 1984. At the time, it was the largest comeback in major college football history and still ranks No. 3."The backup role has suited me well in my career," Reich joked at his introductory news conference in February.The Colts are counting on him to do it again, this time in the family tradition.His father was a football coach, his mother coached sports and his brother, Joe, is entering his 18th season as head coach at Division II Wingate University in North Carolina.And Reich may need all of his expertise to turn things around in Indy.He inherits a young roster that has more questions than answers, a team the outside world believes will be among the worst in the league and one that was spurned by its top coaching choice, New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, shortly after the Patriots season-ending loss.So instead of McDaniels, general manager Chris Ballard brought in a reigning champion who understood the organization, who helped Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz put himself in the MVP conversation in just his second NFL season and who refused to take a single interview until Philadelphia's season was over.He didn't care what the critics said then about the Colts, and he doesn't care now."I see and hear the chatter, but we don't focus too much on that http://www.cardinalscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-andre-smith-jersey ," he said, referring to one projection of a two-win season. "That is, I guess, a little bulletin board material, but for the most part, it's about believing in one another. I've seen what we've done. I've seen the kind of players we have. I just have a lot of confidence in who we have here."The players like what they have in this coach, too.Reich, for instance, remembers what it's like to play the game and can provide perspective and stories about his own NFL experiences including a surgical procedure he had on his shoulder following his retirement in 1998 that was similar to what Luck endured in January 2017."He certainly is a sounding board for all of us quarterbacks," Luck said. "I think he's also a great teacher. The best coaches have always been the best teachers. He does a fantastic job of that."Reich's frank, succinct assessments have been a big hit, too.He's made no secret of his personal expectations: The Colts must work hard, be prepared, play with discipline and finish games. He also encourages players to be themselves, a combination that led free agent tight end Eric Ebron to Indianapolis and could bring more help to Indy in the future."Frank is just Frank, he always just keeps it real," Ebron said. "That's what I like about him."Interview with the Enemy: Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints The Arizona Cardinals have their second game of the preseason game tonight against the New Orleans Saints and we have a chance to preview it with the Saints SB Nation site Canal Street Chronicles.Chris Dunnells was nice enough to take some time out of his day to answer some questions before the game.1. The Saints took big strides in 2017 on defense, what do you expect for an encore in 2018?The Saints defense should be even better in 2018. The 2017 defense came out of nowhere almost entirely on the back of the incredible secondary led by Defensive Rookie of the Year CB Marshon Lattimore and fellow rookie standout S Marcus Williams. The group of linebackers for the Saints largely underwhelmed last year due to injuries and poor performance, and the defensive line struggled to generate consistent pressure outside of Pro Bowl DE Cam Jordan. Those two areas have largely been addressed. The Saints signed former NY Jets LB Demario Davis early in the offseason, and are expecting a healthy AJ Klein and (another 2017 rookie) Alex Anzalone both back from injury and ready to go for Week 1. This will allow role players like Craig Robertson and Manti Te’o who were forced into duty last year to go back to being reserve players and fill out a deep linebacking corps.The Saints traded the world to move up and draft pass rusher Marcus Davenport in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but they also re-signed Alex Okafor, who was on his way to a career year before tearing his Achilles in 2017. This allows Sheldon Rankins to shift back to his natural role on the inside of the defensive line and Hau’oli Kikaha to only see the field on obvious passing downs.If the pass rush is able to get after opposing QBs and the linebackers can hold up both in coverage and against the run, watch out for the Saints defense in 2018.2. How much of Drew Brees and co will we see this week?Drew actually didn’t see any of the Saints first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, so I’d expect him to get in a series or two this go-round. The rest of the Saints key starters are likely to go a significant portion of the first quarter, if not further. Expect to see a heavy dose of Mark Ingram early in the game, as his suspension for the season’s first four games makes any time against live competition that much more important. But with players like Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and Cam Jordan - the Saints know what they have there. Get them in, get them their reps, and get them out.3. With no Marcus Davenport this week http://www.cardinalscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-justin-pugh-jersey , what can we expect from the Saints rookies?There are two other Saints rookies to pay attention to, and both are on the other side of the ball: WR Tre’Quan Smith out of UCF and RB Boston Scott out of LA Tech. Which brings up your next question...4. What are the closest position battles on the roster? The battle for the 4th WR and the 2nd/3rd RB are going to be fun.The Saints have Michael Thomas firmly entrenched as the teams #1 WR for 2018 and beyond. Ted Ginn Jr had himself an incredible year in New Orleans last year, and is likely to start the season as the team’s #2 wideout. Cameron Meredith could overtake Ginn by early in the season if his knees are fully healthy, but for Week 1, is likely the third WR on the depth chart. But the 4th WR is still completely up in the air. After stealing Alvin Kamara in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Saints might have found a similar third round gem in the 2018 NFL Draft. Tre’Quan Smith has all of the measurables you’d like to see in an NFL wide receiver, and has been making all of the plays in training camp. You would think it would be his job to lose at this point, but the Saints signed veteran WRs Michael Floyd (ever heard of him?) and Brandon Tate to compete for time. Then there’s UDFA Keith Kirkwood who’s been getting rave reviews all preseason and WR Austin Carr, who the Saints claimed off the Patriots last season. Between the five of those players, only a couple will make the roster.Then I mentioned Ingram’s suspension. Well during that time, Sean Payton has already said that he doesn’t plan on putting all of those touches on the shoulders of Alvin Kamara. Instead, look for some combination of veterans Jonathan Williams, Shane Vereen, Trey Edmunds, and Boston Scott to fill that role. That player will then likely slide into the depth chart behind Ingram once he returns, but will still get plenty of work in a Sean Payton offense. Boston Scott, with his 4.4 speed and ability to help in the return game, is one of the leading candidates to take that job and run with it (pun kind of intended).5. I picked the Saints to win the Super Bowl last year (so that’s my fault) but outside of health, what is the key to that happening this year?This sounds corny, but the Saints need to win the games they are supposed to win. The Saints have an absolutely brutal five-week span in the 2018 regular season that sees them play the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, NFC West Champion Los Angeles Rams, NFC North Champion Minnesota Vikings, and NFC Wild Card team and divisional foe Atlanta Falcons. That is on top of a second game with the Falcons, two against 2017 Wild Card Carolina Panthers, and one against the NFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The Saints also have a Week 14 matchup against a young and talented Tampa Bay team, a Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens - the only team that Drew Brees has never beaten, and a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Jerry’s World.The entire NFC is loaded this year, and if the Saints want to make a run, early games against a Jameis Winston-less Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Tyrod Taylor-led Cleveland Browns are going to be absolutely critical.