When Jim Caldwell was named as the Colts' new head coach, he didn't think there would be wholesale changes to the veteran group of assistant coaches that he inherited from Tony Dungy.
Caldwell, though, is now looking to fill at least two positions -- special teams coach and defensive coordinator -- heading into the 2009 season.
Ron Meeks, who had been in charge of the Colts' defense since 2002, resigned and accepted the same roll with Carolina on Jan. 26. He joins Russ Purnell, Indianapolis' special teams coordinator for the past seven seasons, in Colts assistants who have left. Purnell is now the Jaguars' special teams coach.
Wide receivers coach Clyde Christensen, meanwhile, remains a candidate for the offensive coordinator position with the San Francisco 49ers.
Team officials had earlier announced that Purnell did not have his contract renewed for another year. He had also been with the team since the start of the 2002 season, coming to Indianapolis when Dungy assembled his first coaching staff.
Purnell also served as an assistant coach, mostly working with special teams, for the Seattle Seahawks (1986-94), Houston/Tennessee Oilers (1995-98) and Baltimore Ravens (1999-2001).
Punt and kickoff coverage had been a problem area for the Colts in recent seasons. Indianapolis allowed opposing teams 24.3 per kickoff return (good for 24th in the league) and 9.2 yards per punt return (15th) in 2008.
The Colts, meanwhile, averaged 20.8 yards per kickoff return (28th) and 6.0 yards per punt return (32nd). Indianapolis was also 30th in the league in kickoff return differential and 27th in punt return differential.
While Meeks' departure may come as a surprise to some, team president Bill Polian said recently that some tweaking to the Colts' coaching staff would be inevitable.
"I expect there will be a few. It could be guys going elsewhere. It could be that Jim (Caldwell) might want to make a change or two. All of that will come in due course," Polian noted. "I would say that in the next 10 days that would straighten itself out. That's normal anyway."
Prior to joining Dungy's staff in 2002, Meeks also served as an NFL assistant with the Dallas Cowboys (1991), Cincinnati Bengals (1992-96), Atlanta Falcons (1997-99, Washington Redskins (2000), and St. Louis Rams (2001). He had been a collegiate assistant at Arkansas State (1984-85), Miami 1986-87), New Mexico State (1988, and Fresno State (1989-90).
In 2007, the Colts led the NFL in scoring defense. And this past season, Indianapolis ranked 11th overall in team defense. The Colts allowed a league low six touchdown passes in 2008, the fewest given up by a team since 1978.
