Breaking Down Super Bowl XLIV - Coaches

Indianapolis Colts:
Jim Caldwell may be considered a rookie head coach, but that doesn't really mean anything in this situation. He's been with the Colts since 2002, and the majority of his assistants have been with the team for at least two seasons. Some have been there for over a decade. Caldwell spent his first three seasons as QB coach, working with Peyton Manning. After that, he was named assistant head coach in 2005. There are probably only a handful of people in the organization that are better prepared to handle an offense centered on Manning better than Caldwell. Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer is one of the new additions to the teams since Caldwell took over, and he has instilled a bend-don't-break style to the defense. The team may be around the bottom half of the league in most defensive categories, but they're 8th in points allowed, averaging less than 20 per game. The fact that almost every coach on the staff was with the team when they won their last Super Bowl will be a big boost this week.

New Orleans Saints:
Sean Payton is in his third year as head coach of the Saints, and he is already among the best head coaches in franchise history. His experience as the quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys, who had a revolving door at QB for most of his time there, made him almost a perfect choice for a team that had a running game on the decline when he took over, but a passing game ready to break loose. Under Payton, Drew Brees has had his three highest seasons for TDs, and three of his four highest in passing yards. He also came just a few yards shy of breaking Dan Marino's single season yardage record when he finished the season with 5,069. The Saints also finished first in total offense this season, putting up 403.8 yards and 31.9 points per game. Unfortunately, the rest of the staff doesn't have the tenure of the Colts coaches. All joined the team in 2005 or later. The one thing they have going for them is that new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams comes from a season with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he had to face Manning and the Colts twice, winning one.

Edge: Indianapolis Colts