The Indianapolis Colts have officially begun their search for their next defensive coordinator. 

Just three days after parting ways with Gus Bradley, the Colts already have two candidates set to interview.

And a couple more high-profile candidates have now been linked to the Colts by NFL insiders. 

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Dennis Allen

"Speaking of Allen (Dennis), I'm sensing some Colts buzz and expect him to be a candidate in Indianapolis."

– ESPN's Jeremy Fowler 

ESPN's Jeremey Fowler shared that he expects former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen to be a candidate for the team's defensive coordinator position. This may not sound encouraging to some Colts fans, as Allen's tenures as a head coach with the Saints and even the Las Vegas Raiders (at the time in Oakland) aren't looked back on fondly. 

However, he is one of the most respected defensive minds in the NFL. He has had great success as a defensive coordinator in the NFL. In fact, both times he was a defensive coordinator, the next job he took was to become a head coach. 

If the Colts went this route, it would be a commitment to a drastic change to their defensive scheme and, as a result, would likely have a significant overhaul on that side of the ball. But it would bring them a coach with head coach experience who has a proven track record of leading a successful defense that makes opposing quarterbacks' lives difficult. Which sounds exactly like what many have been begging the Colts to do for quite some time. 

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Wink Martindale 

"I think, and this is just me talking, they’ll be looking for someone who’ll make Indy more difficult to play against on a down-to-down and game-to-game basis. Against Gus Bradley, who’s an excellent fundamental football coach, they became a little too bland playing a simpler scheme predicated on players playing fast.

One name that could be interesting to look at is Wink Martindale—the ex-Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator who’s now at Michigan, and whose scheme is now all over the NFL. After a year sharpening and simplifying, his system in college has benefited him, and the opportunity to make things work again in the pros could entice him."

– SI's Albert Breer

Albert Breer mentioned Wink Martindale as a potential candidate for the Colts defensive coordinator job. The Colts actually interviewed Martindale for their head coach job, and he made it into the final round of their search but ultimately went with Shane Steichen.

Martindale is well respected across the NFL and is coming off a solid season at Michigan, where his defense is a clear bright spot for the Wolverines, which struggled overall. If the Colts want to get more aggressive with their use of blitzes and a more dynamic system utilizing their defensive line, Martindale should certainly be a top candidate. But we will have to wait and see if the Colts elect to request an interview with the well-respected defensive mind. 

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Rex Ryan

"Similarly, if Rex Ryan wants back in, and you can make sure he’s up on the game the way he’ll need to be after that amount of time out, he’d be someone to talk to."

– SI's Albert Breer

Another candidate mentioned by Breer is current ESPN analyst and former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan. It seems that Ryan is seriously considering a return to coaching, with him already interviewing for the Jets' open head coaching job. 

So, if the Colts were to have any interest in pursuing Ryan, they would have to hope he doesn't land that job and also hope he would be willing to leave his job at ESPN just to be a coordinator. I have my doubts, but he would certainly be an intriguing option for them to consider if he would be willing to consider them. 

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