2011 Colts Media Guide - Nfl

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Cooter earned a bachelor's degree in education (sport management) and a master's degree in sport psychology
from Tennessee.
Cooter was born on July 3, 1984 in Huntsville, Ala. He is single and resides in Indianapolis.
PERSONAL DATA:
College: Tennessee 2002-06.
Coaching Career: Tennessee 2007-08; Indianapolis Colts 2009-present.
LARRY COYER
Defensive Coordinator
Larry Coyer enters his third season as defensive coordinator of the Colts. Coyer
joined Indianapolis from Tampa Bay, where he served for two seasons, the final
one as assistant head coach.
Coyer is entering his 47th year of coaching on either the collegiate or professional
level. Prior to arriving in Tampa Bay in 2007 as assistant head coach/defensive
line, he spent seven seasons at Denver as linebackers coach (2000-02) and
defensive coordinator (2003-06).
In 2010, the club fought through injuries at virtually every defensive position as
only four players (DEs-Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, DT-Fili Moala and DB-Antoine Bethea) opened
16 games, while four others (DE-Keyunta Dawson, DT-Eric Foster and LBs-Pat Angerer and Philip Wheeler)
played in every outing. The club employed 19 different defensive starters as the club won a seventh division
title in the last eight seasons. Freeney (10) and Mathis (11) topped the club in sacks and earned a
third consecutive Pro Bowl nomination as a tandem. It marked the first time since 1970 a DE duo earned
three straight bids (2, Clyde Simmons-Reggie White, Philadelphia 1991-92). Mathis (four) and Freeney
(seven) have produced eleven of the 17 10+-sack seasons in club history. Freeney (94) and Mathis (74)
rank first and second in Colts career sacks, and they have combined for 168 sacks, 77 FF and 14 FR during
their careers. The 2010 season marked the fifth time they have topped 20 sacks as a tandem (26.5,
2004; 22.5, 2005; 22, 2008, 23, 2009; 21, 2010).
In 2009, the Colts ranked 5th in the AFC and 8th in the NFL in scoring defense (19.2), ranking higher
among league leaders as the club opened with 14 victories. Since 2002, the club has ranked in the top
10 in scoring defense five times. The team produced 34 sacks and 26 takeaways, while limiting opponents
to 29 offensive touchdowns. Ten players had sacks as the club employed a varied attack strategy.
The team finished with a plus turnover ratio for the seventh straight season. Freeney (13.5) was T3rd in
NFL sacks, and he set a club record with sacks in nine consecutive games. Freeney and Mathis (9.5)
earned second consecutive Pro Bowl bids as a duo, while DB-Antoine Bethea earned a second career Pro
Bowl bid. Nine different Colts players had interceptions, and the club held six opponents under 100 rushing
yards. In 2008, Tampa Bay sported a 9-7 record as Coyer served in an administrative capacity in
reviewing the offense and defense. The team ranked 9th in NFL total defense, 4th against the pass. The
club's 30 takeaways were T2nd-most in the NFC, T5th-most in the NFL, and 22 interceptions tied for the
NFC lead and ranked T3rd-most in the NFL. In 2007, Tampa Bay won the NFC South, finishing 2nd in
NFL total defense. Coyer's linemen had 30 of the team's 33 sacks, including 15.5 from rookies and firstyear
players. DE-Gaines Adams was a PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team performer, while first-year DE-Greg
White had eight sacks. During four seasons as coordinator, Coyer's unit consistently ranked among the
NFL's best, helping the club earn three playoff appearances. The Broncos ranked in the top seven in NFL
rushing defense three times, allowing 98.3 yards per game from 2003-06, 4th-best in the NFL during that
span. Denver had consecutive top four NFL rankings in yards per game allowed from 2003-04. The
Broncos (18.3) ranked 6th in NFL scoring defense from 2003-06, and the 2006 unit did not yield a touchdown
in the first eleven quarters of play, the longest season-opening NFL streak since 1942. Denver
advanced to the AFC Championship Game with a 13-3 record in 2005. CB-Champ Bailey, S-John Lynch
and LB-Al Wilson were Pro Bowlers. Denver (85.2) ranked 2nd in NFL rushing defense, the third-best seasonal
mark in team history. The Broncos (16.1) tied for third in NFL scoring defense, yielding only 37
points (9.3) in the final four games. In 2004, Lynch and Bailey made the Pro Bowl, while rookie LB-D.J.
Williams (114) led the team in tackles. In 2003, Denver allowed 277.1 yards per game, ranking 4th in
NFL defense. Coyer began in Denver as linebackers coach from 2000-02. In 2000, LBs-John Mobley
(133) and Bill Romanowski (121) topped the team in stops, while Wilson (104) ranked 4th. He served
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