Pagano gets rid of Manusky, five other assistant coaches

Less than two days after getting a new contract, Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano started making changes on his staff.

Pagano announced Wednesday that six assistants, including defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, had been let go.

Safeties coach Roy Anderson, secondary coach Mike Gillhamer, head strength and conditioning coach Roger Marandino, tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts and running backs coach Charlie Williams also were let go. All six came to Indy with Pagano in 2012.

"We are grateful for the contributions these coaches have made to the Colts during their time here," Pagano said in a written statement issued by the team. "Obviously, these days are never easy. We wish all of these men the best in their future endeavors."

Changes were expected to be made this week after the Colts finished the season at 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Indy was a trendy Super Bowl pick in the preseason.

Many thought that process would begin Monday when Pagano, general manager Ryan Grigson or both would be let go.

Instead, after a full day of meetings with team owner Jim Irsay, Pagano was given a four-year contract extension and Grigson had three years added to the remaining year left on his contract. That means both are tied to the franchise through the 2019 season.

But it didn't take long for Pagano to decide to go in a different direction.

Manusky presided over a defense that was never able to match the offense's productivity, and this season, the Colts' defense was ranked No. 26 overall, No. 25 against the run and No. 24 against the pass.

Pagano has spoken frequently over the past four years about the need to stop the run. Manusky and the two secondary coaches all paid the price while four other defensive assistants kept their jobs.

Offensively, injuries doomed the Colts' season. Quarterback Andrew Luck missed nine games because of injuries, while 40-year-old backup Matt Hasselbeck and third-stringer Charlie Whitehurst also got hurt.

Pagano thought they still could have been more productive. After firing offensive coordinator Pet Hamilton in early November, he got rid of Williams and Roberts.

Inside and outside the locker room, there were complaints about how the tight ends were used in the offense. And while Frank Gore ran hard, he fell short of becoming the first Colts' back since 2012 to post a 100-yard game and the first Indy runner to produce a 1,000-yard season since 2007.