Indianapolis quarterback Matt Hasselbeck filled in admirably for the Colts when Andrew Luck went down earlier this season.
While working with former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, Hasselbeck helped the Colts post victories over Jacksonville and Houston. Hamilton has since been terminated and replaced by former Carolina offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski.
“That has been a big adjustment,” Hasselbeck said. “Pep (Hamilton) is a good football coach. He was the leader of this offense. It is very different without him.”
Chudzinski, who spent one season as Cleveland’s head coach, figures to play more power football and allow Hasselbeck to lean on the rushing attack. He’s challenged the offensive line to play stronger against the Falcons.
“I’ve been a part of teams where they’ve made a coordinator change during the season,” Hasselbeck said. “It’s hard on everybody, not only because of the personal relationships that you build.”
Despite having the 19th-ranked pass defense, which gives up 253.4 yards a game, Hasselbeck is impressed with the Falcons' secondary.
“I think really it’s an underrated secondary,” he said. “They’ve got some young guys. They are not household names yet, but they are talented. They use a lot of different people. … To me, their defense is a top 10 defense and they are playing really well.”
About the Author
