INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts will not renew the contract of Special Teams Coordinator Ray Rychleski, per Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell.
"I felt we needed to make a change and head in a new direction," said Caldwell. "Although the special teams unit made some improvement as the season progressed, it was not enough to continue our current situation. We appreciate Ray's service and hard work during his three seasons with the team."
Rychleski joined the Colts in 2009 following 28 years of coaching in the collegiate ranks. In 2009, the Colts ranked seventh in the NFL in average drive start by opponents on kickoffs (25.1), which also ranked second in the AFC. The club was also bolstered by punter Pat McAfee who had a 37.8 net punting average along with 21 touchbacks on kickoffs.
In 2010, Indianapolis ranked 15th in the NFL in opponents average starting field position while kicker Adam Vinatieri tallied 129 points, which ranked second in the AFC and third in the NFL.
This past season, Rychleski's group allowed a kickoff return average of 30.7 yards with 18 returns of 20-plus yards. The kickoff return unit average 18.6 yards per return with an average starting field position under the 20-yard line (19.6). McAfee totaled a 46.1 average yards per punt while Vinatieri contributed with 93 points.
