I have a couple of questions as the Indianapolis Colts stand 10-0 and the sports world yawns.

Are you tired of the media harping about how Jim Caldwell should be the NFL Coach of the Year? Are you tired of hearing about Caldwell's brilliance, about his great game-day strategy, about his unequaled ability to motivate?

Are you simply tired of all the Caldwell hype as the Colts prepare for a trip to Houston this Sunday?

Yes, I'm being sarcastic. We're missing the boat. By “we,” I mean the media. And the fans, too. We're watching what Caldwell is doing with the Colts and we're letting it go without much notice.

We have our reasons. Hey, he's got Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne and Dwight Freeney and a veteran coaching staff and the Colts are used to winning and (insert advantage of your choice). Caldwell doesn't exactly have to reinvent the wheel here.

All of that's true. But Caldwell also has rookies Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey in the secondary. He has a revolving door of defensive tackles whose play has been as anonymous as their names. He has two inexperienced wide receivers. He changed left tackles before the season and right guard two weeks ago. His kicker, Matt Stover, was unemployed when the season started. Guys whose jerseys are big sellers in the souvenir stands (Bob Sanders, Anthony Gonzalez) aren't out there on Sundays.

Yes, Caldwell has advantages in his first season as a coach that others don't. But he's had his share of obstacles, too. This success has not been handed to him.

The national media fawned over Josh McDaniels' quick start at Denver, a start that has since proved fraudulent.

Where's the clamor for Caldwell?

No rookie coach has ever been where Caldwell stands - 10-0 at the start - and yet we've largely deferred to his chosen style of quiet understatement. No question, the low-key style works for him just as it worked for his predecessor, Tony Dungy.

“It's kind of amazing when you think about it, 10-0, but then you say, ‘OK, what have we accomplished?' ” Caldwell said. “Obviously, it's a great record, but when you really look at it, you don't have the division locked up, you're not in the playoffs. None of those things have been decided.”

That's typical Caldwell. He started the season with a litany of downplaying his record. Being 4-0, for example, guaranteed nothing more than the fact that the Colts wouldn't finish 3-13, he said. He used a variation of that line more than once in the early going.

Now it's clear, or should be clear to those paying attention, that Caldwell has coached better than anyone could have expected. He made two visible coaching changes in the offseason at defensive coordinator and special teams, and those paid off.

Since the season began, he hasn't been afraid to let players know that the starting jobs are earned and squatters' rights don't apply. Charlie Johnson beat out Tony Ugoh at left tackle and, more recently, rookie Kyle DeVan unseated Mike Pollak at right guard. Caldwell ditched defensive tackle Ed Johnson because of performance issues apparently related to effort. Play hard or Caldwell will find someone who will.

Put it this way: If the Colts were 6-4 right now, we'd be blaming Caldwell for not upholding the Dungy-era standards.

It's only right we give him credit for where he's taken the team in his own right.

“Anytime your team is finding ways to win, particularly when things haven't gone perfectly, you find some satisfaction there,” Caldwell said. “And certainly you can attribute that to good team morale and strong character and a great spirit to win, as well.”

Caldwell recognizes his team's flaws. They've trailed in the fourth quarter in the last four games and have needed some unique circumstances to pull out the wins. On the other hand, performing under pressure is the sign of good leadership, too.

“Jim has done a great job in the way he motivates guys to go out and play,” Freeney said before the New England game. “He takes care of guys before games, resting them when they need it. Scheme-wise, with things that are happening on the defensive side of the ball, Jim has definitely made his stamp.”

Caldwell is considered by many a clone of Dungy. Both believe in the ultimate team concept, and neither sees any purpose in seeking personal attention or adulation.

Freeney said he believes Caldwell's work on the staff with Dungy was a benefit, because he saw what led to the team's consistent success. He then went about tweaking those areas that needed some improvement. Freeney said he understands how outsiders believe Dungy and Caldwell are cut from the same cloth.

“They're similar,” Freeney said. “We always joke that (Caldwell) gets just a little bit more…fired up. Just a little bit. Not fired up ‘Rah, rah, rah!' but he definitely has that side to him.”

Caldwell has maintained his cool on the sidelines. In fact, his expression is so expression-free, the networks don't cut to shots of him nearly as often as they do to a more demonstrative coach. Last week, CBS took to showing senior offensive line coach Howard Mudd, no doubt because he looks like he's ready to explode.

The lack of attention is fine with Caldwell. His below-the-surface ego and strong football knowledge makes him the perfect coach for this team. Caldwell's style might not have worked with the 1985 Chicago Bears. It's perfect for the 2009 Indianapolis Colts. His record's perfect so far, too.

“Obviously, there are a number of areas we need to improve upon,” Caldwell said, “but at least we're getting the bottom line done.”

Ten wins don't make a season. Caldwell knows that, and he conveys that to his team. His team listens. Maybe the rest of us should start paying attention to the man, too.