Pep Hamilton out as Colts' offensive coordinator

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts have fired offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, the team announced Tuesday. Rob Chudzinski will replace Hamilton as the team's offensive coordinator.

"Through the first eight weeks of the season, we have felt our offense hasn't performed at the consistent level that we need," coach Chuck Pagano said in a statement issued less than a day after the team's29-26 overtime loss at Carolina.

"Because of this, we've decided to go in a different direction and relieve Pep Hamilton of his duties as offensive coordinator. As head coach of this team, it's my responsibility to make sure I'm doing everything we can to put us in the best position to succeed. We thank Pep for his service to the team and wish him all the best."

The past offseason, the Colts added receiver Andre Johnson and running back Frank Gore through free agency and selected receiver Phillip Dorsett in the first round of this year's draft. Those three joined receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncriefandtight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener to give quarterback Andrew Luck the best supporting cast of his career.

Even so, the Colts have struggled offensively all season. They have been shut out in the first half three times. They're 16th in the league in yards per game and 20th in points a game. Luck is having the worst season of his four-year career, as he leads the NFL in turnovers with 13.

Hamilton joined the Colts in 2013 from Stanford, where he was Andrew Luck's offensive coordinator. The Colts hired Chudzinski in February 2014, after he was fired as coach of the Cleveland Browns. Pagano and Chudzinski were together from 1995 to 2000 at the University of Miami and again with the Browns in 2004.

Chudzinski faces a tough task in his first game as offensive coordinator, as the Colts face the undefeated Denver Broncos (7-0), who have the league's top defense, on Sunday.