Published: Saturday, January 14, 2006
Colts owe success to dawning of its defense
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts defense was almost an oxymoron. The words just didn't go together.
In the past, that's what made Peyton Manning's prolific offense so vital for the Colts to have even a chance to win. Decent regular-season records seemed to evaporate into disappointment once the competition toughened in the playoffs.
No more.
Manning is still putting up big numbers; the offense still dominates.
Giving credit
But now the Colts have a defense that may be responsible more than anything else for the best record in the NFL, a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
The first test for the Colts (14-2) will be a divisional game against Pittsburgh (12-5) on Sunday.
Coach Tony Dungy, who built his reputation as a defensive mastermind, credits the success to players' years in the system.
"The biggest difference is just our experience within the system," Dungy said after practice Friday. "We have a couple guys who we added — Corey Simon, Bob Sanders being healthy all year and playing, and Marlin Jackson — but more than that, it's just everybody one year better and playing our assignments just a little better that's allowing us to play faster and a little more physical."
The Colts were 29th in net defense last year and 11th this season. In passing defense, they improved from 29th to 15th; rushing defense, from 24th to 16th; scoring defense, from 19th to second.
They acquired Simon, a former Pro Bowl tackle, after he was released in a contract dispute with Philadelphia.
Much more playing time
Sanders, who played only six games as a rookie, started 14 at safety this season, was second on the team with 118 tackles. He was named to the Pro Bowl and to The Associated Press All-Pro team.
Jackson, a defensive back from Michigan and a Sharon, Pa., native, was a first-round draft pick and was used primarily as a backup at cornerback.
"Last year, the defense was young and inexperienced and the linebackers moved around in different positions," said defensive end Raheem Brock, who led the team with 26 quarterback pressures. "Everybody's used to playing where they're at, and we're communicating well.
"The linebackers are coming up and making plays, and our D-backs are coming up and making tackles. Our scheme is a one-gap scheme, and our safeties have to be very physical. We've got good, physical safeties this year."
Sanders, linebacker Cato June and end Dwight Freeney were named Pro Bowl starters, the first time since 1977 the Colts — then in Baltimore — have had more than one defensive player selected to the league's postseason all-star game. Perennial Pro Bowlers Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James, plus first-time pick Jeff Saturday at center, also will start the Feb. 12 game in Honolulu.
Got the message
"We talked about being fast, about being physical," Sanders said of the defense's turnaround. "Everyone on our team is fast. Everyone on our team is physical. ... Everybody understands what coach Dungy wants out of the defense. Once we figured it out, it was easy for us to go out and play fast, play hard."
Saturday, January 14, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts defense was almost an oxymoron. The words just didn't go together.
In the past, that's what made Peyton Manning's prolific offense so vital for the Colts to have even a chance to win. Decent regular-season records seemed to evaporate into disappointment once the competition toughened in the playoffs.
No more.
Manning is still putting up big numbers; the offense still dominates.
Giving credit
But now the Colts have a defense that may be responsible more than anything else for the best record in the NFL, a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
The first test for the Colts (14-2) will be a divisional game against Pittsburgh (12-5) on Sunday.
Coach Tony Dungy, who built his reputation as a defensive mastermind, credits the success to players' years in the system.
"The biggest difference is just our experience within the system," Dungy said after practice Friday. "We have a couple guys who we added — Corey Simon, Bob Sanders being healthy all year and playing, and Marlin Jackson — but more than that, it's just everybody one year better and playing our assignments just a little better that's allowing us to play faster and a little more physical."
The Colts were 29th in net defense last year and 11th this season. In passing defense, they improved from 29th to 15th; rushing defense, from 24th to 16th; scoring defense, from 19th to second.
They acquired Simon, a former Pro Bowl tackle, after he was released in a contract dispute with Philadelphia.
Much more playing time
Sanders, who played only six games as a rookie, started 14 at safety this season, was second on the team with 118 tackles. He was named to the Pro Bowl and to The Associated Press All-Pro team.
Jackson, a defensive back from Michigan and a Sharon, Pa., native, was a first-round draft pick and was used primarily as a backup at cornerback.
"Last year, the defense was young and inexperienced and the linebackers moved around in different positions," said defensive end Raheem Brock, who led the team with 26 quarterback pressures. "Everybody's used to playing where they're at, and we're communicating well.
"The linebackers are coming up and making plays, and our D-backs are coming up and making tackles. Our scheme is a one-gap scheme, and our safeties have to be very physical. We've got good, physical safeties this year."
Sanders, linebacker Cato June and end Dwight Freeney were named Pro Bowl starters, the first time since 1977 the Colts — then in Baltimore — have had more than one defensive player selected to the league's postseason all-star game. Perennial Pro Bowlers Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James, plus first-time pick Jeff Saturday at center, also will start the Feb. 12 game in Honolulu.
Got the message
"We talked about being fast, about being physical," Sanders said of the defense's turnaround. "Everyone on our team is fast. Everyone on our team is physical. ... Everybody understands what coach Dungy wants out of the defense. Once we figured it out, it was easy for us to go out and play fast, play hard."
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Colts defense was almost an oxymoron. The words just didn't go together.
In the past, that's what made Peyton Manning's...
