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Friday, September 14, 2007
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.
Manning's still putting up big numbers; the offense still dominates. 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 will be Sunday against Pittsburgh.
"The biggest difference is just our experience within the system," coach Tony Dungy, who built his reputation as a defensive mastermind, 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," Dungy said.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. Sanders, who played only six games as a rookie, started 14 at safety this season, was second on the team with 118 tackles and was selected to the Pro Bowl and to The Associated Press All-Pro team. Jackson, a defensive back from Michigan, 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 are 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 Bowl players Manning, Marvin Harrison and Edgerrin James, plus first-time pick Jeff Saturday at center, also are slated to start the Feb. 12 game in Honolulu.
"We talked about being fast, about being physical," Sanders said of the turnaround on defense. "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."
Indianapolis beat Pittsburgh 26-7 in a Monday night game at the RCA Dome in November. The defense had three sacks and intercepted two of Ben Roethlisberger's passes, and the Colts outgained the Steelers 366 yards to 197, including an 80-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Harrison on their first offensive play.
The Colts went on to a 13-0 start -- clinching the AFC South title, the bye and the home-field advantage -- before resting some of the starters in losses to San Diego and Seattle. They finished with a 17-13 win over Arizona two weeks ago.
"We're probably not as sharp as we would have been had we practiced all of last week and played a game, but I think by Sunday we're going to be fine," Dungy said. "I think the energy and the quickness and the legs we had will more than offset the little bit of maybe not as good timing."
Backup linebacker Gilbert Gardner did not practice Friday because of the flu. Dungy also held out punt returner and backup receiver Troy Walters because to rest his legs and let a groin injury heal. If Walters cannot play on Sunday, Harrison would likely return punts, Dungy said.
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