Colts choose not to pay for big-name free agents
With the departure of three starters from their 2003 defense, the Indianapolis Colts had an opportunity to make a statement during the offseason. They did so, quietly.
They shifted and promoted. They filled the holes with players already in the system.
"Part of what happens here in Indianapolis," ESPN analyst Joe Theismann said during a training camp visit, "is because of that philosophy to build from within, you don't grab those big headlines and have people start talking: 'Wow. Look at that big acquisition on the defensive side. He's going to be an impact player.' "
Linebackers David Thornton and Cato June and cornerback Donald Strickland made their first starts in their new positions Thursday during a 27-24 loss at New England. The Patriots passed for 335 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts will try it again, Sunday at Tennessee.
Club president Bill Polian said that dealing with free agency is different each year, and two primary determinants apply.
• How much bonus money is out? With $38 million committed in signing bonuses to quarterback Peyton Manning and defensive tackle Josh Williams, the Colts already had reached deep in their pockets.
• Where is the market? Who is available, how do they fit, and at what cost?
"Even though we had a little money left at our disposal when we got through signing Peyton and Josh, we weren't all that crazy about the prices and what was available to us," said Polian. "So we just said, 'Hey, we're better off sticking with our own.'
"Now you can make the argument that you should have signed (John) Lynch. At what price?"
Lynch signed for three years and $9 million with Denver.
The Colts deemed it exorbitant for a safety who will be 33 this month. They signed no veteran free agents.
Where the Colts have spent in recent years is in keeping offensive players. Manning, Williams, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, left tackle Tarik Glenn, center Jeff Saturday and tight ends Ken Dilger and Marcus Pollard have been given long-term contracts.
Among those who got away were starting linebackers Marcus Washington and Mike Peterson. Peterson signed for six years and $20.4 million with Jacksonville in 2002. The Redskins gave Washington a six-year, $24 million contract following the 2003 season.
The Colts were active in free agency while they were restocking the defense from 1998 to 2000. They signed players like cornerback Jeff Burris, ends Chad Bratzke and Shawn King, linebacker Cornelius Bennett and safety Chad Cota.
But with the decision to build around Manning has come the commitment to maintain a dominant offense. There has been less money to spend on defense and proven, veteran free agents.
Linebacker Jim Nelson, defensive tackle Montae Reagor and wide receiver Brandon Stokley were signed last year, but the Colts have stuck strictly with their own this year.
The bet is that a dominant offense and an adequate defense can do the job. That's why they have refused to mortgage their future, to overspend the $80.6 million salary cap to bring in expensive free agents with big, back-loaded contracts. Jacksonville did it 1999, but failed to reach the Super Bowl. It hasn't won more than seven games in a season since.
"We don't have the resources to do that. No. 1, that's a $100 million expenditure in one year, minimum, and that was then," Polian said. "You try to do it today, it's probably $125 million in today's dollars, at today's prices.
"No. 2, I don't think, given the status of our team and where we are, that it's necessarily smart to do that. Because then you're absolutely committed to breaking the team up within a year, two at the most."
http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/178250-6687-196.html
With the departure of three starters from their 2003 defense, the Indianapolis Colts had an opportunity to make a statement during the offseason. They did so, quietly.
They shifted and promoted. They filled the holes with players already in the system.
"Part of what happens here in Indianapolis," ESPN analyst Joe Theismann said during a training camp visit, "is because of that philosophy to build from within, you don't grab those big headlines and have people start talking: 'Wow. Look at that big acquisition on the defensive side. He's going to be an impact player.' "
Linebackers David Thornton and Cato June and cornerback Donald Strickland made their first starts in their new positions Thursday during a 27-24 loss at New England. The Patriots passed for 335 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts will try it again, Sunday at Tennessee.
Club president Bill Polian said that dealing with free agency is different each year, and two primary determinants apply.
• How much bonus money is out? With $38 million committed in signing bonuses to quarterback Peyton Manning and defensive tackle Josh Williams, the Colts already had reached deep in their pockets.
• Where is the market? Who is available, how do they fit, and at what cost?
"Even though we had a little money left at our disposal when we got through signing Peyton and Josh, we weren't all that crazy about the prices and what was available to us," said Polian. "So we just said, 'Hey, we're better off sticking with our own.'
"Now you can make the argument that you should have signed (John) Lynch. At what price?"
Lynch signed for three years and $9 million with Denver.
The Colts deemed it exorbitant for a safety who will be 33 this month. They signed no veteran free agents.
Where the Colts have spent in recent years is in keeping offensive players. Manning, Williams, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, left tackle Tarik Glenn, center Jeff Saturday and tight ends Ken Dilger and Marcus Pollard have been given long-term contracts.
Among those who got away were starting linebackers Marcus Washington and Mike Peterson. Peterson signed for six years and $20.4 million with Jacksonville in 2002. The Redskins gave Washington a six-year, $24 million contract following the 2003 season.
The Colts were active in free agency while they were restocking the defense from 1998 to 2000. They signed players like cornerback Jeff Burris, ends Chad Bratzke and Shawn King, linebacker Cornelius Bennett and safety Chad Cota.
But with the decision to build around Manning has come the commitment to maintain a dominant offense. There has been less money to spend on defense and proven, veteran free agents.
Linebacker Jim Nelson, defensive tackle Montae Reagor and wide receiver Brandon Stokley were signed last year, but the Colts have stuck strictly with their own this year.
The bet is that a dominant offense and an adequate defense can do the job. That's why they have refused to mortgage their future, to overspend the $80.6 million salary cap to bring in expensive free agents with big, back-loaded contracts. Jacksonville did it 1999, but failed to reach the Super Bowl. It hasn't won more than seven games in a season since.
"We don't have the resources to do that. No. 1, that's a $100 million expenditure in one year, minimum, and that was then," Polian said. "You try to do it today, it's probably $125 million in today's dollars, at today's prices.
"No. 2, I don't think, given the status of our team and where we are, that it's necessarily smart to do that. Because then you're absolutely committed to breaking the team up within a year, two at the most."
http://www.indystar.com/articles/7/178250-6687-196.html
Good luck outlaw. My thoughts right now are that indy does not have a secondary ready to be a serious threat. The offense may score 45 per game and still go 8-8. We shall see. The secondary could come together and be very good after a few games. I think the loss of Mike Doss was huge Thursday, along Peyton forcing the ball and james fumbling, It appears another typical year.
Three more days and I can't hardly stand it. We are getting somewhere around 6 inches of rain tomorrow (hell, they don't really know but we could get a LOT). Hopefully it will clear out before Sunday. I am sure the field will be ok no matter what.....I don't think I have ever seen a grass field that drains better than this one.
Colts, Titans set for early-season showdown.
If you're looking for the best rivalry game in the NFL this weekend, sorry, but it's not the Bears visiting the Green Bay Packers.
Honors go to the Indianapolis Colts visiting the Tennessee Titans, where reigning co-most valuable players Peyton Manning and Steve McNair will square off. It will be only the third time in NFL history that players who shared the MVP award in one season will face off in the next. Y.A. Tittle and Johnny Unitas faced each other in 1957, and Bart Starr and Don Meredith hooked up in 1967.
As interesting as that story line might be, it's overshadowed by the importance of the game in the AFC South standings. The division was decided by the head-to-head tiebreaker in each of the last two seasons, with the Colts getting a sweep in 2003 to earn the division crown and the Titans pulling off the same feat in 2002.
"The last couple of years, either Indy or ourselves has been the team to beat in the division,'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher told reporters on a conference call. "When you have that type of situation over a period of years, the natural by-product or spinoff of that is a rivalry. It's become a good one.''
http://www.suntimes.com/output/football/cst-spt-nflweek19.html
If you're looking for the best rivalry game in the NFL this weekend, sorry, but it's not the Bears visiting the Green Bay Packers.
Honors go to the Indianapolis Colts visiting the Tennessee Titans, where reigning co-most valuable players Peyton Manning and Steve McNair will square off. It will be only the third time in NFL history that players who shared the MVP award in one season will face off in the next. Y.A. Tittle and Johnny Unitas faced each other in 1957, and Bart Starr and Don Meredith hooked up in 1967.
As interesting as that story line might be, it's overshadowed by the importance of the game in the AFC South standings. The division was decided by the head-to-head tiebreaker in each of the last two seasons, with the Colts getting a sweep in 2003 to earn the division crown and the Titans pulling off the same feat in 2002.
"The last couple of years, either Indy or ourselves has been the team to beat in the division,'' Titans coach Jeff Fisher told reporters on a conference call. "When you have that type of situation over a period of years, the natural by-product or spinoff of that is a rivalry. It's become a good one.''
http://www.suntimes.com/output/football/cst-spt-nflweek19.html
Defense may come together yet(tough chore though). Colt Offense minus all of the turnovers shows the power.
Colts 31 Tenn 17
Next up Green bay in the Dome.
Colts 1-1 in AFC and 1-0 in AFC South
2004 Schedule
1 9/9 @ New England Patriots L 24 - 27
2 9/19 @ Tennessee Titans W 31 - 17
3 9/26 GREEN BAY PACKERS 3:15 PM
4 10/3 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 12:00 PM
5 10/10 OAKLAND RAIDERS 12:00 PM
6 10/17 BYE
7 10/24 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 12:00 PM
8 10/31 @ Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 PM
9 11/8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9:00 PM
10 11/14 HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 PM
11 11/21 @ Chicago Bears 1:00 PM
12 11/25 @ Detroit Lions 12:30 PM
13 12/5 TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM
14 12/12 @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM
15 12/19 BALTIMORE RAVENS 8:30 PM
16 12/26 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1:00 PM
17 1/2 @ Denver Broncos 4:15 PM
Congrats to all Colt backers today.
Colts 31 Tenn 17
Next up Green bay in the Dome.
Colts 1-1 in AFC and 1-0 in AFC South
2004 Schedule
1 9/9 @ New England Patriots L 24 - 27
2 9/19 @ Tennessee Titans W 31 - 17
3 9/26 GREEN BAY PACKERS 3:15 PM
4 10/3 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 12:00 PM
5 10/10 OAKLAND RAIDERS 12:00 PM
6 10/17 BYE
7 10/24 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 12:00 PM
8 10/31 @ Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 PM
9 11/8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9:00 PM
10 11/14 HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 PM
11 11/21 @ Chicago Bears 1:00 PM
12 11/25 @ Detroit Lions 12:30 PM
13 12/5 TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM
14 12/12 @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM
15 12/19 BALTIMORE RAVENS 8:30 PM
16 12/26 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1:00 PM
17 1/2 @ Denver Broncos 4:15 PM
Congrats to all Colt backers today.
Colts RB James practices, might play
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 23, 2004) -- Running back Edgerrin James, sidelined two days with a strained hamstring, returned to practice and could be ready to play when the Indianapolis Colts host the Green Bay Packers.
James, who strained his left hamstring on a late touchdown run last week against Tennessee, took part in individual and team drills before sitting out the final half-hour of Thursday's practice.
"Edgerrin actually did well, surprisingly well," coach Tony Dungy said. "Based on what I saw today, he could probably play. So if he comes back (Sept. 24) and doesn't have any side effects and is able to do just what he did today, then I would think he'd probably play."
If he does play, however, his carries probably will be limited, Dungy said.
"We're obviously going to be smart. It's one thing to play, it's another thing to play 85 plays and not get a break," Dungy said. "Obviously, he does have an injury there, so I don't think he would play every single play. But then again, I said the same thing about Marvin (Harrison) when he came back."
Last year, at Buffalo, Harrison was returning from a hamstring injury and was expected to see limited playing time but wound up playing most of the game.
If James is able to start, he most likely will split time with backups Dominic Rhodes and James Mungro. Rhodes has seen most of the work with the first offensive unit this week. Rookie running back Ran Carthon, who was re-signed to the active roster, is also a possibility.
"We might dress an extra back just in case, and maybe not dress one of our linebackers," Dungy said. "But my sense is if (James) plays, we'll be just like we were last week (at Tennessee)."
story
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 23, 2004) -- Running back Edgerrin James, sidelined two days with a strained hamstring, returned to practice and could be ready to play when the Indianapolis Colts host the Green Bay Packers.
James, who strained his left hamstring on a late touchdown run last week against Tennessee, took part in individual and team drills before sitting out the final half-hour of Thursday's practice.
"Edgerrin actually did well, surprisingly well," coach Tony Dungy said. "Based on what I saw today, he could probably play. So if he comes back (Sept. 24) and doesn't have any side effects and is able to do just what he did today, then I would think he'd probably play."
If he does play, however, his carries probably will be limited, Dungy said.
"We're obviously going to be smart. It's one thing to play, it's another thing to play 85 plays and not get a break," Dungy said. "Obviously, he does have an injury there, so I don't think he would play every single play. But then again, I said the same thing about Marvin (Harrison) when he came back."
Last year, at Buffalo, Harrison was returning from a hamstring injury and was expected to see limited playing time but wound up playing most of the game.
If James is able to start, he most likely will split time with backups Dominic Rhodes and James Mungro. Rhodes has seen most of the work with the first offensive unit this week. Rookie running back Ran Carthon, who was re-signed to the active roster, is also a possibility.
"We might dress an extra back just in case, and maybe not dress one of our linebackers," Dungy said. "But my sense is if (James) plays, we'll be just like we were last week (at Tennessee)."
story
<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD>Green Bay (1-1) at Indianapolis (1-1) Sunday, 4:15 pm EDT
</TD></TR><TR><TD>INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning and Brett Favre duel for the second and perhaps last time Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts stage their home opener against the Green Bay Packers in an interconference matchup.
Of course, the Pro Bowl quarterbacks wouldn't mind setting a date for February 6 in Jacksonville for Super Bowl XXXIX.
The first meeting was quite a memorable one at Lambeau Field on November 19, 2001. Favre, a three-time Most Valuable Player from 1995-97, completed 23-of-36 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Packers to a 26-24 victory. Manning threw for 294 yards and three scores.
Both quarterbacks stand for durability and excellence. Favre, who turns 35 in October, ranks in the NFL's top five in four major categories: second in touchdowns (348), fourth in completions (3,999), fifth in attempts (6,528) and fifth in yards (46,041).
With a career record of 126-65, Favre holds the fourth-highest winning percentage among starting quarterbacks who began their careers since the 1970 league merger.
And then of course, there's the streak. Favre has started 191 consecutive games, 210 including playoffs, which is an NFL record for a quarterback.
Manning will be starting his 99th consecutive game on Sunday, the fourth-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history and the longest to start a career. Manning ranks behind Favre, Ron Jaworski (116, 1977-84) and Joe Ferguson (107, 1977-84) The co-Most Valuable Player in 2003, Manning reached 25,000 passing yards in 97 games, second to Dan Marino at 92. Favre was tied for third fastest to 25,000 in 107 games.
Manning is the only NFL player to throw for more than 3,000 yards in each of his first six seasons. He is also the only player to throw for more than 4,000 yards in five consecutive seasons (1999-2003). Favre had three 4,000-yard seasons (1995, 1998-99).
After opening the season against two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Tom Brady and fellow MVP Steve McNair in 2003, Manning now draws Favre, who threw for 252 yards, but was intercepted twice in last week's 21-10 loss to Chicago.
Manning has completed 40-of-62 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in Indianapolis' first two games. He threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts' 31-17 victory at Tennessee last week.
But Manning may not have Edgerrin James in his backfield this weekend. James suffered a hamstring injury after breaking off a 30-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter last week. He has rushed for 266 yards on 51 carries in Indianapolis' first two games.
With James Lee making his first start at defensive tackle last week for an injured Grady Jackson (knee), the Packers yielded 152 yards on the ground to Chicago's Thomas Jones.
Favre will have Ahman Green, who has gained 247 yards on 57 carries in Green Bay's first two games. But Green committed a key fumble in last week's loss, getting stripped of the ball at the Chicago 2 by Brian Urlacher and safety Mike Brown returned it 95 yards for a touchdown.
The Colts also had trouble defending the run, giving up 152 yards on the ground to Tennessee's Chris Brown last week.
Matchup to watch: Packers left tackle Chad Clifton faces Colts right end Dwight Freeney.
Series: Green Bay leads the series, 20-19-1, although the teams have met just three times in the last 13 years.
Next week: Green Bay hosts the New York Giants, October 3 Indianapolis visits Jacksonville, October 3
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
www.usatoday.com
</TD></TR><TR><TD>INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Peyton Manning and Brett Favre duel for the second and perhaps last time Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts stage their home opener against the Green Bay Packers in an interconference matchup.
Of course, the Pro Bowl quarterbacks wouldn't mind setting a date for February 6 in Jacksonville for Super Bowl XXXIX.
The first meeting was quite a memorable one at Lambeau Field on November 19, 2001. Favre, a three-time Most Valuable Player from 1995-97, completed 23-of-36 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Packers to a 26-24 victory. Manning threw for 294 yards and three scores.
Both quarterbacks stand for durability and excellence. Favre, who turns 35 in October, ranks in the NFL's top five in four major categories: second in touchdowns (348), fourth in completions (3,999), fifth in attempts (6,528) and fifth in yards (46,041).
With a career record of 126-65, Favre holds the fourth-highest winning percentage among starting quarterbacks who began their careers since the 1970 league merger.
And then of course, there's the streak. Favre has started 191 consecutive games, 210 including playoffs, which is an NFL record for a quarterback.
Manning will be starting his 99th consecutive game on Sunday, the fourth-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history and the longest to start a career. Manning ranks behind Favre, Ron Jaworski (116, 1977-84) and Joe Ferguson (107, 1977-84) The co-Most Valuable Player in 2003, Manning reached 25,000 passing yards in 97 games, second to Dan Marino at 92. Favre was tied for third fastest to 25,000 in 107 games.
Manning is the only NFL player to throw for more than 3,000 yards in each of his first six seasons. He is also the only player to throw for more than 4,000 yards in five consecutive seasons (1999-2003). Favre had three 4,000-yard seasons (1995, 1998-99).
After opening the season against two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Tom Brady and fellow MVP Steve McNair in 2003, Manning now draws Favre, who threw for 252 yards, but was intercepted twice in last week's 21-10 loss to Chicago.
Manning has completed 40-of-62 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in Indianapolis' first two games. He threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the Colts' 31-17 victory at Tennessee last week.
But Manning may not have Edgerrin James in his backfield this weekend. James suffered a hamstring injury after breaking off a 30-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter last week. He has rushed for 266 yards on 51 carries in Indianapolis' first two games.
With James Lee making his first start at defensive tackle last week for an injured Grady Jackson (knee), the Packers yielded 152 yards on the ground to Chicago's Thomas Jones.
Favre will have Ahman Green, who has gained 247 yards on 57 carries in Green Bay's first two games. But Green committed a key fumble in last week's loss, getting stripped of the ball at the Chicago 2 by Brian Urlacher and safety Mike Brown returned it 95 yards for a touchdown.
The Colts also had trouble defending the run, giving up 152 yards on the ground to Tennessee's Chris Brown last week.
Matchup to watch: Packers left tackle Chad Clifton faces Colts right end Dwight Freeney.
Series: Green Bay leads the series, 20-19-1, although the teams have met just three times in the last 13 years.
Next week: Green Bay hosts the New York Giants, October 3 Indianapolis visits Jacksonville, October 3
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
www.usatoday.com
Colts let down in second. Seemed to content. Defense was bad and hopefully improves week to week. Colts win 45-31 and show their needs in the process. They cannot win a title with this D cabability, but we have some injuries there and maybe we can get much better by year end. A win is a win.
@ Jacksonville next week.
Colts 1-1 in AFC, 1-0 in NFC, and 1-0 in AFC South
2004 Schedule
1 9/9 @ New England Patriots L 24 - 27
2 9/19 @ Tennessee Titans W 31 - 17
3 9/26 GREEN BAY PACKERS W 45-31
4 10/3 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 12:00 PM
5 10/10 OAKLAND RAIDERS 12:00 PM
6 10/17 BYE
7 10/24 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 12:00 PM
8 10/31 @ Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 PM
9 11/8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9:00 PM
10 11/14 HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 PM
11 11/21 @ Chicago Bears 1:00 PM
12 11/25 @ Detroit Lions 12:30 PM
13 12/5 TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM
14 12/12 @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM
15 12/19 BALTIMORE RAVENS 8:30 PM
16 12/26 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1:00 PM
17 1/2 @ Denver Broncos 4:15 PM
Congrats to all Colt backers today.
@ Jacksonville next week.
Colts 1-1 in AFC, 1-0 in NFC, and 1-0 in AFC South
2004 Schedule
1 9/9 @ New England Patriots L 24 - 27
2 9/19 @ Tennessee Titans W 31 - 17
3 9/26 GREEN BAY PACKERS W 45-31
4 10/3 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 12:00 PM
5 10/10 OAKLAND RAIDERS 12:00 PM
6 10/17 BYE
7 10/24 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 12:00 PM
8 10/31 @ Kansas City Chiefs 1:00 PM
9 11/8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9:00 PM
10 11/14 HOUSTON TEXANS 1:00 PM
11 11/21 @ Chicago Bears 1:00 PM
12 11/25 @ Detroit Lions 12:30 PM
13 12/5 TENNESSEE TITANS 1:00 PM
14 12/12 @ Houston Texans 1:00 PM
15 12/19 BALTIMORE RAVENS 8:30 PM
16 12/26 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 1:00 PM
17 1/2 @ Denver Broncos 4:15 PM
Congrats to all Colt backers today.
Depleted Colts’ secondary may also be without safety Bashir
Indianapolis Colts safety Idrees Bashir’s injured groin could keep him out of this week’s game at Jacksonville.
Bashir left Sunday’s game against Green Bay early in the second half after trying to play through the injury. Colts coach Tony Dungy said Monday he was still waiting for MRI results before announcing Bashir’s status against the AFC South-leading Jaguars.
The Colts secondary has been hit hard by injuries.
Indianapolis’ other starting safety, Mike Doss, hasn’t played since the opener because of a pulled right hamstring and may miss a couple of other weeks.
Cornerback Joseph Jefferson, who battled for the starting job with Donald Strickland, hasn’t played this season after having knee surgery in late August.
Strickland played Sunday despite a sore right shoulder, and Dungy said the Colts’ other starting cornerback, Nick Harper, got banged up in Sunday’s 45-31 victory over Green Bay. Harper is not expected to miss any time.
The Colts’ top draft pick, Bob Sanders, still has not practiced with the team after a lengthy holdout. Sanders did not participate in the Colts’ offseason workouts because he was recovering from surgery for a stress fracture in his right foot.
Wide receiver Brandon Stokley also hurt his hip Sunday, but is expected to play this week.
http://www.fortwayne.com
Indianapolis Colts safety Idrees Bashir’s injured groin could keep him out of this week’s game at Jacksonville.
Bashir left Sunday’s game against Green Bay early in the second half after trying to play through the injury. Colts coach Tony Dungy said Monday he was still waiting for MRI results before announcing Bashir’s status against the AFC South-leading Jaguars.
The Colts secondary has been hit hard by injuries.
Indianapolis’ other starting safety, Mike Doss, hasn’t played since the opener because of a pulled right hamstring and may miss a couple of other weeks.
Cornerback Joseph Jefferson, who battled for the starting job with Donald Strickland, hasn’t played this season after having knee surgery in late August.
Strickland played Sunday despite a sore right shoulder, and Dungy said the Colts’ other starting cornerback, Nick Harper, got banged up in Sunday’s 45-31 victory over Green Bay. Harper is not expected to miss any time.
The Colts’ top draft pick, Bob Sanders, still has not practiced with the team after a lengthy holdout. Sanders did not participate in the Colts’ offseason workouts because he was recovering from surgery for a stress fracture in his right foot.
Wide receiver Brandon Stokley also hurt his hip Sunday, but is expected to play this week.
http://www.fortwayne.com
Dungy wants to see Colts make strides on defense soon
Someone asked Tony Dungy to pinpoint the exact moment he became an offensive genius. This was on the heels of the Peyton Manning-armed onslaught that buried the Green Bay Packers, so the punch line came quickly from the Indianapolis Colts coach:
the moment Dungy became the Colts coach and inherited Manning, Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James and Tom Moore, the coordinator who was once his position coach in college.
There is no joking, though, when the topic turns to defense.
Dungy has an offense that has scored an NFL-high 100 points, but his defense ranks last, allowing 416.7 yards a game. After making his mark as a defensive guru and building a signature unit in Tampa Bay, you can imagine his pain in considering the imbalance.
"We're not going to win if we don't start playing better on defense," warns Dungy, whose 2-1 team visits the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-0) Sunday with first in the AFC South at stake. "I'm not a big one into stats and yards, but we have to play better. We have to have fewer mistakes and give up less big plays. If we do that, we've got a chance. If we don't, it's hard to win those three or four games down the stretch that you need to win."
The Colts defense ranked 11th in yards and fifth against the pass en route to the AFC title game last season. But with a secondary ravaged by injuries and three matchups in a row against MVP quarterbacks —Tom Brady, then Steve McNair and Brett Favre— it has stumbled out of the gate this season.
Weekly shootouts are not part of Dungy's master plan, no matter how coldly efficient his offense can be. "It frustrates me when we're not playing defense as well as I would like," Dungy said. "But I'm glad we have our offense. And I kind of like watching them."
The Colts offense has scored on 16 of 33 possessions this season, a rate that can provide any defense the luxury of often playing with a lead. But the pressure on that offense can become enormous, too, which was evident Sunday when the Packers clawed back in the second half while the Colts went four drives in a row without scoring a touchdown.
"We know the defense will catch up," Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne said. "There are a lot of young guys over there, and the secondary is banged up. Last year there were times when the offense didn't do so hot and the defense made the plays that we needed. So there are times when we struggle; times they struggle. Somebody has to carry the load."
The secondary problems have compounded matters. Injured starting safeties Mike Doss (hamstring) and Idrees Bashir (groin) could miss Sunday's game, leaving Dungy and defensive coordinator Ron Meeks to mull contingencies that include Gerome Sapp, just signed last week after being released by the Baltimore Ravens, or switching cornerback Donald Strickland. The team's top draft pick, second-round safety Bob Sanders, isn't ready to contribute. A late signee, he hasn't even practiced, fueling speculation the stress fracture he has been rehabbing was worse than the team previously indicated.
"Until he practices," Dungy said, "he's a week away from playing."
Despite the cloud over the secondary, Dungy sees rays of light on a defensive line that he says is playing the best since he's been on board. And the unit has demonstrated an uncanny knack for producing big plays in the fourth quarter, when all of the Colts' six forced turnovers occurred.
Rookie cornerback Jason David came through in the latter stages for the second consecutive week Sunday when he stripped Javon Walker to thwart Green Bay's would-be game-tying drive.
Says Dungy, "We're going to have to get to the point where it doesn't take us two-and-a-half quarters of seeing what the other guys are doing before we shut them down."
Cato June, breaking in as a starter at outside linebacker in his second pro season, can relate.
"It's like you're going through growing pains," he says, "but it's a crash course."
www.usatoday.com
Someone asked Tony Dungy to pinpoint the exact moment he became an offensive genius. This was on the heels of the Peyton Manning-armed onslaught that buried the Green Bay Packers, so the punch line came quickly from the Indianapolis Colts coach:
the moment Dungy became the Colts coach and inherited Manning, Marvin Harrison, Edgerrin James and Tom Moore, the coordinator who was once his position coach in college.
There is no joking, though, when the topic turns to defense.
Dungy has an offense that has scored an NFL-high 100 points, but his defense ranks last, allowing 416.7 yards a game. After making his mark as a defensive guru and building a signature unit in Tampa Bay, you can imagine his pain in considering the imbalance.
"We're not going to win if we don't start playing better on defense," warns Dungy, whose 2-1 team visits the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-0) Sunday with first in the AFC South at stake. "I'm not a big one into stats and yards, but we have to play better. We have to have fewer mistakes and give up less big plays. If we do that, we've got a chance. If we don't, it's hard to win those three or four games down the stretch that you need to win."
The Colts defense ranked 11th in yards and fifth against the pass en route to the AFC title game last season. But with a secondary ravaged by injuries and three matchups in a row against MVP quarterbacks —Tom Brady, then Steve McNair and Brett Favre— it has stumbled out of the gate this season.
Weekly shootouts are not part of Dungy's master plan, no matter how coldly efficient his offense can be. "It frustrates me when we're not playing defense as well as I would like," Dungy said. "But I'm glad we have our offense. And I kind of like watching them."
The Colts offense has scored on 16 of 33 possessions this season, a rate that can provide any defense the luxury of often playing with a lead. But the pressure on that offense can become enormous, too, which was evident Sunday when the Packers clawed back in the second half while the Colts went four drives in a row without scoring a touchdown.
"We know the defense will catch up," Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne said. "There are a lot of young guys over there, and the secondary is banged up. Last year there were times when the offense didn't do so hot and the defense made the plays that we needed. So there are times when we struggle; times they struggle. Somebody has to carry the load."
The secondary problems have compounded matters. Injured starting safeties Mike Doss (hamstring) and Idrees Bashir (groin) could miss Sunday's game, leaving Dungy and defensive coordinator Ron Meeks to mull contingencies that include Gerome Sapp, just signed last week after being released by the Baltimore Ravens, or switching cornerback Donald Strickland. The team's top draft pick, second-round safety Bob Sanders, isn't ready to contribute. A late signee, he hasn't even practiced, fueling speculation the stress fracture he has been rehabbing was worse than the team previously indicated.
"Until he practices," Dungy said, "he's a week away from playing."
Despite the cloud over the secondary, Dungy sees rays of light on a defensive line that he says is playing the best since he's been on board. And the unit has demonstrated an uncanny knack for producing big plays in the fourth quarter, when all of the Colts' six forced turnovers occurred.
Rookie cornerback Jason David came through in the latter stages for the second consecutive week Sunday when he stripped Javon Walker to thwart Green Bay's would-be game-tying drive.
Says Dungy, "We're going to have to get to the point where it doesn't take us two-and-a-half quarters of seeing what the other guys are doing before we shut them down."
Cato June, breaking in as a starter at outside linebacker in his second pro season, can relate.
"It's like you're going through growing pains," he says, "but it's a crash course."
www.usatoday.com
