The Buffalo Bills have given up 30 sacks this season. That number could increase significantly if they don't figure out a way to slow down Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney on Sunday.
Despite starting just 18 of his first 26 games, the super-quick Freeney has blazed past opposing blockers for 21 sacks and 51 pressures. His equally quick chop move has forced 12 fumbles. With six games remaining, he could challenge Reggie White's National Football League record of 31 sacks in his first two seasons.
Freeney came to the Colts after a stellar career at Syracuse University, where he set a single-season school record of 171/2 sacks during a consensus All-American senior year.
Yet when Indianapolis took the 6-foot-1, 268-pounder with the 11th pick overall in the 2002 draft, some critics thought the Colts chose him too early, suggesting he was too small to play in the NFL and labeling him as strictly a pass-rush specialist.
But Freeney has proved the critics wrong. He is a big reason for the Colts' 8-2 record. He is clearly the team's defensive catalyst and a player that opponents must increasingly account for in their game plans.
"He's a fun guy to watch because he's got a lot of speed and is able to make some plays that have been momentum plays in the ballgame," said Bills coach Gregg Williams. "We're going to have to do a good job in the (pass) protection part of it and we're going to have to do a good job to set him off his heels a little bit and make him play the run, too."
The popular theory is the best way to neutralize the undersized Freeney is by running right at him. But he has been fairly stout against the run, despite weighing 50 to 70 pounds less than the man in front of him.
In drafting Freeney, the Colts saw an every-down player who could rush the passer, play the run and even drop into coverage on occasion because of his speed and athleticism.
"Maybe in a lot of systems he would not be, but for what we do he was an ideal fit," said Colts coach Tony Dungy. "We liked his energy and his speed. We liked everything about him. So it was a matter of the right type of talent coming to the right type of system to flourish."
Freeney never doubted he could have an immediate impact in the NFL, even if others did. He could become the first Colts defender to make the Pro Bowl since linebacker Duane Bickett in 1987.
"Stuff like that doesn't concern me," he said during a recent national conference call. "You get a lot of negative thoughts and everybody is saying negative things about you as a player and how you play or you are too small, this that, and the other. I kind of just use that as positive energy for me to go out there and perform. I just take the negative and turn it into a positive and use it as fuel."
Freeney must have rocket fuel the way he explodes off the line of scrimmage. Speed is a key to his success, but so is technique.
He is deceptively strong and uses his hands well to fight off blockers. He also plays with great leverage when engaged with an offensive lineman at the point of attack.
After setting team records with 13 sacks and 36 pressures as a rookie, Freeney knew he would command more attention this season. So he spent the offseason improving his strength, refining his moves and working against extra blockers.
"Offensive linemen get paid, too," Freeney said. "Therefore, I'm not going to be able to make a play each time that I go out there. You want to kind of think that way, but you understand sometimes they're going to get you. What really matters is through the longevity of the game just understanding that you are going to have your turn to make a play. You have to keep at it and keep going because you are not always going to make a play every time."
Dungy has been impressed by Freeney's work ethic and how quickly Freeney has adapted to being the focal point of opposing offenses.
"It happens to all the guys who have success early," Dungy said. "All of a sudden, you get different things thrown at you. You get backs helping out, you get the line sliding to you, you get tight ends on your side, you get more double teams. So you have to adjust your game. And if you have one thing that's been successful for you, most good offenses are going to try and take that away. So you have to develop some counters and some different moves. I think that's part of the maturing process and Dwight is doing that really well."
Freeney can expect to receive plenty of attention from the Bills on Sunday. In fact, it's unlikely anyone will dare to play him one-on-one again this season.
The Miami Dolphins tried earlier this season and paid dearly. All Freeney did was get three sacks, two forced fumbles, create an intentional grounding call and made two game-saving plays in the final two minutes of a 23-17 Colts victory.
"He's got the speed to beat you outside and he's got a good inside move," said Bills left tackle Jonas Jennings, whose strained hip flexor has him questionable for Sunday. "He's also in the right scheme that suits his talents. It's another good right D-end I have to be ready for."
Even on double-teams, the Bills can't relax against Freeney, who plays with a relentless style.
"He's very fast, he has great quickness and he has a high motor," Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "You watch him and hope you see him take a play off every now and then, but he's not that kind of guy. He brings it every play."
How much better will Freeney get? Dungy thinks the possibilities are endless.
Freeney feels the same way, but he doesn't want a career based solely on statistics.
"My goals are more "go out there, perform and do the best you can every time you are out there,' " he said. "So regardless if I get three sacks or I don't get any sacks, just as long as I am giving 100 percent effort and getting better as a player, that's all I care about."
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Despite starting just 18 of his first 26 games, the super-quick Freeney has blazed past opposing blockers for 21 sacks and 51 pressures. His equally quick chop move has forced 12 fumbles. With six games remaining, he could challenge Reggie White's National Football League record of 31 sacks in his first two seasons.
Freeney came to the Colts after a stellar career at Syracuse University, where he set a single-season school record of 171/2 sacks during a consensus All-American senior year.
Yet when Indianapolis took the 6-foot-1, 268-pounder with the 11th pick overall in the 2002 draft, some critics thought the Colts chose him too early, suggesting he was too small to play in the NFL and labeling him as strictly a pass-rush specialist.
But Freeney has proved the critics wrong. He is a big reason for the Colts' 8-2 record. He is clearly the team's defensive catalyst and a player that opponents must increasingly account for in their game plans.
"He's a fun guy to watch because he's got a lot of speed and is able to make some plays that have been momentum plays in the ballgame," said Bills coach Gregg Williams. "We're going to have to do a good job in the (pass) protection part of it and we're going to have to do a good job to set him off his heels a little bit and make him play the run, too."
The popular theory is the best way to neutralize the undersized Freeney is by running right at him. But he has been fairly stout against the run, despite weighing 50 to 70 pounds less than the man in front of him.
In drafting Freeney, the Colts saw an every-down player who could rush the passer, play the run and even drop into coverage on occasion because of his speed and athleticism.
"Maybe in a lot of systems he would not be, but for what we do he was an ideal fit," said Colts coach Tony Dungy. "We liked his energy and his speed. We liked everything about him. So it was a matter of the right type of talent coming to the right type of system to flourish."
Freeney never doubted he could have an immediate impact in the NFL, even if others did. He could become the first Colts defender to make the Pro Bowl since linebacker Duane Bickett in 1987.
"Stuff like that doesn't concern me," he said during a recent national conference call. "You get a lot of negative thoughts and everybody is saying negative things about you as a player and how you play or you are too small, this that, and the other. I kind of just use that as positive energy for me to go out there and perform. I just take the negative and turn it into a positive and use it as fuel."
Freeney must have rocket fuel the way he explodes off the line of scrimmage. Speed is a key to his success, but so is technique.
He is deceptively strong and uses his hands well to fight off blockers. He also plays with great leverage when engaged with an offensive lineman at the point of attack.
After setting team records with 13 sacks and 36 pressures as a rookie, Freeney knew he would command more attention this season. So he spent the offseason improving his strength, refining his moves and working against extra blockers.
"Offensive linemen get paid, too," Freeney said. "Therefore, I'm not going to be able to make a play each time that I go out there. You want to kind of think that way, but you understand sometimes they're going to get you. What really matters is through the longevity of the game just understanding that you are going to have your turn to make a play. You have to keep at it and keep going because you are not always going to make a play every time."
Dungy has been impressed by Freeney's work ethic and how quickly Freeney has adapted to being the focal point of opposing offenses.
"It happens to all the guys who have success early," Dungy said. "All of a sudden, you get different things thrown at you. You get backs helping out, you get the line sliding to you, you get tight ends on your side, you get more double teams. So you have to adjust your game. And if you have one thing that's been successful for you, most good offenses are going to try and take that away. So you have to develop some counters and some different moves. I think that's part of the maturing process and Dwight is doing that really well."
Freeney can expect to receive plenty of attention from the Bills on Sunday. In fact, it's unlikely anyone will dare to play him one-on-one again this season.
The Miami Dolphins tried earlier this season and paid dearly. All Freeney did was get three sacks, two forced fumbles, create an intentional grounding call and made two game-saving plays in the final two minutes of a 23-17 Colts victory.
"He's got the speed to beat you outside and he's got a good inside move," said Bills left tackle Jonas Jennings, whose strained hip flexor has him questionable for Sunday. "He's also in the right scheme that suits his talents. It's another good right D-end I have to be ready for."
Even on double-teams, the Bills can't relax against Freeney, who plays with a relentless style.
"He's very fast, he has great quickness and he has a high motor," Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "You watch him and hope you see him take a play off every now and then, but he's not that kind of guy. He brings it every play."
How much better will Freeney get? Dungy thinks the possibilities are endless.
Freeney feels the same way, but he doesn't want a career based solely on statistics.
"My goals are more "go out there, perform and do the best you can every time you are out there,' " he said. "So regardless if I get three sacks or I don't get any sacks, just as long as I am giving 100 percent effort and getting better as a player, that's all I care about."
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