The Colts' defense rises to the occasion—finally

Dan Pompei

The Colts' defense won't finish in the top 10 in yards allowed. It won't physically dominate a massive offensive line. It won't stonewall many power backs on the goal line.

And it also won't hold back the Colts' offense anymore--except maybe on Wednesday through Friday, when the units square off in practice.

On Sundays, the Colts' defense is helping the Colts' offense more than ever. Really, the defense has carried the offense through two games. After their 10-3 win over the Jaguars on Sunday, the Colts have allowed a total of 10 points. "Are they the best defense in the league? Maybe not," Ravens coach Brian Billick says. "But they're good enough to augment their offense and win."

In Tony Dungy's fourth season in Indianapolis, more defenders are comfortable with their assignments. They are hitting harder, partially because they are more confident in their assignments. In particular, the linebacker trio of Gary Brackett, David Thornton and Cato June is playing faster than Colts linebackers have played in recent years.

"It's playing together, experience, knowing the scheme, trusting the scheme, trusting each other," defensive end Dwight Freeney says. "It's knowing everything around you. The longer you're together, the better you're going to be."

It's also significant that more Colts defenders fit the scheme better. Brackett is quicker, more instinctive, more explosive and better in coverage than the player he replaced at middle linebacker, Rob Morris. With Nick Harper, Jason David and rookie Marlin Jackson, the Colts finally have cornerbacks who excel at the cover 2 scheme.

"They didn't let us get behind them," Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith says. "In the past, we always managed to get behind them. It's a lot better defense from last year."

To understand why the Colts are a more viable threat to play in the Super Bowl, you must understand the concept of Dungy's defense. It is intended to complement Indy's offense the way the silk handkerchief is intended to complement the custom-made suit. Yet skeptics still will try to blow their noses in it.

For the defense to hold up over 16 games--or maybe 19--it will be dependent on the offense striking quickly. That will allow the defense to pass-rush aggressively and play soft coverage. The Colts still will give up yards the way a screen door gives up a summer breeze. They really aren't concerned with that.

They are concerned with making big plays. Freeney and Robert Mathis already have established themselves as perhaps the most unblockable pair of nickel speed rushers in the game. This season, tackles Larry Tripplett and Montae Reagor have added to the pass rush.

After the Colts took the lead in the fourth quarter Sunday and the Jaguars were forced to throw, quarterback Byron Leftwich became horse chow. "Once we make an offense one-dimensional, we're feasting, baby," Reagor says. "It's time to eat." The Colts nearly knocked Leftwich out of the game, as they did the previous week to the Ravens' Kyle Boiler.

How newly acquired tackle Corey Simon fits into the Colts' upfield scheme remains to be seen. The last time Simon played in a one-gap system was six years and maybe 50 pounds ago, at Florida State. In two games, Simon has made an impact in the middle of the line, but he has worn down, in part because he might weigh more than some economy automobiles.

Undersized players such as Freeney and Mathis won't help much when the Colts are trailing by 14 because opponents can run at them and wear them down. Simon, on the other hand, gives the Colts the physical presence they lacked.

Because the defense is composed of a bunch of little buggers, the Colts' defensive backs must make more tackles than most. So it's imperative for them to be physical. For this reason, Jackson, the team's first-round pick who also played safety at Michigan, fits the scheme perfectly. Free safety Bob Sanders, the Colts' top pick a year ago, hits hard enough to turn opposing players' helmets into shrapnel.

The Colts have been building and nurturing their defense to get to this point for several years. Now, the defense doesn't have to apologize to the offense.

As for you, Peyton Manning, how about a little help for the "D"?

speed reads

New Vikings owner Zygi Wilf needs to tread carefully with his plan to become more involved in the team's day-to-day operations. Be should remember these words of wisdom from former Vikings general manager Jim Finks: Coaches should coach, general managers should general manage, and owners should own.

If Mike Martz can win the NFC West with "back stabbers" and "throat slashers" after him in his own building, maybe he should be the coach of the year.

Brian Billick owes it to the Ravens to be open-minded about the quarterback Situation if Anthony Wright performs well during Kyle Boiler's absence. I admire Billick's conviction in Boller and his unwavering support of the third-year quarterback. But this team has the potential to be too good to let an erratic quarterback screw things up.

If Joe Gibbs had such little faith in Patrick Ramsey, he should have had Mark Brunell start the Redskins' season opener.

Good move by Colts owner Jim Irsay and president Bill Polian to extend the contract of coach Tony Dungy. Continuity will serve this organization well.

Strengths, weaknesses, tendencies-more than 1,900 players are analyzed, graded and ranked by football scouts in the Ultimate Pro Football Scouting Guide. Get yours now at newsstands or order by phone at 800-825-8508 or online at sportingnews.com/books/football.

INSIDE DISH

The free-agent bargain of the year could be OT Victor Riley. The Texans gave Riley a $50,000 signing bonus in May. There hadn't been much of a market for the former Saint, who was reputed to have weight and attitude issues. When the Texans signed Riley, he was more than 350 pounds. At the start of training camp, he had dropped about 20 pounds and passed the team's grueling conditioning test. The Texans moved Riley to left tackle, a position he had not played in his seven previous NFL seasons. So far, Riley's intelligence and long arms have made him a more than adequate blocker. * When the subject of teams that are switching to the 3-4 comes up, the Chiefs rarely are mentioned. But look for them to play more 3-4 in the next few weeks. The front worked well in their opener, and then the team lost DT Ryan Sims for the foreseeable future with a foot sprain. The solution to replacing Sims could be playing a three-man front with Lional Dalton at nose tackle and John Browning and Jared Allen at ends. At linebacker, Kendrell Bell would move from outside to inside and a fourth linebacker would come off the bench on the outside. * The Broncos took some heat after drafting CB Darrent Williams in the second round. Williams came out of Oklahoma State highly regarded for his football ability but lowly regarded for his character. So far, the Broncos have been thrilled with Williams, who gained the third corner spot. Coaches say he has shown intelligence, passion and coachability. * Falcons owner Arthur Blank was chatting with Eagles owner Jeff Lurie on the field at the Georgia Dome when the fight broke out between Falcons DB Kevin Mathis and Eagles MLB Jeremiah Trotter. Blank saw what was happening and jokingly offered this suggestion to Lurie: Why don't you and I start fighting to distract everyone and break this up? * The sudden and stunning emergence of Steelers RB Willie Parker has NFL talent evaluators backchecking their records to see how they missed on this kid. One executive said he is convinced Parker is "Terrell Davis all over again." Most NFL teams barely had Parker on their radar screens because in college, Parker never established himself as the lead dog in the North Carolina backfield. Steelers scout Dan Rooney Jr., remembering what a fine player Parker was in high school, recommended signing him as an undrafted free agent last year. Now the Steelers find themselves with a back who has speed, strength and elusiveness. There's no doubt about one thing: Parker can slip through the cracks. * The Bills will miss DT Pat Williams on running downs, but the defense might be improved on passing downs with DTs Ron Edwards and Tim Anderson taking Williams' place. Edwards and Anderson are more versatile players who can defend the run and the pass. Edwards, in particular, has picked up his game. * New Jaguars DE Reggie Hayward might not be making many plays, but the pricey free agent is making an impact. The former Bronco has played solid run defense and has rushed the passer well. Though he has no sacks, Hayward has pressured the quarterback repeatedly and has made the Jags' front four a more balanced unit.

HEAR, HEAR

'We've been great two straight games.'

--Defensive tackle Corey Simon, discussing the Colts' defense with Bob Berger and Bob Stelton on Sporting News Radio

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