Smith and Dungy have something in common

This season, Colts head coach Tony Dungy and Bears head coach Lovie Smith have more in common than the NFL's Black head coaches fraternity. While more than half of the season is still left to be played en route to the Super Bowl, these coaches have used their winning ways to have been the only two unbeaten teams through Week 5.

"There's a reason that we've gotten to this point, we're doing something right," Smith, in his third year, told Jet regarding the Bears' best start in 20 years. Also, Smith's offense, defense and special teams all were ranked No. 1 going into Week 6. "What we've been doing is working. Our record is showing that and we're ranked statistically. It's just a matter of maintaining that. Doing the things that helped us get to this point so far."

Dungy, in his 5th season with the Colts, expressed his appreciation for his team's hard work and said he was able to relax a little bit during his bye week.

"I enjoy it, definitely, especially this week. I worked for Denny Green and he had a great saying, 'It's hard to win games in the NFL.' Because we've done it a couple of years now, a lot of people want to take it for granted. I don't think we do. I don't think our players do," said Dungy, who led the Colts to 13-game win streak last season.

Acknowledging that there's always a team that everyone is gunning to beat, Dungy admitted that he's pleased it's not the Colts again this season. "I'm kind of glad it's not us this year. We'll let Lovie handle that, and they seem to be doing a pretty good job of it. They're on top of their game all the way around ... and defensively, they're putting the clamps on people when they get ahead and they're having fun. I feel good for them because they put the team together that way and it's coming to fruition."

While neither coach is apologizing for their great start to the season, both acknowledge it is just the beginning and need to make improvements. Smith, the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year for 2005, said the key to a successful season is to celebrate a win, but then get right back to business in practice. "Your past won't help you with that next football game."

COPYRIGHT 2006 Johnson Publishing Co.
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