New-look Colts: Manning’s not alone
By Albert Breer/ MetroWest Daily News
Monday, November 7, 2005 - Updated: 06:59 AM EST


FOXBORO – For better or worse, fingers always are pointed at the quarterback. --football gambling--As such, Peyton Manning has shouldered much of the blame for the Colts’ failure to get past the Patriots. And in both the 2003 AFC Championship Game and the ’04 divisional playoff, a lot of that criticism was fair. --football gambling--

But the outcome would’ve been much different for Manning if Edgerrin James had produced in big spots during the regular season. With the game on the line two years ago, the tailback failed to score on three runs from inside the Pats’ 2, and last year, he coughed up a golden opportunity by fumbling in the red zone.--football gambling--

Each time, a win would have given Indy home-field advantage in the playoffs, thus sparing Manning his snowshoeing trips to Foxboro. --football gambling--

This time around, James again will be the key, especially since yesterday’s MLS playoff match between the Revolution and Chicago turned the area between the hash marks at Gillette into a mud pit. The Colts have emphasized controlling the ball to aid their fourth-ranked defense, and James, a seventh-year back, came into Week 9 leading the NFL with 801 yards rushing on 163 carries and seven touchdowns. --football gambling--

“People are doing things to try to take our passing game away, and they have given us more of what we call ‘run looks’ that the quarterback is instructed to run the ball against,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “We have to run it more, and we’re running it well.”
The Indy offense also has been attacked by more teams playing cover-3 defenses and other off-looks to prevent the big play. After averaging 9.17 yards per attempt last fall, Manning is down to 7.60. --football gambling--

Still, the quarterback is on pace for his most accurate season, completing a stunning 68.1 percent of his passes while spreading the ball to wideouts Reggie Wayne (37 receptions for 437 yards) and Marvin Harrison (37-388), along with Brandon Stokley (21-237) out of the slot. All three have experienced drops in their yards-per-catch numbers, and that seems to be a product of what defenses are giving them.--football gambling--

“(Opponents) have taken away a lot of the play-action passes where we got big plays,” Dungy said. “They have taken away the deep throws down the middle and forced us into a different style.” --football gambling--

Indy’s style on the other side of the ball remains what it has been – a cover-2, one-gap, penetrating look – only now it’s much more effective. Dungy has finally found experienced players to fit the scheme. A smallish front features All-Pro end Dwight Freeney (seven sacks), who will stunt and shoot gaps to get to Pats quarterback Tom Brady. Nickel rusher Robert Mathis (eight) is the type of speedy player Dungy favors up front. And defensive tackle Corey Simon balances it out as a powerful run-stopping presence. --football gambling--

“They sack the quarterback, they (take the ball away), they have guys that make a lot of interceptions,” Brady said. “They do it all.” --football gambling--

Linebacker Cato June leads the Colts with five picks, two of which he’s brought back for scores. Gary Brackett has 56 tackles and two INTs. --football gambling--

Behind that duo is a physical secondary – like the one Dungy had at Tampa Bay – led by cornerbacks Jason David, Nick Harper and Marlin Jackson on the perimeter and hard-hitting safeties Mike Doss and Bob Sand. --football gambling--