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October 13, 2008

A complete game: Colts reflect on their finest performance of season

By Tom James

INDIANAPOLIS — After a series of up-and-down performances in the first four games, the Indianapolis Colts defense finally displayed a glimpse of what it can accomplish during Sunday’s 31-3 National Football League win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Indianapolis held the Ravens without a touchdown and limited Baltimore’s offense to just 260

total yards.

The Colts’ run defense, in particular, stepped up its play and allowed just 51 total yards. Not a bad day’s work for a unit that had been ranked near the bottom of the NFL in stopping the run.

How good is the defense playing right now? Indianapolis has forced eight turnovers (four interceptions and four fumbles) in its last 65 minutes on the field in game with Houston and Baltimore. Previously, in its first three games against Chicago, Minnesota and Jacksonville, the Colts had forced just three turnovers.

“We just went out there [against the Ravens] and played a complete game. We hadn’t done that thus far this season. And it was good to get that done,” middle linebacker Gary Brackett said Monday.

Brackett, one of the Colts’ three captains, admits that he couldn’t help but hear the negative comments directed toward the Indianapolis defensive unit. But he hasn’t let outside talk effect the way that he plays or goes about his job.

“Myself, personally, I never let anyone else’s perception of our [defensive] team become our reality. I knew our run defense has been shaky at times. But I think, for the most part, it comes down to some of the long runs we’ve given up,” he said.

“If you eliminate some of those long plays, then we’re right in the middle of the pack [among the league’s defenses]. Right now, my focus is to not allow any long runs in there and play fast. Our front four did a great job of getting us started [against the Ravens] in the first quarter and allowed us to play fast for the rest of the game.”

That’s the key for the Colts defense, playing fast. It’s easier to do that when Indianapolis is playing with a lead, which allows the defensive unit to pin its ears back and go after the football.

“That’s what this team is based on: getting turnovers, playing fast, getting off on the snap of the ball and letting these guys [the Colts offense] put some points on the board,” Brackett said. “Why it’s been happening lately is that guys have just been playing fast. Guys have been taking advantage of their opportunities.

“For us, [the Baltimore game] was almost like a perfect storm — stopping the run, which is first and foremost, which allows us to get after the quarterback. And when you do that, the quarterback’s going to throw some turnover balls. You’ve just got to make a play.”

• Hagler, Lilja eligible to return for practice — Strongside linebacker Tyjuan Hagler (pectoral muscle) and offensive guard Ryan Lilja (knee) are both eligible to come off the Colts’ physically unable to perform list.

Hagler was hurt while lifting weights prior to the start of training camp. Lilja had knee surgery during the offseason.

“They’ve done a lot of conditioning work. I think, from that standpoint, they’ll be OK,” Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy said Monday. “Tyjuan’s been a good player for us. We got very, very good play [Sunday] from all of the [linebacker] group. But it never hurts you to have more good players out there.

“I saw Ryan [Monday]. He feels a lot better. So we’ll talk to the doctors and see where they are [in their rehab]. But I think those guys will be excited to get out to practice on Wednesday.”

Indianapolis will now have a window of three weeks to determine whether Hagler and Lilja are ready to be returned to the active roster. If one or both are not ready by the end of that three-week period, they would be placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

• Dungy acknowledges Manning’s second surgery — The Colts finally confirmed Monday what had been rumored since the start of the season: quarterback Peyton Manning did undergo a second medical procedure on his left knee before the start of the season.

The situation initially came to light on Aug. 21 when former NFL executive Michael Lombardi wrote in his blog on The National Football Post that Manning had undergone surgery a second time. At the time, both Dungy and Manning had downplayed Lombardi’s comments.

But during Sunday’s telecast of the Colts-Baltimore game on CBS, play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms mentioned that the two-time league MVP had told them that the story was true. According to Nantz and Sims, Manning said that an infection had set in after the first surgery on July 14. He also told them that he needed 80 stitches in the knee after both procedures were completed.

“I don’t think [the two surgeries] set him back. They were kind of part of the whole rehab process. I don’t know exactly what they did in the second surgery. The time frame we were looking at was pretty much when [Manning] came back [to practice],” the Colts coach said.

• Injury list — While the right hamstring strain that sidelined running back Joseph Addai on Sunday does not appear to be serious, rookie running back Mike Hart could be lost for a longer period of time with an injury to his right knee.

“Joe’s got a little hamstring tweak. Don’t know how that’s going to be or how that’s going to play out this week,” Dungy said. “Mike has a knee injury. We’re going to get the [magnetic resonance imaging]. It looks like it could be significant. Don’t know for sure until we get that cleared up. I’m always hesitant to say that, but it really does look like it’s going to be awhile on Mike.”

If neither are available for this week’s road game at Green Bay, the Colts may have to make a few roster decisions. Dominic Rhodes went most of the way at running back for Indianapolis in the win over the Ravens on Sunday after Addai and Hart were hurt.

A couple possible options are undrafted rookie Chad Simpson, who is currently on the Colts’ practice squad, and former Indianapolis running back Clifton Dawson. Dawson was released earlier in the season.

Justin Forsett, who was signed off Seattle’s practice squad in early September to return kicks and then was released last week, is back with the Seahawks.

Dungy would like to bring in someone who is familiar with the Colts’ offensive system and blocking schemes, which would seem to rule out somebody like former Seattle running back Shaun Alexander.

“Someone that knows our system and knows what we’re doing. That’s the biggest thing to come in and be familiar with the pass protections and the audible system. That’s the toughest thing for a back to come in and do. So it would be probably be someone who is familiar with what we do,” he said.

In other injury news, tight end Gijon Robinson (foot) did not practice Monday. His status for the Green Bay game will be updated later this week.

• Game balls — Wide receiver Marvin Harrison (offense), defensive end Robert Mathis (defense) and safety Melvin Bullitt (special teams) were awarded game balls for their performances Sunday against Baltimore.

Harrison caught three passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns while Mathis was officially credited with nine total tackles (eight solo) with three quarterback sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Bullitt, meanwhile, had two special-teams tackles on kickoff coverage.

Colts owner Jim Irsay was also awarded a game ball by the players in recognition of Indianapolis’ first-ever regular-season win at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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