By Tom James
INDIANAPOLIS — Trying to figure out just what’s wrong with the Indianapolis Colts is not an easy endeavor. Indianapolis’ uncharacteristic 3-4 start has everybody scratching their heads right about now, including Colts coach Tony Dungy and quarterback Peyton Manning.
It wouldn’t be too much of a reach to assume that the Colts’ early season struggles have been somewhat of a stunner to fans, players and coaching staff alike. Even team president Bill Polian hasn’t been immune from attempting to decipher what’s been so different with this year’s team, as compared to recent seasons when Indianapolis got off to quick starts and long winning streaks.
Manning, who has thrown just 10 touchdown passes and has nine interceptions, is the on-field face of the franchise and he’s at somewhat of a loss to explain everything that’s occurred through the first two months of the regular season. The once-potent Indianapolis offense is averaging 21.3 points per game.
“I really can’t give you a one-word or one-sentence summary, but we do need to play better. Our offense needs to find a way to score some more points. It just comes down to executing better and trying to be sound with all 11 guys doing the right thing at the same time and not 10 guys on this play and nine guys on this play. That’s what we need to get back to. And this would be a good week to start doing that,” he said Wednesday.
“This is a good mental test right now. This is when you find out a lot about what you’re made of. It’s easy to feel good and be happy when you’re undefeated. But when your back is up against the wall, it’s what we call gut-check time. I think we will respond the right way. Our effort [against Tennessee] was outstanding the other night, a lot of guys playing hard and flying around. We just have to sharpen it up a little bit and be a little more sound when it comes to the execution part of it. I think we do have the right kind of guys that will keep fighting hard and stick together and answer the challenge.”
When asked if he was currently in a personal slump, statistically speaking, Manning wasn’t quite sure how to respond to the question.
“I think we’re 3-4. I don’t really know how that [referring to the term slump] really applies to football. In baseball, it applies. If you haven’t had a hit in 50 at-bats, I guess that’s a slump. But in football, like I said, we did some good things the other night on offense. We had some good drives and go down [near the end zone] a few other times and just weren’t able to finish the drives off. That’s what it is right now,” he said.
Are the Colts an angry team heading into Sunday night’s nationally televised home game with New England?
“I don’t think anybody’s happy. Everybody’s mad about not winning the game the other night. But everybody realizes why it happened. The Titans made more plays in the second half then we did. It’s about funneling that energy into improvement. Going out and take it to the practice field. Doing our jobs a little bit better and just trying to be better in the execution part of it,” Manning said.
“There are plenty of teams that are angry out there. That doesn’t mean you’re going to go out and win the next week. I know the Patriots couldn’t care less about what our record is or how we feel. But I think we do have the right kinds of guys in the locker room to handle the adversity in football terms. There’s a lot of adversity going on in our world right now, but in football terms this is a tough time right now and we have to fight through it and stick together and believe that something good is going to happen if we keep working.”
How about the frustration level?
“The frustrating thing has been the losses. We just aren’t playing good enough football to win these close game. We’re doing some things well, at times. But throughout the entire four quarters [we] need to be a little bit sharper and execute a little bit better,” he said.
“You try to deal with each game individually based on what the defense is doing and how you’re executing against that defense. The Titans presented some challenges the other night and New England presents a whole different array of challenges and defensive looks. That’s what we have to handle this week.”
• Dungy looks at “slump” — The Colts coach has never been one to point fingers at individual players when things are are. With the team struggling to find itself this season, Dungy isn’t going to start singling out people now either.
“I think our whole team is in a slump right now. It’s a team game. Everybody is in it. We have to break out of it. Usually, it’s just fundamentals and doing things a little bit sharper. I wouldn’t put it on one person at all,” he said.
“I’m in a slump. On fourth down, if you don’t go for it [two weeks ago against Green Bay], it’s bad. If you go for it [as in Monday’s night game at Tennessee] and don’t make it, it’s bad. We went for it in Houston and made it, but that was a long time ago [Oct. 5].”
As for Manning and the Indianapolis offense, there’s still more work to be done.
“I’d have to say it’s a slump, based on his numbers and his productivity. He’s generally been seven-plus yards per [pass] attempt and a high number of touchdown passes. Usually we score 28 to 30 points. We’ve generally scored more touchdowns than we’ve had punts,” Dungy said.
“We haven’t done that, so you either have to say skills are deteriorating or we’re in a slump. And I think offensively, we are. We’re just a little bit off. I don’t see our skills deteriorating. So I guess, for lack of a better word, that’s what I’d have to call it.”
• Injury list — Running back Joseph Addai (hamstring), strong safety Bob Sanders (ankle/knee) and cornerback Kelvin Hayden (knee) all returned to practice Wednesday and are expected to play against the Patriots.
Sitting out the workout were middle linebacker Gary Brackett (rest), running back Clifton Dawson (concussion), defensive end Dwight Freeney (rest), wide receiver Roy Hall (hamstring/knee), cornerback Dante Hughes (ankle), cornerback Marlin Jackson (knee), cornerback Tim Jennings (rest), defensive end Robert Mathis (rest), running back Dominic Rhodes (ankle), tight end Tom Santi (shoulder) and wide receiver Reggie Wayne (knee).
Weakside linebacker Freddy Keiaho (knee) saw limited work at the practice.
