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November 21, 2008

San Diego's demise: Dungy's not buying it

By Tom James

INDIANAPOLIS — Tony Dungy has heard all the talk about the struggles of the San Diego Chargers this season.

He hears about how Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson has been slowed by an injured toe and hasn’t been playing well. Or that the San Diego defense isn’t been as good without injured outside linebacker Shawne Merriman in the lineup.

Yes, Dungy has heard it all. But he doesn’t believe it. Not for a second.

“[San Diego] is a team that is really talented. And I’m sure a lot of people say it, but [the Chargers are] better than their 4-6 record when you look at the big-play people they have and the special teams and the defense,” the Colts coach said earlier this week.

“We’re going to have our hands full, as we always do when we play them. We have to get ready for a tough, physical game. And [it’s going to be] a big game for us in trying to keep those AFC [playoff] tiebreakers going.”

After watching video of the Chargers’ previous games, Dungy hasn’t seen much difference from the teams that he’s seen in past years. San Diego has lost three games by three points or less, one by five points and one by seven points.

“The thing that you see, which is pretty much what the NFL is, are the close games. They’ve had three or four games that haven’t been close, that they’ve won their share. In the Jets game and the New England game, you couldn’t look much better than they have looked,” he said.

“In the close games, you have to find a way to win them in the fourth quarter. They’ve had one-point games and two-point games that they’ve haven’t won that they won last year. That’s really the dfifference in their [won-loss] record. They’re playing about the same. We were the same way. We lost a couple of tight games early on. And that’s what affects your record because you’re going to have seven or eight games that are decided by one play.”

The same goes for Tomlinson, who has rushed for 686 yards and five touchdowns this season.

“I’m seeing the same thing [with Tomlinson] that I’m seeing with [Colts defensive end] Dwight [Freeney] and [wide receiver] Marvin [Harrison]. I hear a lot of rhetoric about L.T. and when I see the cuts and I see him make people miss and freeze guys in the open field,” Dungy said.

“He looks like the same guy to me.”

While the Colts have had their problems with San Diego in recent years, Dungy doesn’t think his team has to make many changes to what they do.

“I think what happens is you look at the tape and you look at things you could have done a little better. And you realize that it’s going to come down to just playing ball,” he said. “There are no major adjustments or changes that you can make and you have a little more success. There’s nothing you can do but go back and play a little bit better next time. Does last year’s game really impact this year? Not really.”

• Not expecting last year’s fireworks — Last year’s regular-season matchup between the Colts and Chargers was, if nothing else, bizarre.

San Diego forced six interceptions by Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, three by cornerback Antonio Cromartie. The Chargers held a commanding 23-7 lead at halftime, but Indianapolis charged back with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to narrow the margin to 23-21.

That’s how the game ended. A missed 29-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri late in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference in the game and thawarted the comeback attempt by the Colts. While Indianapolis outgained the Chargers 386-177 in total offensive yardage, the Colts gave up an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 45-yard punt return for a TD to running back Darren Sproules.

The Colts lost defensive end Dwight Freeney (foot) during the game, along with offensive tackles Ryan Diem (ankle/knee) and Charlie Johnson (foot), and defensive end Robert Mathis (knee). Indianapolis also played without wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee), offensive tackle Tony Ugoh (neck), defensive tackle Raheem Brock (neck), linebacker Freddy Keiaho (ear), wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez (thumb), tight end Dallas Clark (concussion) and safety Matt Giordano (hamstring).

“What you learn is the lesson probably for your team all the time, that you have to do what you’re supposed to do. It doesn’t really matter who’s in the game, who’s not in the game, what the score is or any of those things,” Dungy pointed out. “We gave up two returns for touchdowns. We turned the ball over six times. We did a lot of the things that you can’t do. But in the second half, when we settled down and didn’t do anything spectacular, we just played and you still had a chance to win the game. And that’s the bottom line.

“So, then, you look back and say, ‘In spite of all the guys that didn’t play, in spite of the return touchdowns and those kinds of things, if we don’t turn it over in the red zone, if we just make our field goals, we’re still going to win the game.’ That’s just, probably, a lesson in the obvious that football is not that hard to explain or to do. It’s difficult to execute, but the idea’s not that hard.”

• Injury list — Most of the Colts players who missed Wednesday’s workout returned for Thursday’s practice, including defensive ends Dwight Freeney (rest) and Robert Mathis (toe), cornerback Tim Jennings (rest), defensive tackle Darrell Reid (hip), free safety Antoine Bethea (ankle), and middle linebacker Gary Brackett (quadraceps).

Strong safety Bob Sanders (knee) sat out a second day of work, but Dungy said Thursday that no decision on his availability for the San Diego game is expected until Saturday. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who has missed the last five games due to knee surgery and a sore hamstring, saw limited work on Thursday. Hayden’s status for the Chargers game, though, won’t be known until the end of the week.

Safety Melvin Bullitt missed Thursday’s practice due to illness, but is expected to play Sunday. Bullitt has a team-leading four interceptions this season while filling in for Sanders. Wide receiver Roy Hall (knee) also did not take part in the workout.

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