Colts' defense looks to be full of holes
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING – The popular question of the week has been: How will the Cowboys stop Indianapolis and quarterback Peyton Manning?
Here's another: How will the Colts stop the Cowboys?
The Colts have the NFL's 16th-ranked defense, allowing 317.7 yards per game. They have the worst-ranked run defense in the league, allowing 159.3 yards per game. In nine games, they have allowed five running backs to rush for more than 100 yards.
If you are looking for a sign of weakness from the NFL's only undefeated team, that is it.
The Cowboys counter with the NFL's fifth-ranked rush offense, averaging 135.7 yards. Julius Jones and Marion Barber are one of only two running back tandems in the league with one back rushing for more than 700 yards (Jones 734) and the other with more than 350 (Barber 374).
Atlanta's Warrick Dunn (761) and Jerious Norwood (355) is the other tandem.
"I don't care if I throw zero passes," quarterback Tony Romo said, followed by a long pause, "as long as we win."
In the five games the Colts have allowed a 100-yard rusher, their average margin of victory this season has been 3.4 points, as opponents have done what they could to keep Manning off the field.
"I think that would be a smart thing to do," receiver Terrell Owens said. "It's like to keep the ball out of Michael Jordan's hands or Kobe [Bryant] or a guy like LeBron [James]. You want to try and limit their chances."
It's how Bill Parcells' New York Giants beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV, 20-19. Led by Ottis Anderson's 102 rushing yards, the Giants held the ball for 40 minutes, 33 seconds. The Bills' offense, with Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas and receiver Andre Reed, were mostly spectators.
Parcells isn't sure that sort of plan would work Sunday.
"I don't think we're going to be able to just say, 'OK, we're going to go out there and do this exclusively,' and that will be enough to win," Parcells said.
But with Jones and Barber, they certainly have the option. The Cowboys' offensive line averages 317 pounds; Indianapolis' defensive line averages 272 pounds. The only 300-pounder among the group is tackle Anthony McFarland.
The run defense, "is not where it needs to be right now," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "What seems to be happening is we're not sure about what we're doing, and we're playing a little hesitantly. When you don't play as fast, we've had runs break on us."
Parcells talked with Jones on Thursday about remaining fresh for the stretch run. He is on pace for a career-high 1,304 yards, but he has gone four games without averaging four yards per carry.
Last week at Arizona, Barber led the Cowboys in rushing for the first time, finishing with 65 yards on 14 carries. Jones had 45 yards on 15 carries.
"I think Marion's a kid, who once you get him going, he's good to go," Parcells said. "He's got a very good nose for the goal line."
Jones and Barber have combined for 10 touchdowns this season, the second-best total by a duo in the league behind San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (18) and Michael Turner (two).
Last season, the Colts were 12-0 before facing San Diego at the RCA Dome. Turner ran for 113 yards, including an 83-yard score. Tomlinson ran for 76 yards. The Chargers held the ball for 34:32 and won, 26-17.
The Cowboys hope to follow that plan Sunday.
"We know what the numbers are, and we know they are aware of what the numbers are," Jones said. "It doesn't mean anything. They are 9-0, and we're not going to worry about the numbers. We're just going to go out with the game plan and try and get a win."
IRVING – The popular question of the week has been: How will the Cowboys stop Indianapolis and quarterback Peyton Manning?
Here's another: How will the Colts stop the Cowboys?
The Colts have the NFL's 16th-ranked defense, allowing 317.7 yards per game. They have the worst-ranked run defense in the league, allowing 159.3 yards per game. In nine games, they have allowed five running backs to rush for more than 100 yards.
If you are looking for a sign of weakness from the NFL's only undefeated team, that is it.
The Cowboys counter with the NFL's fifth-ranked rush offense, averaging 135.7 yards. Julius Jones and Marion Barber are one of only two running back tandems in the league with one back rushing for more than 700 yards (Jones 734) and the other with more than 350 (Barber 374).
Atlanta's Warrick Dunn (761) and Jerious Norwood (355) is the other tandem.
"I don't care if I throw zero passes," quarterback Tony Romo said, followed by a long pause, "as long as we win."
In the five games the Colts have allowed a 100-yard rusher, their average margin of victory this season has been 3.4 points, as opponents have done what they could to keep Manning off the field.
"I think that would be a smart thing to do," receiver Terrell Owens said. "It's like to keep the ball out of Michael Jordan's hands or Kobe [Bryant] or a guy like LeBron [James]. You want to try and limit their chances."
It's how Bill Parcells' New York Giants beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV, 20-19. Led by Ottis Anderson's 102 rushing yards, the Giants held the ball for 40 minutes, 33 seconds. The Bills' offense, with Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas and receiver Andre Reed, were mostly spectators.
Parcells isn't sure that sort of plan would work Sunday.
"I don't think we're going to be able to just say, 'OK, we're going to go out there and do this exclusively,' and that will be enough to win," Parcells said.
But with Jones and Barber, they certainly have the option. The Cowboys' offensive line averages 317 pounds; Indianapolis' defensive line averages 272 pounds. The only 300-pounder among the group is tackle Anthony McFarland.
The run defense, "is not where it needs to be right now," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "What seems to be happening is we're not sure about what we're doing, and we're playing a little hesitantly. When you don't play as fast, we've had runs break on us."
Parcells talked with Jones on Thursday about remaining fresh for the stretch run. He is on pace for a career-high 1,304 yards, but he has gone four games without averaging four yards per carry.
Last week at Arizona, Barber led the Cowboys in rushing for the first time, finishing with 65 yards on 14 carries. Jones had 45 yards on 15 carries.
"I think Marion's a kid, who once you get him going, he's good to go," Parcells said. "He's got a very good nose for the goal line."
Jones and Barber have combined for 10 touchdowns this season, the second-best total by a duo in the league behind San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson (18) and Michael Turner (two).
Last season, the Colts were 12-0 before facing San Diego at the RCA Dome. Turner ran for 113 yards, including an 83-yard score. Tomlinson ran for 76 yards. The Chargers held the ball for 34:32 and won, 26-17.
The Cowboys hope to follow that plan Sunday.
"We know what the numbers are, and we know they are aware of what the numbers are," Jones said. "It doesn't mean anything. They are 9-0, and we're not going to worry about the numbers. We're just going to go out with the game plan and try and get a win."
posted by The Gryphon at 8:46 AM
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