Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 November 2003 — Page 30

www.indianapolisrecorder.com Colts run D again exposed in loss, Jets await Sunday

By BARATO BRITT Recorder Correspondent SonH'tliinj.'.happeiH'dontlH'waY to an otherwise outstanding season for the Indianapolis Colts. In what the most optinhstie Ian can only deserihe as a ■'hieeup," the Colts snHered a disappointinj>; 'J.528 loss to the.liieksonville Jaguars. Sunday’s upset was more than just an unlikely defeat at the hands of the AFCSouth’s worst team. With theshocking loss, theColts fell toj2 and l(>st their leg up on the Tennessee Titans in the division. Although the outeome was unexpected, the team's elfort was eonsistent w ith their performance all season. The Colts were again exposed on the defensive end, giving up 171total rushingyards, includinga season high 152 to Jags running hack Fred Taylor. Having been unable to put together a full game all season, the Colts led the game with two minutes remaining before Taylor busted through holes and rookie safety Mike Doss en route to a .52 yard touchdow n run. “'There were a lot of things to he disappointed about," said head coach Tony Dungy . “Our run defense once again had a decent first half, we get up double digits, and then give up 100-plus yards rushing in the second half. I think we got what we deserved. We re sitting here with tw< > k >sses now; we've got to rebound this week. “If we don’t start defending the run a lot better we're going to have to rely on big plays to win games, and you can’t alw ays get those type of game changing plays." , ’’ "Somewhere there’s something happening, and 11 of us have to fix it," added linebacker Rob Morris. "It's not one guy or one specific play, we've just got to find a way to make plays." ’The Colts porous run defense wasn't theonly thingexposed however. 11 aving amassed on I vfTyards on 21 carries, 44 of which coming from Kdgerrin James, the Colts have y et to put together a consistent ground attack. 'The team is 28" in the league in rushing, averaging a shade under 90 yards per contest. 'The lack of ground duction,coupledwithbuddi,ngdissent ion over play cal 1 ing, con Id lead to another let down as the season winds down. In addition, the Colts could be w ithout the serv ices of arguably their best player in wide receiver Marvin Harrison. 'The all-pro receiver caught only one pass Sunday, a .50-yard touchdown strike before leaving the game in the second quarter with a hamstring strain. Harrison underwent an M HI on Monday and w ill be ev aluated this week. With little time to lick wounds and even less time to dwell on Sunday’s missed opportunity , two losses hardly suggests time to panic. 'The surging, yet still struggling New York Jets come to town this weekend, giving the Colts an opportunity to exorcise the demons ol last year's plavoff blowout, while effectively eliminating the Jets' fading plavofl hopes. The.'5-b Jets are coin ing off a w ild victory over the depleted Oakland Raiders marked by an impressive performance from Jets quarterback Chad I'enningtoii. Sunday s home game is t lie first of three eon scent ive games against the AH' hast with Mu f la lo and the surprising New hngland Patriots on deck. One id two outcome, \\ j|| neeur Sunday, The Colls can either re cover from Sundav s upset to beat a team with its back firmly against the wall or continue their eonsts tenth inconsistent wavs, and leave the game up for gr abs, hither way , if they learned anything on Sunday, it s that no Ni l, team eaii be taken loi granted. “You have to plav teams that become consistent and get it done the most often in the next month aregomg to be able Income through on top aid Dungv. We have to get that going. I in not ready to throw m the towel yet.

Business • Classifieds Sports Patriot's Colvin in rehab aftergame injury

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Indianapolis native Rosevelt Colvin standout at Broad Ripple

and Purdue. (Photo /J.Hurst)

By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer Rosevelt Colvin is a rocket, a former Broad Ripple Rocket that is. I le then became a Boilermaker, and now he is a linebacker for the New England Patriots. Drafted out of Purdue in 199.9 by the Bears, Colvin spent four seasons in Chicago before he was signed by the Patriots during the ortseason. He was said to be one of the most attractive free agents on the market. bast season, he was fifth on the Bears with 72 tackles. He had 1 ()..') sacks for the second straight season, the only linebacker in team history to record double-digit sacks in consecutive seasons. “Playing in Chicago was a blessing because it gave the people that enjoyed watching me play at Broad Ripple and Purdue an opportunity to continue to watch me,"said Colvin. “Chicago is a big sports city. If you're doing well they love you for it and even if you’re not they'll let you know, but they’ll still love you. I had a good time and made a lot of friends.” Being born and raised in Indianapolis by two teachers, Colvin says his education always came before football. His industrial technology degree from Purdue is his proof. “Education was very impor-

Warren Central is victorious Dana Harrell (86), wide receiver for North Central, runs up field in an attempt to avoid the Warren Central defenders. Warren ran over the Panthers 50-10 on their way to a rematch with Ben Davis in the ISHAA Reqionals. (Photo/J. Hurst)

“The game was against the

Philadelphia Eagles,” he said reliving the moment. “During the seeond quarter (quarterback) Donovan McNabb fumbled the ball and I turned around to pick it up and when I did my leg was planted wrong. When I bent over 1 heard a popping noise and knew

something wasn't right.” He continued the story, “When

I picked the ball up and started to run I couldn’t really feel my leg and 1 just fell down. I limped off to the sideline and after a few speculations the doctors found out I had dislocated my hip and

chipped and cracked a hone.” Colvi n was devastated and frus-

trated by the news because he had had surgery at the end of last season on his shoulder and he worked hard so he could perform well for his new team. But, through his faith in God and love of his wife

tant to my parents and I didn’t Tiffany he’s looking forward to want to let them down, he said, being better and healthier next

"Working hard in the classroom season.

and doing the things 1 needed to “Because of my faith and my do to get my grades was real im- wife and family backing me up portant to me, also. Athletics was I’ve come to the conclusion that just an outlet for me to have tun. the Lord puts you in a place and A student in the magnet pro- s its you down for a reason,” he gram at Crispus Attucks, Colvin sa id. “My injury has given me an was cut from the basketball team, opportunity to rest and get closer but did pretty well in football. to God. Also a chance to come He then entered high school back stronger next season.” and played freshman basketball, while Colvin is in rehab he is but after playing a couple years of getting a chance to spend more football his coach told him he was quality time with his wife and good enough to play in college children, 7-year-old Xavier, 4and earn a free education. year-old Najah and 4-month-old

That freeedueation was earned Raven,

at Purdue University. “I love being a father. My kids "1 have two uncles and a sister love me; my wife loves me and my who are engineers and Purdue family. That is why 1 always say was where the foundation was,” that I've been blessed.” he said. “Purdue was the closest Although Colvin lives in school to home that I could be lar Foxhoro, Mass., he plans to come away enough from parents, but back to Indy and give to the cornclose if 1 needed to get home.” munity. He continued, “I was just try- "Ever since I've had the chance ing to get a free education. Play- to move up and see some of the ing in the NFL was never a big finer things in life that 1 wasn’t dream of mine. My parents experiencing when I was growing weren’t rich so getting the oppor- up i n Indianapolis, I always tunity to go to a good school for wanted to come back and do free and play football was all I things for the community and my wanted to do. high school,” he said. “I’m workColvin had four solid years with j n g with my agent to put some of the Bears, which is why the Patri- rnv ideas into action. 1 don’t have ots offered him a nice contract to anything concrete, but I do want play on their defensive line. to come back and do things such But during the second game of as football and basketball camps the season, Colvin fractured his an{ l basketball tournaments. I’m left hip early in the seeond quar- in the process of getting things ter, which sidelined him until next done so this summer you may see season. me back in the community.”

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Indiana scrapes past Cleveland Reqqie Miller (riqht) shows the prep-to-pro phenomenon LeBron James, point quard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, how the qame is played as the Pacers edged out the Cavs 91-90. Miller scored 15 points, Includinq shooting 3 for 5 from the three-point line. (Photo/W. Thomas)

D SECTION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003 GAME POINTS

Don’t give up on the Bugs By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer The high hopes we football fans had to watch another season of great defense and unstoppable offense from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has gone down the drain. They had a great preseason, only losing to the Rams and their first regular season game they won convincingly against the Eagles, 17-0. I can’t pinpoint exactly what went wrong, but I do think they still have an excellent chance of reaching the playoffs, at least the wild card. The four games that the Bug’s have won have been by large margins, the Falcon’s 31JO, the Redskin’s 35-13 and the Cowboy’s 16-0. And the five games that they’ve lost have been in the fourth quarter. So to me, it seems that in the fourth quarter they stop driving and decide to idle. And we all know that in the NFL you have to keep moving past the first down markers and into the end zone in order to win. 1 think after their second loss to the Panthers last week they are ready to seriously play because the second halfof the season determines who’s going to play in the post season. I pick the Bugs as the team to make the playoffs even though they’re below 500 because they still have the depth, the talent, the defense and the technique. They just make mistakes early in the game that come back to haunt them in the end. “It’s a pattern,” said defensive end Simeon Rice. “It’s a pattern that’s got to be fixed. It’s going to have to change. We have the wherewithal to do it.” I agree with Rice because all of their fourth quarter losses were because the defense let down. A defense that is near legendary. We can’t forget about Warren Sapp, Rice, Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Pittman, Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks and the other capable players on the roster. If they all start to click and remember how good they were, together they could cause problems. The Bugs are still very much in the race because their final games are against teams that are losing just like they are, but don’t have the talent they have; Green Bay, the Giants, the Jaguars, the Saints, the Texans, the Falcons and the Titans. (Well, they’ll probably lose to Air McNair.) I look for the Bugs to finish the season 10-6. Why? Because I always win Game Points.

Bengals could claw their way into playoffs By JOSHUA COHEN Staff Writer The second half of the NFL season is in full swing, and even though many teams had terrific starts, anything can happen to make it a whole new season. Teams like the Dallas Cowboys, the Tennessee Titans or even the Minnesota Vikings who, after a 6-0 start have lost three in a row, could have key injuries or team breakdowns and fall out of the playoff race. On the other hand, there are teams like the San Francisco 49ers, the New York Jets or the Buffalo Bills who could find their stride and sneak their way into a playoff spot. No team looks more ready to grab a wild card berth, or possibly even a division win, than the once lowly Cincinnati Bengals. Last year they were the league’s worst team with a 2-14 record. This year, without their star running back Corey Dillon, out with a strained groin, the Bengals have won three of their last four games and are now 4-5. The team now believes they can win and has much needed confidence, possibly too much, going into their next game against the only undefeated team in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs. “We will win - that’s a guarantee,” said Chad Johnson, wide receiver for the Bengals after their 34-27 victory over the Houston Texans. “It’s no offense to their organization. It’s just the way I feel. Some people might not like it, but I’m confident that my teammates won’t leave me hanging. It should be the game of the week, the undefeated team against the new-era Bengals.” That’s right, they are now guaranteeing i victory against the Chiefs. As unlikely as it is, most undefeated teams, before they lose their first game, come against a below .500 squad who is in a prime position to upset. I am by no means agreeing that the Bengals are ready to knock oft’ KC, but even if they lose, with the division they are in it would only take an eight or nine-win season to put them into the playoffs. That’s four more victories in their next seven games, four of which are against other below .500 teams. Cincinnati rookie coach Marvin Lewis, one of the few Black head coaches in the NFL, has brought in a new system that the players now believe in. And sometimes believing is the last thing a team needs to change their description from lowly to first place.

Have you been enjoying Game Points? Let The Recorder know who you think has had the best predictions and opinions: Ericka Thompson or Joshua Cohen? You can either send an e-mail to newsroom($>lndyrecorder.com or call 924-5143 ext. 324.