Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 September 2004 — Page 45
The Indianapolis Recorder September 10,2004 11
► OFFENSE Continued
to winning. If we win, hopefully everybody’s happy.” The coaching staff has made subtle changes to the offense and its personnel this season, but the one constant that remains is the core of Manning, running back Edgerrin James and wide receiver Marvin Harrison. Each of the Colts big three posted solid numbers last season and, while Manning’s career high 4,267 yards and 29 touchdown strikes were enough to earn the Co-MVP, one could make a case that James’ performance last year was equally important. Despite not amassing the numbers that made him the league’s rushing champ in his first two seasons, James showed last year that he was all the way back from the various injuries that slowed him for much of the previous two seasons. With a healthy James, the offense opens up substantially, giving Manning the time and spacing to pick defenses apart, as he did last season. While Harrison’s production waned slightly last year, the decrease was due to the emergence of other quality performers within the offense. One receiver in particular, fourth-year wide out Reggie Wayne, shined opposite Harrison throughout the season, firmly cementing himself as an option opposing teams could not ignore. Wayne set career bests in receptions, yardage and touchdowns, and, for a time, had Indianapolis forgetting about that other Reggie that runs Conseco Fieldhouse. “When (fans) chant your name, that just pumps you up that much more,” Wayne said. “And when they did that, I felt like I was in a zone, I felt like I was out there on the field by myself. Hopefully, I’ll get a lot more of that this year. “Obviously, you want to go out and make a good showing,” he added. “Anytime the ball’s thrown your way you want to make something happen.” Wayne knows that as he continues his steady improvement, teams and fans alike are taking notice. However, the newfound attention he is receiving has yet to affect his outlook on the game, his team or his role in the offense. Like those of us on the outside looking in, his expectations remain that this Colts offense is
poised to do something special, should the squad remain healthy. “We can’t worry about the outside. We’ve just got to go out and meet our expectations, accomplish our own goals,” he said. “If we worry about what people on the outside think, it’ll be a tough year. If we do the things we’re supposed to do, I think we’ll come out fine.” Looking dominant at times throughout the season, it is easy to forget that various injuries to key starters forced the Colts offense to tap deep into its reserves. The late season injury to rookie tight end Dallas Clark in particular caused the Colts to make various adjustments to the favored double tight-end set. En route to a stellar rookie campaign, Clark’s season ended prematurely, suffering a broken leg against the eventual Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Now back to 100 percent, Clark is looking forward to continuing a promising career that earned him All Rookie Team honors last year. “(The injury) showed me how quickly everything can end,” Clark said. “I don’t have it in the back of my mind, I have too many other things going on, learning the offense and worry about what I’m doing to be worried about my leg. I’m just trying to continue to take advantage of this opportunity. “I had a shortened year last year, I’ve got a long ways to go, a lot of work to do,” he added. “Right now I’m just trying to get better every day, and wherever I go, I go. I’m excited just to be back.” In addition to the Colts many offensive weapons, Manning’s ability to find his many targets is also due to an offensive line that continued its solid pass protection and run blocking last year. For six consecutive seasons, the Colts have produced 5,000-plus net yards, with that number expected to continue this year. But despite these stats, the line still has yet to receive much recognition for their role in the offense’s production. Pro-bowl selections remain elusive for this line; Manning, however, totally understands the role his guys up front play in the offense, and expects the league to begin to take notice.
“I suppose everybody on every team has someone they think does not get respect,” said Manning, who gives the line much credit for his fifth consecutive 4,000-yard passing season. “It just doesn’t make sense, with the numbers we have, the passing game and the running game, it all starts up front. Hopefully this year, those guys will get the national respect they deserve.” The O-line is intact this season, with the Colts re-signing Rick DeMulling, Ryan Diem and Tupe Peko to continue to protect the franchise quarterback. The team is also cautiously optimistic about starting left tackle Tarik Glenn’s full recovery from knee issues that kept him sidelined much of last season. Glenn, for one, has heard enough speculation with regards to his readiness for the opener, and says only to watch what happens when the team takes the field in New England Sept. 9. “I’ll go through whatever I’ve got to go through. I’ve worked
hard, I’ve put a lot of work into my off-season,” said Glenn. “My goal is still to get back on the field and to make my team better. It looks promising for the first game of the year.” Having gained another year of experience, and having gone one game from the Super Bowl, the Colts offense may need to carry the load for the team while its defense still continues to develop. Questions abound for one of the league’s best units though, with James, Harrison and veteran tight-end Marcus Pollard each in contract years. And, given Manning’s contract, re-signing each may be impossible for the Colts to accomplish. Next year’s offense may look eerily different, without a number 32 or 88 on hand to take the load off of Manning. But those are questions to be tackled at season’s end, for now Indy fans will have the pleasure of watching the big three work. Enjoy it while it lasts, it may well be their last go round together.
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