Indianapolis – The pounding continued, a jackhammer ballet choreographed by the Indianapolis Colts’ increasingly unstoppable offense. For three quarters, it was Joseph Addai, skittering and juking, followed by Kenton Keith, exploding through Denver’s reconfigured middle in the fourth, and then Luke Lawton – Luke Lawton? – moving the pile downfield.
As beautiful as Indy’s offensive attack can be, with all the ridiculous talent at the skill positions, it is never more inspiring than when it sticks to the basics, ramming it down Denver’s throat in a performance reminiscent of Super Bowl XLI.
“I’ve seen that before, from the other side,” former Colts receiver Brandon Stokley said, standing in a quiet visitors’ locker room after Indy’s 38-20 victory. “We did almost everything we had to do. We ran the ball, we kept their offense off the field, and it still wasn’t enough. They make you play perfect.”
Even then, it’s not always enough.
How do you stop this Indianapolis offense short of locking them in their hotel rooms the night before the game? Isn’t Peyton Manning enough?
Aren’t Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison enough? Even as Denver’s two great cornerbacks, Champ Bailey and Dré Bly, slowed down Wayne and saw Harrison leave with a rare injury, the Colts still had options B,C, D and E.
Addai, an emerging star last season, has become an absolute breakout talent this year. He is Early Edgerrin, changing direction faster than a politician in an election year. If it seems like he’s faster and stronger in this, his second, season, that’s because he is. There’s no thinking required any more. Now it’s all instinct and broken tackles.
“Joseph really trained hard in the offseason to carry the load,” Manning said. “I’m really proud of him. You think maybe a guy comes back after a Super Bowl and puts it in cruise control, but he hasn’t.”
Just what the rest of the league needs. More weapons to defend.
Which brings us to Dallas Clark, who historically has been The Other Guy among Colts receivers. He was a luxury item, another Jaguar in a garage filled with Maseratis. Now he’s an important part of the fleet.
“You saw (Denver’s) defense try to cover him three different ways,” Manning said. “Who’s going to cover him? He was running routes against corners and getting open.”
He is a tight end in title only. Sometimes he’s at the end of the line. Sometimes he’s in the slot. Sometimes he’s parked out wide.
The Broncos tried to defend him with a safety (Domonique Foxworth), a linebacker (Ian Gold) and even Bailey, the cornerback no one dares challenge.
Imagine being in Denver’s practice facility this morning. You’ve spent the past four years drafting to beat Indy, signing free-agent defenders to beat Indy, changing assistant coaches to beat Indy, and even on a day when you do a lot of things right on offense, you still get drop-kicked by 18 points.
As the Colts roll up another perfect September – they are 18-2 in September since coach Tony Dungy arrived – the only truly pressing issue concerns the team’s health.
Today’s injury report will go a long way toward determining what kind of October this will be. Harrison went down (and when Harrison goes down and doesn’t get up, it’s serious). Bob Sanders got hurt – which was no surprise after he appeared in the corner of the Sports Illustrated cover.
Addai got nicked. Rob Morris left on a cart.
And then there was this: Why would Colts fans boo Stokley? Why would they boo somebody who caught Manning’s record-setting pass in 2004 and helped Indy to last year’s Super Bowl?
Read my lips: Stokley got cut CUT by the Colts. What was he supposed to do? Quit football and take a job as an accountant?
“I was very shocked,” Clark said. “I can understand not clapping for him, but the boos … that was very disappointing. For all that he’s done here. It’s not like he was talking trash in the papers. It’s not like he was coming in here saying he was going to do this or do that. I read the article that The Star had and he said he was very grateful to the Colts and the fans. And then they come out and boo him. Didn’t like that at all. It was very poor. I feel sorry for him.”
Manning flashed a sheepish grin and said, tongue firmly in cheek, “Maybe they were booing us for letting him go.”
To his credit, Stokley said he was more surprised than disappointed.
But he appreciated the video tribute the Colts played late in the game. At least the few remaining fans cheered.
“Maybe all the people who booed him left and the true fans stayed,” Clark said.
That’s an issue for the talk shows today, but it’s not an issue inside the Colts’ locker room. This was a vintage performance. September was perfect, and there’s no reason to think the rest of the season won’t be any better.
