Thursday, October 21, 1999
Colts young, frisky
Talent plus offseason moves spark resurgence
BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It wasn't long ago that the Indianapolis Colts were worse than the Bengals. Yet the Colts (3-2) are a rising team, and the Bengals (1-5) are bad as ever as they prepare for Sunday's game in Indianapolis.
The Colts were 3-13 in 1997 and '98. The Bengals were 7-9 in 1997 and 3-13 last year. So why is the grass suddenly greener in Indy? For one thing, the Colts attacked their weaknesses with aggressive offseason moves.
On offense, they have stockpiled what Sports Illustrated called the best set of young skill-position players in the game in quarterback Peyton Manning, running back Edgerrin James, wide receivers Marvin Harrison, E.G. Green and Jerome Pathon, and tight end Ken Dilger.
On defense the Colts ranked No.29 in last year's 30-team NFL (the Bengals were 28th), but Indianapolis landed four new starters via free agency: ends Chad Bratzke and Shawn King, linebacker Cornelius Bennett and safety Chad Cota. And they have Mike Peterson, their second-round draftee from Florida, starting at outside linebacker.
The Bengals' top defensive signee was free-agent nose tackle Oliver Gibson, a career backup who now starts.
“We're still a very young and developing football team,” Colts coach Jim Mora said Wednesday. “We were fortunate to have a good draft a year ago when we drafted Peyton, and in the offseason we continued to make some changes.”
Jets coach Bill Parcells, whose team lost 16-13 to the Colts last Sunday, said the quick Indy turnaround is no surprise. He also said the Colts should enjoy it while they can.
“When you have a young team like they have, you have the money,” Parcells said last week. “But as that team begins to mature and you start having to pay these players, you don't have the money, and then you don't have enough to keep everybody. That's the way it is.
“That's why you see these turnarounds in the league. ... You see teams doing it every year now.”
Except, it seems, for the Bengals. Whereas the Rams and the Colts are now among the league's great rebirths, Cincinnati continues to founder with a roster that is the youngest in the NFL — average age 25.4 years on opening day.
Plus, Manning has one full season — and two full training camps — on Bengals rookie quarterback Akili Smith.
“I haven't had a chance to see Akili play, but I know what he's going through,” Manning said Wednesday. “I know he's got a strong arm, but he's having to learn on the run.”
Manning, the golden boy from Tennessee, is point man of the Colts' revival. After setting several NFL rookie passing records last year, he is second in the NFL in touchdown passes (11) and fourth in quarterback rating (89.6).
Plus, Harrison is tied for first in receptions (37) and touchdown catches (seven). Rookie James ranks fourth in rushing (468 yards).
“We lost Marshall Faulk, but we feel we gained a great running back in Edgerrin,” Manning said. “And I have a lot more confidence this year. We threw a lot last year, so I faced a lot of different defenses.”
Defensively, the Colts added playmakers such as Bratzke and 13-year veteran Bennett. The Colts sank a $9 million signing bonus into Bratzke, one of the plums of the free-agent market. Bratzke leads the Colts with 3.0 sacks, and Bennett leads in tackles with 40.
Just like that, the Colts are fun again. Indianapolis has sold out the RCA Dome for its first two home games and is expected to do so again this week.
“We have great fans,” Mora said. “Even when we were 3-13 last year, they were supportive. They were able to see some light ahead of us.”
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