Tuesday, October 23, 2001
Colts' collapse
Another loss keeps Colts scratching their heads
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS — Turnovers were not to blame for the Indianapolis Colts' latest loss.
Three one-play scoring drives, two blocked field goals and their lone touchdown were.
So for the second straight week, the Colts are trying to solve the greatest riddle of their young season — what can be done to fix the mistakes?
“You want an easy answer?” coach Jim Mora said Monday, a day after Indianapolis' 38-17 loss to New England. “We've got to play better, that's the easy answer.”
The Colts (2-3) haven't played this poorly or been beaten this soundly since Manning's first four games as a pro — all losses by a combined total of 76 points.
Now they've lost three straight by a total of 57 points and another loss Thursday night at Kansas City would extend the Colts' losing streak to their longest since 1998.
Even more problematic, though, was the fact that the Colts seemed to compound their problems Sunday.
“There's not just one thing wrong with the team,” Mora said. “Yesterday we had two blocked field goals, we gave up four big plays on defense and we didn't get enough touchdowns for the yardage we got. They all hurt us.”
The Colts tried to mix things up against the Patriots.
They scrapped the no-huddle offense for most of the first half.
They ran first and threw shorter passes, which kept Peyton Manning interception-free for the first time this season.
They played it safe with the usually reliable Mike Vanderjagt attempting four first-half field goals — only to have two blocked. Vanderjagt missed only two field goals all last season.
And if people thought New England's 44-13 victory on Sept. 30 was an aberration, the Patriots proved Sunday that it was more.
“We can't just throw in the towel right now,” running back Edgerrin James said following the game. “We're 2-3 and we know that everybody is going to be against us, but we really can't worry about that. It is a long season.”
It's turned out to be longer than the Colts anticipated.
Indianapolis opened the season with back-to-back routs of the New York Jets and Buffalo, looking every bit the Super Bowl contenders some projected.
Mora never expected the Colts to continue scoring at their pace of 43.5 points per game, but he didn't expect this: Failing to score more than 18 points in the three games since, including a total of 30 points in two games against the Patriots.
With criticism mounting, tension is filling the air.
Following their second straight home loss, tight end Marcus Pollard criticized Colts fans for booing throughout the game.
“No, I'm not going to apologize to the people in the media or the fans. I feel the way I do,” Pollard said Monday. How would they like it if I went to their job and booed them when they were working hard?”
Mora, a coaching veteran of more than four decades, knows this is not a new phenomenon.
“I've never been around a team that, after it loses a game is happy,” Mora said. “So they're disappointed right now. We're all disappointed, it's a normal reaction.”
The road to recovery, however, is paved with potholes.
They have three days to prepare for a hastily rescheduled Thursday night game, then visit Buffalo before returning home Nov. 11.
Making matters worse is a growing injury list.
Mora said Monday he wasn't sure whether wide receivers Jerome Pathon and Terrence Wilkins or right tackle Adam Meadows — all of whom sat out Sunday — will be available against the Chiefs.
Defensive end Chad Bratzke also has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, although Mora remains hopeful Bratzke might play.
Still, Mora thinks the answer is simple — his team just needs to play better.
“Why would we change anything?” he asked. “We've had a lot of success with the way we're doing it.”
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Colts' collapse
