Thursday, October 03, 2002
Colts' Morris has Bengal-itis
First-round pick not living up to expectations
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Rob Morris, Colts' first-round pick in 2000, hears the critics. They claim he reacts too slowly and makes too many mental mistakes to be a starting NFL linebacker. Morris realizes he has had his share of problems and hasn't met the typical expectations, not even his own.
Now, after using the bye week to re-evaluate his play and clear his head, the Colts' starting middle linebacker has returned to practice determined to change opinions.
“I have to play better, I want to play better,” Morris said Wednesday. “I'm a first-round pick, and I've got to play better.”
Morris' play has been maligned almost from the moment he showed up late to his first training camp in 2000 after a prolonged contract holdout.
He started behind, then got hurt and, the critics contend, has never caught up even though he led the Colts in tackles with 128 last season.
Some thought Morris' troubles were a result of the system, which was based more on reads than reactions.
The philosophy changed when Tony Dungy took over as coach this year. Dungy and defensive coordinator Ron Meeks installed a defense that relied more on speed.
The results have not changed, though.
Morris believes the Colts' new defense is similar to the scheme in which he played at Brigham Young and has said that if he couldn't excel in this system, he didn't deserve to start.
Three games into the season, the critics are calling for a change. While the Colts' defense has improved from 29th last season to 10th this year, Morris' productivity has not.
His 21 tackles are tied for second with Marcus Washington, but Morris has no sacks, no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries and no interceptions. Some of his missed assignments have led to touchdowns or big plays for opponents, and backup Sam Sword saw his first significant action in the Colts' 23-3 victory at Houston on Sept. 22.
For now, Dungy intends to stick with Morris.
“He's playing OK,” Dungy said last week before the Colts' three-day break. “He's still learning what we're trying to do and to go where he thinks he should go. I think he'll play a lot better as the season goes on.”
Teammates have taken Morris' side, too.
Washington said Wednesday that part of the problem is the Colts are still learning their responsibilities in the new system and that has led to breakdowns in lots of places — not just with Morris.
“What I see in him is what I see in other guys, including myself,” Washington said. “Sometimes you come out and play a play perfectly. Other times, you don't play it as well as you did the first time. We've got to be more consistent as a whole.”
Morris understands the reason for the criticism.
When the Colts selected him with the 28th pick in 2000, he was expected to be the team's defensive cornerstone.
While that hasn't materialized, Morris also doesn't believe he's played as badly as some people contend.
“I think I've done some good things, and I've made some mistakes, but contrary to public opinion, I've not been getting tossed around,” he said.
Morris knows this much: He can play better and, as a starter, he must.
“I've got to play better,” he said. “But I'll start worrying about it when I see something from Tony or (president) Bill Polian. That's when I'll start worrying about it.”
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Colts' Morris has Bengal-itis