New-look Colts: Manning’s not alone
By Albert Breer/ MetroWest Daily News
Monday, November 7, 2005 - Updated: 06:59 AM EST


FOXBORO – For better or worse, fingers always are pointed at the quarterback. --football gambling--
As such, Peyton Manning has shouldered much of the blame for the Colts’ failure to get past the Patriots. And in both the 2003 AFC Championship Game and the ’04 divisional playoff, a lot of that criticism was fair. --football gambling--

But the outcome would’ve been much different for Manning if Edgerrin James had produced in big spots during the regular season. With the game on the line two years ago, the tailback failed to score on three runs from inside the Pats’ 2, and last year, he coughed up a golden opportunity by fumbling in the red zone.--football gambling--

Each time, a win would have given Indy home-field advantage in the playoffs, thus sparing Manning his snowshoeing trips to Foxboro. --football gambling--

This time around, James again will be the key, especially since yesterday’s MLS playoff match between the Revolution and Chicago turned the area between the hash marks at Gillette into a mud pit. The Colts have emphasized controlling the ball to aid their fourth-ranked defense, and James, a seventh-year back, came into Week 9 leading the NFL with 801 yards rushing on 163 carries and seven touchdowns. --football gambling--

“People are doing things to try to take our passing game away, and they have given us more of what we call ‘run looks’ that the quarterback is instructed to run the ball against,” Colts coach Tony Dungy said. “We have to run it more, and we’re running it well.”

The Indy offense also has been attacked by more teams playing cover-3 defenses and other off-looks to prevent the big play. After averaging 9.17 yards per attempt last fall, Manning is down to 7.60. --football gambling--

Still, the quarterback is on pace for his most accurate season, completing a stunning 68.1 percent of his passes while spreading the ball to wideouts Reggie Wayne (37 receptions for 437 yards) and Marvin Harrison (37-388), along with Brandon Stokley (21-237) out of the slot. All three have experienced drops in their yards-per-catch numbers, and that seems to be a product of what defenses are giving them.--football gambling--

“(Opponents) have taken away a lot of the play-action passes where we got big plays,” Dungy said. “They have taken away the deep throws down the middle and forced us into a different style.” --football gambling--

Indy’s style on the other side of the ball remains what it has been – a cover-2, one-gap, penetrating look – only now it’s much more effective. Dungy has finally found experienced players to fit the scheme. A smallish front features All-Pro end Dwight Freeney (seven sacks), who will stunt and shoot gaps to get to Pats quarterback Tom Brady. Nickel rusher Robert Mathis (eight) is the type of speedy player Dungy favors up front. And defensive tackle Corey Simon balances it out as a powerful run-stopping presence. --football gambling--

“They sack the quarterback, they (take the ball away), they have guys that make a lot of interceptions,” Brady said. “They do it all.” --football gambling--

Linebacker Cato June leads the Colts with five picks, two of which he’s brought back for scores. Gary Brackett has 56 tackles and two INTs. --football gambling--

Behind that duo is a physical secondary – like the one Dungy had at Tampa Bay – led by cornerbacks Jason David, Nick Harper and Marlin Jackson on the perimeter and hard-hitting safeties Mike Doss and Bob Sand. --football gambling--

Roethlisberger may play Sunday

Steelers QB questionable after suffering knee injury

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger's left knee injury apparently isn't serious, but Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher wasn't ready to say if his quarterback will be ready to play Sunday in Green Bay. -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger underwent an MRI exam Tuesday, about 12 hours after the Steelers' 20-19 victory over Baltimore, and was given a preliminary diagnosis of a strained posterior capsule. The injury affects the range of motion of the knee and can be very painful. -NFL Football-

"All ligaments are fine, and we'll get a further update as the week goes on," Cowher said Tuesday. "There's nothing serious coming out of the game as we speak. ... Hopefully it's something he can continue to work through, and we'll rest him when we can and see where he is at the end of the week." -NFL Football-

The Steelers have a short week of practice before their first trip to Green Bay (1-6) in 10 years, but it is unlikely Roethlisberger will attempt to practice Wednesday. The Steelers (5-2) normally want a player to practice at least once by Friday in order to play Sunday. -NFL Football-

Cowher did not specify Roethlisberger's status -- either probable, questionable or doubtful -- and is not required to do so until Wednesday. -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger, 18-1 as an NFL regular season starter, injured the knee for the second time in four weeks in a Monday night game as he caught a cleat in the turf while being hit during the first quarter. Despite limping for several plays after being hit, Roethlisberger stayed in the game and led two touchdown drives and a fourth quarter drive that resulted in Jeff Reed's decisive 37-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining. -NFL Football-

Cowher said the injury clearly affected Roethlisberger's throwing and mobility, even though the second-year starter went 18-of-30 for 177 yards and two touchdowns to rookie tight end Heath Miller. -NFL Football-

"Sure it had some effect and no question he was hurting, but he gutted it out," Cowher said. "He told me at halftime he was getting it taped up and that 'I'm going to give it a shot, but if I'm hurting this team, I'm going to take myself out.' " -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger started the second half by leading a 10-play, 64-yard drive that resulted in his second scoring pass to Miller, an 8-yarder that put the Steelers up 17-10. Pittsburgh didn't score again until its final 60-yard drive that ended with Reed's second field goal of the game, and his second game-winner in four games. -NFL Football-

Cowher isn't surprised Roethlisberger remained effective despite the painful knee injury. Roethlisberger's 112.4 passer rating is the best in the league, and only he and Cincinnati's Carson Palmer have ratings above 100.0. -NFL Football-

"He's a very poised quarterback and he has a feel for the game," Cowher said. "He's a very competitive, confident individual, and you never sense him overreacting. He's like the guy in basketball who wants the ball in his hands at end of the game, he has those attributes. -NFL Football-

"He's a tough guy, and I have a lot of respect for Ben. He knew the risks involved with going back out there," Cowher said. -NFL Football-

Roethlisberger initially hurt the knee late in a 24-22 victory in San Diego on Oct. 10, sustaining a hypertension that caused him to sit out the following week's 23-17 overtime loss to Jacksonville. His replacement, Tommy Maddox, had four turnovers in that loss -- two in overtime, including an interception that was returned for the game-winning touchdown. -NFL Football-

Cowher played Maddox even though Roethlisberger all but begged Cowher to play him, pleading his case up until the final hours before the game. -NFL Football-

Maddox, the Steelers' starter for most of the 2002 season and in 2003, has since fallen to No. 3 on the depth chart behind Charlie Batch, and it seems likely Batch would start in Green Bay should Roethlisberger have a setback and not be ready. -NFL Football-

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

NFL: Local in professional football

By Daily News staff
October 31, 2005

A rundown of how NFL players from Southwest Florida did on Sunday:

Phillip Buchanon (Lehigh), Houston Texans, cornerback, No. 31 — Buchanon had three tackles, three passes defensed and returned a punt 20 yards in the Texans' win over Cleveland on Sunday. He had seven tackles last week against Indianapolis. -NFL Football-

Earnest Graham (Cape Coral-Mariner), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, running back, No. 33 — Graham played, but didn't register any stats in Sunday's 15-10 loss at San Francisco. The Bucs had a bye last week. -NFL Football-

Anthony Henry (Estero), Dallas Cowboys, cornerback, No. 42 — Henry had six tackles and returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown in the Cowboys' win over Arizona on Sunday. Henry had four tackles and a pass defensed last week at Seattle. -NFL Football-

Anthony Herrera (Barron Collier), Minnesota Vikings, offensive lineman, No. 64 — Herrera was inactive for Sunday's game with Carolina and last week's game with Green Bay. -NFL Football-

Edgerrin James (Immokalee), Indianapolis Colts, running back, No. 32 — The Colts had a bye this week. James rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries last week against Houston. -NFL Football-

Jevon Kearse (North Fort Myers), Philadelphia Eagles, defensive end, No. 93 — Kearse had a tackle and a sack in Philadelphia's loss at Denver. Kearse had one tackle, one sack and two passes defensed last week against San Diego. -NFL Football-

Fred McCrary (Naples), Atlanta Falcons, running back, No. 44 — The Falcons had a bye this week. McCrary caught an 11-yard pass last week against the Jets. -NFL Football-

Deion Sanders (North Fort Myers), Baltimore Ravens, cornerback, No. 37 — The Ravens play at Pittsburgh tonight. Sanders played, but didn't register any stats last week against Chicago. -NFL Football-

Greg Spires (Cape Coral-Mariner), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, defensive lineman, No. 94 — Spires had six tackles in Sunday's 15-10 win at San Francisco. The Bucs had a bye last week. -NFL Football-

Week Seven game previews

By PFW staff Oct. 20, 2005
--- nfl ---

Green Bay at Minnesota
--- nfl ---
If the Packers are going to go on a winning streak, now is the time. Green Bay is 1-4 out of the gate for the second year in a row. The Packers turned it on at this point a year ago by opening up the offense. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
The Vikings have allowed 24 or more points in four of five games and might be just the catalyst the Packers need. Green Bay was on bye last week, affording the team an opportunity to get RB Ahman Green (thigh) and others healthy. Green is 17th in the NFC in rushing (3.4-yard average) and has not scored a touchdown this year. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
The Vikings’ ship is a wayward vessel in more ways than one. QB Daunte Culpepper has been lost without WR Randy Moss, who set the tone and created a lot of room for the offense to operate since 1998. Without Moss, teams are playing the run with seven defenders and begging Culpepper to throw into traffic. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
The Packers don’t blitz much and have only one pass-rushing threat, DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. WR Nate Burleson has resumed physical activity after sitting out since Week Two with a knee injury. Burleson’s return might be a positive for Culpepper.--- nfl ---

Seahawks step up to beat Rams 37-31

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 9, 2005) -- The toughest part of Joe Jurevicius ' biggest day in the NFL had nothing to do with filling in as a starting wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. It was the bus ride past the hospital where his son died that was tough to take. - NFL Football -

Jurevicius caught a career-best nine passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in Seattle's 37-31 victory over St. Louis. On the way to the game, the Seahawks drove past the hospital where Jurevicius' young son, Michael William, died of a neurodegenerative disease in 2003.

And the memories flooded back.

"This is a hard place for me to play," said Jurevicius, who helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Raiders in the Super Bowl a few weeks before. - NFL Football -

On Oct. 9, Jurevicius -- who vaulted to the top of Seattle's depth chart because of injuries to Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram -- had his son in mind when he scored.

"On my touchdown, I wrote a little 'M' in the grass and threw the ball up to him," he said. "So psychologically, I've been through worse but it's rewarding."

The Seahawks snapped a four-game losing streak against the Rams that included a first-round playoff loss last season. Shaun Alexander ran for 119 yards a pair of scores, and Matt Hasselbeck threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, and Seattle (3-2) moved into first place in the NFC west. - NFL Football -

"This is not being said with any disrespect, but we expected to win this game," Hasselbeck said. "That's what we expected to do."

Steven Jackson had 79 yards rushing and a touchdown and 62 yards receiving for the Rams (2-3), who couldn't keep pace due to a porous defense that has surrendered 81 points the last two games. Chris Johnson returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a Rams touchdown, the team's first runback in five seasons, but it was all downhill from there for St. Louis.

Rams coach Mike Martz was on the sideline calling plays after missing two practices last week while undergoing tests for a bacterial infection of a heart valve, and began taking antibiotics Oct. 7. In retrospect, Martz said he should have allowed offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild to run the show. - NFL Football -

"I wasn't myself this week, the game plan wasn't clear for me," Martz said. "It's over with now but I just feel what happened to me has affected this team, and that breaks my heart."

The Seahawks totaled 433 yards in total offense to hand the Rams a rare home loss. St. Louis is 40-10 at home since 1999, the best in the NFL.

Seattle clinched the win when Rams punt returner Shaun McDonald fumbled with 2:51 to go, and J.P. Darche recovered it for Seattle at the St. Louis 37. The Seahawks drove to the 8 at the two-minute warning and, with the Rams out of timeouts, ran out the clock.

Terry Fair had been returning punts in his first game of the season, but had asked out because he was winded from playing defense. - NFL Football -

"I was just thinking maybe I should have stayed in there," Fair said. "Maybe I let my teammates down a little bit."

Jurevicius entered the game with seven catches but had no trouble finding openings. D.J. Hackett, the other replacement wide receiver, had five catches for 43 yards.

"He's just a veteran, he's a pro, he gets it," Hasselbeck said of Jurevicius. "You're out there and it's loud and he's recognizing the defense along with you." - NFL Football -

Jurevicius' previous receiving best came with the Bucs, an eight-catch performance for 100 yards on Dec. 8, 2002 against the Falcons.

Seattle was turnover-free and got a 3 for 3 day from kicker Josh Brown, who banged a 28-yarder off the left upright that put the Seahawks ahead 37-28 with 7:32 to go. Alexander had 119 yards on 25 carries and touchdowns of 1 and 18 yards, and Hasselbeck was 27 for 38 for 316 yards and two touchdowns. - NFL Football -

Marc Bulger was 26 for 40 for 336 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Rams. But St. Louis was also stymied by poor field position and a shaky game from rookie punter Reggie Hodges, who averaged 33 yards on five attempts. The Rams began drives at the 21 or worse on eight occasions. - NFL Football -

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.

UA Football: Punter kicks into high gear

JOHN MOREDICH
Tucson Citizen

BERKELEY, Calif. - Punter Danny Baugher kicked himself as much as the football last season.

For every five punts he nailed in 2004, he would shank the next.

So the University of Arizona senior studied visualization techniques in the offseason and worked on his footwork.

The results have been "phenomenal," said special teams coach Joe Robinson.

Baugher heads into today's 4 p.m. game at No. 12-ranked California as the nation's leading punter with a 52-yard average - and 4.5 seconds of hang time to boot.

Those numbers have attracted NFL scouts, who are inquiring about the former USA TODAY High School All-America punter from Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix.

"The ability was always there," UA's Robinson said. "A number of NFL scouts are calling and asking if ... he (can) do it all the time."

Baugher thinks he can.

"I feel like I am starting to put everything together," the 5-foot-10, 202-pound punter said. "I am really concentrating on each kick like it is my last. There is a higher focus and concentration level than any time."

UA hopes Baugher is focused today. Putting Cal's high-octane offensive attack in poor field position would help the Wildcats' chances of an upset.

But it won't be easy. Cal's Tim Mixon is the nation's fourth-best punt returner at 24.7 yards per attempt.

Arizona, as a team, is averaging only 5.4 yards per return.

"Our coverage team will have to cover well," UA coach Mike Stoops said. "It is not so much about yardage, but if you get the hang time. It is important to give our kids a chance to cover the punts."

Baugher worked on his consistency by watching film of good punts and bad ones.

"It's mechanics, the length of his first step, the length of his second step and where the ball is dropped," Robinson said of past problems. "You want to see the mechanics be the same all the time."

Baugher is already the school's leader in punt attempts - UA's offense ranked near the bottom in 2003 and 2004 - but he is more proud of breaking a pair of Pac-10 records.

His 59.7-yard average against Northern Arizona set a conference and school record for a single game. A week later, his 57.6-yard average broke a team high for average with a minimum of five attempts. His kicks against Purdue included boots of 76, 68, 63, 61 and 51 yards.

Copyright © 2005 Tucson Citizen, All rights reserved.

Applying many lessons learned on football field

From the Ivy League to the NFL to the small private college environment to his present stop at a small, but growing Greater Waterbury prep school.

Such is the ever-changing life of Roger Caron, a 1985 draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, just months removed from leaving an established job in Pomona, Calif.

As a member of the Harvard Crimson, he was a two-time All-Ivy League selection and played against the likes of two-way performer and Heisman Trophy candidate Gordie Lockbaum of the College of the Holy Cross, and was in the 100th game between Yale and Harvard at Yale Bowl.

He would bounce around the NFL, with stints with the Buffalo Bills and New Orleans Saints for three years before hanging up the cleats, and moving on to the college coaching ranks as an assistantfootball and wrestling coach at Williams College in his native Massachusetts.

Now, after 11 years as a teacher and head football coach at Pomona College in Claremont, Calif., the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Roger Caron moved his family across the country to one of the nine prep schools in Greater Waterbury and Litchfield -- Cheshire Academy.

He applied for three prep jobs in all last spring, one at Rivers in Massachusetts and the other at Taft School in Watertown. But the 43-year-old chose Cheshire Academy, where he teaches history, because he felt that it was the best location for his son, Jake, to further his education. Caron lives in a campus dormitory with his wife and son, the starting junior quarterback.

Copyright © 2005 Republican-American