The Indianapolis Defense Gets the Jets? Attention By DAVE CALDWELL Published: September 28, 2006 HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Sept. 27 ? Jets quarterback Chad Pennington said he watched videotape of the Indianapolis defense and was amazed by what he saw. No matter where he stopped the tape, he counted at least eight Colts on the screen, ganging up to wreck a play. ?They?re very opportunistic,? Pennington said Wednesday. After helping the Jets post two victories in three games, Pennington will try to guide them past Indianapolis (3-0) on Sunday. But he will need help. The Jets? offense must execute precisely, he said, to keep the Colts? powerful offense off the field as much as possible. That means the rookie left tackle D?Brickashaw Ferguson must keep Dwight Freeney, the Colts? dangerous right defensive end, from hounding Pennington. Football is a game of many matchups, and this is a big one. ?He?s an excellent athlete,? Ferguson said. ?I?ve got to be sharp with my execution.? Blocking Freeney is usually a task shared by several people, including tight ends and running backs. Indianapolis Coach Tony Dungy said in a conference call Wednesday that Freeney has routinely faced two or three blockers the past two seasons. Freeney has yet to record a sack this season, and he was expected to play despite a buttocks injury. The Jets expect him to play, and Ferguson expects to be tested. His teammates have told him that he will have a good day if he simply limits Freeney?s impact. ?With a player of his caliber, there?s only so much you can do,? Jets left guard Pete Kendall said. The Jets? offensive line is not sturdy, either. Kendall, who was listed Wednesday as the starter, said he did not know when he would return from a thigh injury. ?I?m hoping it?s soon,? he said. On Wednesday, the Jets cut Norm Katnik, who played left guard in their 28-20 victory over Buffalo. Coach Eric Mangini said that Kendall, Trey Teague, Wade Smith and Adrian Jones could end up playing left guard against Indianapolis. The Jets were peppered with questions about the Colts? potent offense, which is led by quarterback Peyton Manning, who is coming off a subpar performance in a 21-14 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday. Members of the Jets? offense would like to think they are as responsible for limiting Manning as the defense. The longer the Jets hold the ball, the longer Manning stands on the sideline and the farther back the Colts? offense starts. But wide receiver Laveranues Coles highlighted a potential problem when he said, ?It?s hard to get any passes downfield with Freeney coming off the end.? A primer on Freeney began well before Ferguson worked with other offensive linemen in a distant corner of the Jets? practice facility, on the other side of a tarp-covered fence from busy Hempstead Turnpike. Mangini said he had enlisted Kendall and other veterans on the offensive line to help Ferguson establish a consistent routine for preparing for a game. ?Part of that routine is to understand who the pass rusher is or if it?s a combination of pass rushers,? Mangini said. ?To know what the game within the game is, what the guy?s strengths and weaknesses are, how he?s going to have to approach each one within the blocking scheme.? Freeney is quick and strong and has a well known inside spin move that he uses even when opponents expect it. Most quarterbacks are right-handed, which means Freeney often attacks from the blind side. ?He has incredible speed off the edge,? Mangini said. ?He can go from speed to power where it looks like he?s coming on a pure speed rush, then transition to power and drive a guy back. He?s relentless.? Dungy says he thinks Ferguson has a lot of potential, but coaches tend to sprinkle compliments on opponents four days before a game. ?He?s got big, long arms,? Dungy said. ?He?s got the mental makeup to play the spot. He?s done a good job so far.? The key words: so far. ?This is going to be a very good test for him,? Kendall said of Ferguson. ?Dwight Freeney has been successful against the best of the best in this business.? EXTRA POINTS The Jets cut linebacker Ryan Myers and Trevor Johnson, a linebacker and defensive end. They signed the 275-pound fullback James Hodgins and linebackers Cody Spencer and Ryan Riddle. Hodgins has started 28 games in his eight-year career, with St. Louis and Arizona.
