Joey Porter doesn't like audibles. He is bothered by Peyton Manning's gesticulations at the line of scrimmage. He is peeved when the Indianapolis Colts adjust their formations without having to huddle and discuss the situation. Well, too bad Mr. Porter. That is what makes the AFC South Division champs so entertaining to watch. The Steelers linebacker appears to dislike the intellectualization of football or the concept of offensive ingenuity. He wants the Colts to play a smash-mouth style and show their hand by running straight at Pittsburgh's defense. He is daring them to be conventional Sunday when the two teams meet Sunday at the RCA Dome. But the Colts are new wave.
The Field General
They have established a unique identity as coach Tony Dungy and offensive coordinator Tom Moore have channeled the offense through Peyton Manning. And as a result there is arguably not a more valuable player to his team in the league than Manning. The eight-year veteran quarterback is responsible for reading the defense, calling the plays and then executing them.
The process is mesmerizing to watch, and it must be intimidating for a defense, which not only has to find a way to match up with the Colts' various weapons but also must attempt to understand all of Manning's utterances and movements he uses to communicate with his teammates. Apparently, Porter is not a fan.
"They don't want to just sit there, line up and play football," Porter explained to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "They want to try to catch you off guard. They don't want to play smash-mouth football, they want to trick you. ... They want to catch you substituting. Know what I mean? They don't want to just call a play, get up there and run a play."
But Porter doesn't get it. What the Colts have done is take the playcalling out of the booth and put it on the field. Manning, who is both cerebral and extremely meticulous, is the conduit. After setting an NFL record by throwing 49 touchdown passes in 2004, he helped the Colts average 362.4 yards per game this year. Indianapolis ranked third in the league in total offense behind Kansas City and Seattle while compiling a 14-2 record in the regular season.
It's a wonder why more teams aren't copying the Colts. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Indianapolis' schemes require extreme precision in distracting situations. Not many quarterbacks have the work ethic of Manning, who is known for spending hours on end in the film room. And there are few offensive linemen who could stay in the stance like they do and not react to the all the exhortations Manning makes when the play clock is winding down. Such a complicated offensive system requires a lot of preparation.
Porter should realize this. What the Colts do is not trickery. They attack what the defense gives them. It's ingenious. Deep down the Steelers linebacker probably respects what Indianapolis does. But like so many defensive players who have been burned by the Colts' offense, he is frustrated by it. And it shows.
Dead on sportstraveler - I love the O Indy runs and if Porter can't grasp it, he'll have more than enough time with his off season starting the 16th of January, to try and figure it out.
Peyton needs his block knocked off, just one time. Maybe then he won't try to direct Mozart and the Magic Flute at the line of scrimmage. His antics remind me of the guys in basketball who, while another player is shooting a free throw, go, "Psyche!" or "Miss it" or "Noonan!"
Is it legal? Sure. Is it annoying and bordering on classless? You betcha. Steelers will win.
I think Jerry Porter knows what he's trying to do. It just won't work. And the Colts are suspect to getting hit in the mouth on offense - how do you think the Pats have Manning's number? Hit him hard, hit him early, and you can screw up his timing. I think Joey is trying to divert attention...
Oh and as to why more teams aren't like the Colts - don't cannonize Manning just yet. The reason is simple - the Colts have kept tremendous continuity on offense. The Bills ran the K-Gun with Kelly calling all of the shots on the field. Boomer Esiason did the same thing in Cincy. Yes, Peyton is a football nerd, but it helps that James, Harrison, Wayne, et al have been together for at least three years, which is an eternity in the salary cap era. There it is, simple and plain.
Watching a Colts game with Manning at the helm is kinda like a root canal, painful at best, but you cannot argue with the results. Anyone who says look at what they have done in the playoffs against the Pats, a clue for the clueless, it isn't Manning and his antics, it is the same story for every team in the NFL, you cannot win at Foxboro. I despise Mannings crazy rituals as much, if not more than anyone else, but the only reason the Pats have Mannings number? hmmmm geeez I wonder??? Maybe the best homefield advantage this side of Lambeu field???
Last edited by born2playin69 on January 12th at 9:22 PM.
Well Porters comments are getting under the skin of the colts and if they try to play smashmouth football they will lose. The only player not buying it is Harrison. They need to keep there cool and play there game do not get in to a Street fight with the Steelers! and this response pains me because I HATE THE STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!
It'll be hard to win, but I think the steelers can pull it off, they just have to kick manning off his high horse early and screw with his head a bit. That'll #### up the rest of his game. Either way, it'll be a damn good game.
Porter certainly had a lot to say after the Indy game too, but the bottom line is, the Steelers won... And they're heading to Super Bowl XL... Peyton can watch it from home... :)
My name is Rainer Sabin. I am a 23-year-old freelance reporter who has covered professional and Division I college sports for a variety of publications and news services.
The Field General
