Defense ready for the same…the best

Adjust font size

Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008
By Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

If you’re a Chargers defensive lineman or rush linebacker, facing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning once again is more of the same old Peyton.

“It’s the same thing with him,” said defensive end Igor Olshansky. “He drops back a lot, the ball comes out quick and they do whatever they can to give him time. You’ve got to get pressure on him. You can’t give him any room, especially in the fourth quarter.”

If you’re a Chargers linebacker or defensive back with pass coverage assignments, facing Manning is different every time.

“You can throw the last game out the window,” said strong safety Clinton Hart. “That’s Peyton Manning you’re facing. He’ll have a whole differently mentality for this game. I guarantee you he’s watched film of our last game a million times. It’s probably eating him up that he gave us that many (six interceptions). We don’t expect him to make as many mistakes this time.”

The Chargers’ AFC Divisional round playoff game Sunday against the Colts at Indianapolis will be the fourth time the teams have met in the last four seasons, including the Bolts’ 23-21 win this season on Nov. 11 at Qualcomm Stadium.

It may sound incongruous to say the defensive linemen and rush linebackers face the same Manning and the defenders in coverage face a different Manning, but that’s because the pass rush plays such a key role in slowing down the Colts’ prolific offense.

If the Chargers lack a pass rush, Manning can sit back in the pock with time and throw perfectly placed balls to receivers that are getting extra time to get open.

But if the Chargers’ pass rush is bringing heat, Manning is forced to make awkward throws on the run or force balls that defenders can jump for interceptions.

A calm, protected Manning throws different balls than a pressured Manning.

When the Chargers won on Nov. 11, the Bolts’ pass rush forced Manning into a 49.4 passing rating. He was sacked two times in addition to the six interceptions, although he completed 34-of-56 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns.

“Peyton Manning is never the same,” said free safety Marlon McCree. “He gives you something different every time. He knows how to watch film and is a great self-scouter. He knows what his tendencies were in that game and he’ll try and change it.”

In 2004, the Chargers lost 34-31 in overtime in a game the Bolts could have won.

In 2005, the Chargers won 26-17 to end Indianapolis’s unbeaten season after a 14-0 start. It was the pass rush the Chargers mounted to get Manning out of the pocket and on the run that exposed to the rest of the NFL the way to slow down the Colts’ offense.

“If we get pressure on him and we cover long enough to give the line time, it all works together,” said strong safety Clinton Hart. “You try to cover his guys and pressure him to force him into bad throws under pressure. You try to get him to make a mistake.”

Hart, inside linebacker Matt Wilhelm and outside linebacker Shaun Phillips had the other three interceptions in addition to cornerback Antonio Cromartie’s three picks.

Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer said the Bolts’ game plan to pressure receivers or play off receivers is another defensive strategy to use against Manning.

“For us, it’s different every time,” Jammer said. “They don’t know if we’re going to press or play off coverage, so they have to prepare for both.”

Getting Manning out of the pocket and under pressure is they key to preventing the Colts from running their offense smoothly.

“We’ve done a good job on defense of getting pressure on him,” said defensive lineman Ryon Bingham. “That’s the key to throwing off his game. We’ve got to rattle him and get some hits on him.”

MikeNowak, Chargers.com

Shawne Merriman and the Chargers believe getting Peyton Manning on the move is the key altering the Colts' passing game.

	Week 19: Chargers vs. Colts Preview A preview of the Week 19 matchup between the Chargers and the Colts. Play
	Point After: Shaun Phillips interview Chargers LB Shaun Phillips says the key to stopping the colts is pressuring Peyton Manning. Play
	Wednesday: Norv Turner Head coach Norv Turner after practice Wednesday tells the media "I think we are playing a lot better than we were playing two months ago, we are playing more as a complete team." Play
	Wednesday: Philip Rivers QB Philip Rivers tells the media on Wednesday "Nobody is just satisfied winning a playoff game...we certainly have our goals set a lot higher." Play
	Wednesday: LaDainian Tomlinson After practice Wednesday, RB LaDainian Tomlinson comments on being selected to The Associated Press 2007 All-Pro Team "The All pro selection is an honor because it's with the whole league, not just the AFC or NFC." Play
	Wednesday: Luis Castillo On Wednesday, DE Luis Castillo mentions "..The focus is not how they (Colts) play, the focus is how we prepare, the things we do and how we are playing that day, and we know we are confident that if we play to our best with the players we have on this team, we can beat anybody." Play
	Wednesday: Lorenzo Neal FB Lorenzo Neal returned to the practice field Wednesday and mentions that he "feels good" after missing four games because of an injury. Play