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INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3, 1998) -- It only seems appropriate that Miami's Dan Marino will be in the RCA Dome Sunday when Peyton Manning makes his NFL debut with the Indianapolis Colts. Marino, the Hall of Famer-to-be, vs. Manning, the up-and-comer. Marino, the ol' gunslinger, vs. Manning, the young gun. Manning, the first overall pick in the April draft, calls Sunday's occasion "a unique situation." Does he understand how unique? Manning will be just the fifth Colts' rookie to start on opening day. He's following in the footsteps of Jeff George (1990), Mike Pagel ('82), Bert Jones ('73) and George Shaw ('55). And he's hoping to fare better than his predecessors. Of the previous four rookies, only Shaw won his opener, a 23-17 decision over Chicago. If, as expected, Ryan Leaf starts for San Diego on Sunday, Manning, at 22 years and 5 months, will be the seventh youngest rookie quarterback to start on opening day. The youngest ever is New England's Drew Bledsoe (21 years, 6 months). Leaf will be the fifth youngest (22 years, 3 months). Ironcially, No. 6 on the chart is Peyton's father, Archie Manning (22 years, 4 months). And to think Manning's much-hyped debut will come with Marino on the opposing sideline. All Marino represents is the standard by which all quarterbacks, rookies and veterans alike, are measured. He holds every significant NFL passing record, including touchdowns (385), yards (55,416), completions (4,453) and attempts (7,452). "When you look at his numbers," said Manning, "you do say 'Wow'. He's had some unbelievably big years, but what impresses you the most is he has done it so long and so consistently at such a high level. "I had my own role model in my own house, but sure, I always watched Marino and (John) Elway and liked the way they competed. You try to study those guys and see how they handle situations. "It's an honor to play against a Dan Marino, but you still have to stay focused on the task at hand." Coach Jim Mora said he has no plans to talk with Manning prior to the game in an attempt at easing the rookie's anxiety level. "It wouldn't do any good if I did," he said. "He's going to be excited and nervous. I could tell him to take some sleeping pills and it probably wouldn't make any difference." As intriguing as the Manning vs. Marino storyline is, it's only one that will weave through the RCA Dome on Sunday. The main theme will be how well the Colts fare in their latest "new beginning." On the heels of posting last year's NFL-worst 3-13 record, changes are everywhere. Bill Polian was brought in as club president and Mora as head coach. Manning is one of 21 players who will be seeing their first action for the Colts. Of the 61 players under contract at the end of 1997, 31 are gone. No one is calling the Colts a playoff team, but no one disputes the importance of the team getting off on the right foot this year. New president. New coach. New quarterback. New start? "It looks that way," said running back Marshall Faulk, who can anticipate a busy season as the Colts will ease Manning's rookie workload by emphasizing the running game. "I just hope it's different from last year. "We definitely want to come out and have a great game. We want to set the tone for the season."
KEY MATCHUP: Colts' WR Marvin Harrison vs. Dolphins' CB Terrell Buckley. The Colts will attempt to establish the running game behind Marshall Faulk. But make no mistake about it, rookie quarterback Peyton Manning will be allowed to throw the football. When he does, Harrison will be his go-to guy. During the preseason, Manning and Harrison showed they already have developed a solid rapport. Eleven of Manning's 32 completions and all four of his touchdown passes went to Harrison. Their signature play was a quick slant, which produced two of the four TDs. Buckley is Miami's best cover corner. A first-round pick of Green Bay in 1992 (No. 5 overall), he joined the Dolphins via a trade in 1995. Buckley has started the last 36 games at corner and produced 10 interceptions while breaking up 28 passes. At 6-0 and 181 pounds, Harrison isn't one of the league's bigger receivers. However, he'll enjoy a slight advantage over Buckley, a 5-9, 180-pounder. COACH JIM MORA ON: --The odds stacked against quarterback Peyton Manning, who will start as a rookie: "There is no rule in the NFL that says a rookie can't win. I'm sure he'll be excited, but I'm also sure he will handle everything well." --The decision to release incumbent placekicker Cary Blanchard and retain free agent Mike Vanderjagt: "It was a tough decision because they both had been excellent in practice and in games. I think we could have flipped and coin and been right with either one of them. We went with Mike. I don't have anything against Cary, believe me. I like him as a person and I think he's an excellent kicker. But I think we kept an excellent kicker, too." --The status of the team's ground game: "We haven't run it as well these last two weeks as I'd like, but I still have confidence we'll be able to run the ball. There are going to be games where we have a tough time and other games where we will run it easier. But overall I believe we've got the people who can block and the people who can run." --The team's run defense: "I feel better than I did initially about it. I think it's going to improve as we go into the season. We're going to stop the run better in six weeks than we will Sunday. And we'll get a test this Sunday. They have committed to running the football. Jimmy has been saying it all offseason and all training camp." WHO'S HOT: Placekicker Mike Vanderjagt. It was only preseason, but Vanderjagt did enough to convince the team it could do without Cary Blanchard. That's saying something considering over the last two seasons, Blanchard made more field goals (68) and scored more points (252) than any kicker in the league. Vanderjagt, the premier kicker in the Canadian Football League last year, was solid throughout preseason. He was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including 48- and 49-yarders, and displayed his versatility by averaging 43.5 yards on four punts. He also can kick off. WHO'S NOT: Tight end Ken Dilger. If the team was intent on establishing Dilger as a viable offensive weapon during the preseason, it failed miserably. Dilger had one catch for 9 yards. The coaching staff talked during the offseason that Dilger would be better utilized than a year ago (a career-low 27 receptions), but he and fellow tight end Marcus Pollard were used more as blockers than receivers during the preseason. INJURIES Backup running back Lamont Warren and rookie wide receiver E.G. Green have been ruled out of Sunday's opener against Miami. Warren has not practiced since suffering a sprained ankle in the preseason opener at Seattle while Green suffered a dislocated right elbow in training camp on Aug. 13. Backup defensive tackle Steve Martin missed the final three preseason games with a sprained ankle. He returned to practice Wednesday, but aggravated the injury. He likely will miss the Dolphins' game. Defensive tackles Tony McCoy and Bernard Whittington missed the end of preseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, but both are expected to play Sunday. |