Defense 48 Turnovers?

Recently, head coach Tony Dungy announced to the media that he would like his team to get 48 turnovers this season. This statement came on the heels of a stern preseason defeat of the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 27 -- a game highlighted by five Colts takeaways.To get that many footballs bouncing their way over the course of Jets 6 Sanchez AFL50th jersey
the season, the Colts would have to average three turnovers a game. Last year they had 31. So Dungy's hoping for an improvement of 17 takeaways (or roughly one extra per game).Certainly if anyone can do it, it might be this year's Indianapolis squad. It has a still-improving, young defense built on speed, and the team's potent offense puts it in the lead early and often, making opponents call more risky plays in order to keep pace on the scoreboard. Last year's leading team in takeaways was another high-scoring one -- the Cincinnati Bengals, who had 44. Second was the Carolina Panthers with 42.But with only a few days before their first game versus the New York Giants, the Colts are nursing several defensive starters. Tackle Corey Simon, strong safety Mike Doss, linebacker Freddie Keiaho and cornerback Nick Harper were unable to practice early in the week. A goal as lofty as 48 turnovers will take not only lots of skill but also luck, the kind of luck that keeps the Colts' defensive players out of the trainer's room. In 2002, Dungy's first year as head coach, the Colts totaled 27 takeaways (an average of 1.7 per game). In 2003 they had 29 (1.8 per game); in 2004 they had 36 (2.2 per game), and last year 31 (an average of 1.9). So they've improved steadily over a four-year period.The bottom line on attaining the head coach's lofty goal is this: The Colts would need to be significantly more aggressive on defense and take more chances. Given their high-scoring offense, Dungy could afford to do just that.At times last year he played things 4 Brett Favre Purple jersey
more conservatively than in 2004 (the year their offense went wild) -- and with great success. No one can argue a final regular season record of 14-2. It will be interesting, however, to see if Dungy lets his defensive stars loose this season in order to generate more turnovers.If he does, Indianapolis' defensive players may be grabbing more headlines than Peyton Manning in the weeks ahead