With ramped up defense, run game, title could be in Cards

With ramped up defense, run game, title could be in Cards
January 14
Dallas Morning News
columnist Rick Gosselin
"The Indianapolis Colts were a one-dimensional team in 2006.

With Peyton Manning standing in the pocket, the Colts could throw the football with the best of them. But the Colts were mediocre on the ground with Dominic Rhodes and rookie Joseph Addai sharing the handoffs. Indianapolis finished 18th in the NFL in rushing that season.

The Colts also were subpar defensively. They finished last in the NFL in run defense and 23rd in scoring defense, with opponents averaging better than three touchdowns per game.

When you think of the NFL's great champions, you think of the complete teams such as the Cowboys of the 1990s, 49ers of the 1980s and Steelers of the 1970s. Flawed teams aren't supposed to win championships.

The 2006 Colts certainly were a flawed football team. But flawed teams are allowed to win Super Bowls in the salary-cap era - and Indianapolis captured the Lombardi Trophy that season.

That's why the Arizona Cardinals have a shot this season. They are the 2006 Colts. The Cardinals have a franchise quarterback in Kurt Warner and a splendid passing attack with Pro Bowl receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. But deficiencies abound elsewhere.

Like those Colts, these Cardinals struggled to run the ball and stop the run this season. Historically, running the ball and stopping the run are the two staples of a championship football team.

The Cardinals captured an NFC West title despite ranking last in the NFL in rushing and 16th in run defense. Like the 2006 Colts, the Cardinals placed a welcome mat in their end zone, finishing 28th in the league in scoring defense.

But like those Colts, the Cardinals adopted a different personality in January from the one they created during the regular season.

The Colts allowed 22.5 points per game in 2006. But in the playoffs, they clamped down, allowing 14.5 points per game.

The Colts allowed 173 rushing yards per game during the regular season. But they allowed only 82.7 yards rushing in their four playoff games. The Colts rushed for only 110 yards per game in the regular season. But they rushed for 151 yards per game in the playoffs.

The 2008 Cardinals allowed 26.6 points per game. They are allowing only 18.5 points per game in the playoffs.

Arizona allowed 110.2 yards per game rushing during the regular season. Despite playing the NFL's second- and third-ranked rushing attacks thus far in the playoffs, the Cardinals are allowing only 67.5 yards per game.

The Cardinals benched Edgerrin James at midseason, then struggled running the ball with rookie Tim Hightower, averaging only 73.6 rushing yards. But Arizona is averaging 115 yards in the postseason, with James and Hightower showing fresh legs.

Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast has done a marvelous job of devising game plans to minimize the opposition's best player.

Atlanta's Michael Turner finished second in the NFL in rushing with
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