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Colts won't let Bush sneak up on them

Super Bowl ring dream comes true for Metairie native
Wednesday, September 05, 2007 By Jeff Duncan

INDIANANPOLIS -- Where's Reggie?
The whereabouts of Saints running back Reggie Bush will be the top priority for every Colts defender in their game against the Saints on Thursday night.
The multi-skilled runner is the wild card in the Saints' offense, Colts Coach Tony Dungy said.
"He's like Barry Sanders," Dungy said, "but he's more involved in the passing game, and he's in more positions and more places."
Bush's versatility makes him especially difficult to defend, Dungy said. The former Southern Cal standout rushed for 565 yards and caught 88 passes for 742 yards as a rookie. The receptions were fifth most in the NFC and second most by a running back in the league. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.
"Probably (former Colts and Rams back) Marshall (Faulk) is the best comparison of a guy who can catch the ball, hurt you in the passing game as well as running," he said. "He runs reverses and catches screens and catches the ball out of the backfield and lines up as a wide receiver. It's very similar to playing against Marshall."
Dungy said the complexity and versatility of the Saints' offense, in particular with backs Bush and Deuce McAllister, will challenge the Colts' defense. In addition to their varied formations, he estimated the Saints use and call on as many as 10 skill-position players each game.
"They present you a problem," Dungy said. "Poise will be critical for us on Thursday.
"They do different things when (Bush is) the running back and McAllister is the back," he added. "They use both of them (at running back) at the same time. They use three wides (receivers) and four wides. They do different things out of all those groupings. It'll be a challenge for us, no question."
BLING BLING: Metairie native Craig Kelley dreamed of winning a Super Bowl ring when he entered the sports media relations business 23 years ago.
Now the Colts vice president of public relations has one, thanks in large part to fellow New Orleanian Peyton Manning.
Each ring is loaded with 50 diamonds for a total of 2.6 carats. The centerpiece is a horseshoe of synthetic blue sapphire set in 14-carat white gold. The ring weighs 3 ounces (about the same as 16 quarters). Total value: $5,000.
Every employee with at least 10 years of tenure received a ring, which was fashioned by local jeweler Herff Jones. Employees with less tenure received a secondary ring.
The staff and players received their rings in a private ceremony June 13, about four months after the Colts' 29-17 win against Chicago in Super Bowl XLI. The rings were delivered to each recipient on a silver platter.
"Obviously we'd love to go on a run and win a lot more of them, but if we don't win another one, at least we can say we've got one," said Kelley, a former LSU and East Jeff High School graduate who has an LSU helmet prominently displayed along with other sports memorabilia in his office. "One is enough for me."
EARLY SUCCESS: Fast starts are a point of emphasis for the Colts. They've won four of five season openers under Dungy and have never started a season worse than 4-1.
"I believe that fast starts are so important, because what happens is you get out in front and you force other teams to play perfect ball to catch you," Dungy said. "And that's a lot of stress. If you get behind a game or so in September and you're already looking to catch up to another team, you don't feel like you can lose a game."
ETC.: Cornerback Tim Jennings (knee) and reserve linemen Dylan Gandy (groin) and Charlie Johnson (knee) missed practice Tuesday and are listed as doubtful to play Thursday night. . . . The Colts are a loose bunch, fittingly for a team coming off a Super Bowl title. They closed Tuesday's practice with a contest among about a dozen players to see who could convert a 30-yard field goal by passing it through the uprights. Each player contributed $20 to the pot, which was eventually won by cornerback Kelvin Hayden after several near misses by teammates.
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