Sanders Surprises Himself

Thursday, July 13, 2006

By Andy Hamilton and Pat Harty
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Bob Sanders built a reputation with his speed and high-impact hitting, but even he didn't expect to be such a big hit this fast in the NFL.

With barely more than a full season's worth of game experience with the Indianapolis Colts, Sanders already is an All-Pro, one of the rising stars in the NFL and one of the game's hardest hitters.

And perhaps nobody is more surprised than the former Iowa safety.

"I thought it would take me a little longer to get adjusted and acclimated to the speed of the game and everything like that," Sanders said. "But once I got in there, it all became second nature. It happened so fast, though."

Sanders had his rookie season cut short in 2004 by a foot injury that prevented him from being ready for the early portion of the year. The 5-foot-8, 206-pound safety played in 14 games this past season, collecting 91 tackles, filling highlight reels with teeth-rattling hits and helping change the complexion of a Colts defense that went from average to one of the league's best in the span of a year.

"I'm not surprised one bit," said Philadelphia Eagles safety Sean Considine, who started alongside Sanders in the secondary with the Hawkeyes. "I love going into the locker room and bragging up Bob. I tell everybody that Bob Sanders is the best football player that I've ever played with. When I told people that a year or two ago, they all wanted to say, 'Well, he's too small.' Now look. He's a Pro Bowl player. It doesn't surprise me one bit."

Sanders is in town this week to help with the Training with Nate Kaeding Youth Camp at West High -- a camp for ages 7 through 14 that specializes in football, basketball and soccer instruction.

Sanders recalled Wednesday how track and wrestling helped enhance his football skills.

"I think a lot of my wrestling comes into play when I'm making a tackle," he said. "When you take a single-leg takedown, you're going hard and you're going real low. So all that stuff comes into play. Track helps you out with speed, and it helps you learn how to run properly. Doing all those different things helped me with football."

So did meeting the late Joe Moore.

Moore was the mentor for Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, and he also coached Sanders at Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep High School. He convinced Ferentz to spend a scholarship on Sanders, whose only other offer was from Ohio University.

"He meant the world to me (with) just everything he did for me," Sanders said. "If it weren't for him I would not be in this situation right now. I would never see myself being able to accomplish all the things I've accomplished. He put me into a great situation by introducing me to coach Ferentz and coach Ferentz trusted his word and gave me a chance.

"To me, I look back and say it's a blessing that he came into my life. He's like an angel to me because he helped me get to the point where I am now."

USA TODAY Sports Weekly's All-Pro Team

By Howard Balzer, USA TODAY Sports Weekly

January 25, 2006

Picking an All-Pro team and honoring the game's best producers is a thankless task. Because when these teams are published, just as when the Pro Bowl teams are selected each year, the emphasis always seems to go to the players not picked.

Here at USA TODAY Sports Weekly, we don't pick eight wide receivers or six quarterbacks like the Pro Bowl does. What you see here is the best of the best.
We also pick a team based on the way the game is played. For example, there is a left and right tackle; a right and left defensive end. Also recognized are those non-starters who contribute in significant ways, such as nickel backs and third receivers.

Clearly, there are many superb players in a great league who won't be mentioned. But this is the NFL's cream of the crop for the 2005 season.



DEFENSE
•Free safety: Bob Sanders, Indianapolis. After getting off to a slow start as a rookie in 2004 because of an offseason foot injury, Sanders' performance against the run and pass helped the Colts improve from 29th to 11th in overall defense. Indianapolis allowed 370.6 yards a game in 2004 but just 307.1 this season. The Colts' points allowed dropped from 351 to 247.

Four Colts Make NFL All-Pro Team

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer

January 10, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS — Bob Sanders helped change the image of the Indianapolis Colts' defense with a few big hits. The sports writers and broadcasters rewarded him Monday by making him among the Colts' league-high four players on this year's Associated Press All-Pro team.

"Knowing the way I play and the attitude I have for this game, I felt like I was the guy who should take it to another level," Sanders said. "It has to do with being physical and being aggressive."

Joining Sanders, a safety, on the first team were quarterback Peyton Manning, center Jeff Saturday and defensive end Dwight Freeney. Seattle also had four players named to the first team.

Receiver Marvin Harrison and linebacker Cato June were both second-team selections.

For the high-scoring Colts, it was an unusually balanced mix, and Sanders was the biggest surprise. The second-year player from Iowa, whose rookie season was limited by injuries, made the kind of impact coach Tony Dungy expected when the Colts took him in the second round of the 2004 draft.

He finished with 118 tackles _ second on the team _ had one interception, forced one fumble and recovered a fumble. It was enough to earn 22 of 50 votes, second to Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu who had 37.

"We had the strength and the speed on this defense, but we needed to become more physical," Sanders said. "And this scheme puts me in position to make plays."

Manning, a two-time MVP who finished second in this year's MVP and offensive player of the year balloting, was named the top quarterback for the third straight year. Only four Colts -- Jim Parker (eight), Gino Marchetti (six) and Lenny Moore and Art Donovan (four each) -- were chosen to more consecutive All-Pro teams.

Manning also is the first Colts quarterback to be honored in three successive seasons. John Unitas made the team five times but never more than twice in a row.
"There's no question the last three years have been the three best of my career," Manning said. "To do it three years in a row, I take a lot of pride in that and I've had some good coaching and some good help."

Freeney, who was second in defensive player of the year voting, earned his second straight selection to the All-Pro team. He was the top vote-getter among all defensive ends.

Saturday was honored for the first time in his seven-year career. He received 28 votes, nearly three times as many as Chicago's Olin Kreutz who had 10. And like Manning, Sanders and Freeney, he will start in the Pro Bowl.

"I'm extremely excited about it. It really is a great achievement," Saturday said. "It's been good, and hopefully things will come together for us as a team."

During the offseason, Dungy said he wanted the Colts to be more physical on defense this year, and Sanders seemed to take the plea personally. With Sanders healthy, the addition of run-stuffing defensive tackle Corey Simon and the emergence of linebackers June and Gary Brackett, jumped from the No. 29 defense to No. 11.

"We've been healthier this year, which allowed us to practice more and the guys carried it out," Dungy said. "Bob Sanders has certainly been the ring leader, but it's not just him."

Sanders: Vital Part for Colts' Defense

By Mike Chappell, The Indianapolis Star

December 18, 2005

Bob Sanders had an excellent view as the San Diego Chargers used the Indianapolis Colts' defense for target practice last season.

Nursing an injured knee, he was on the sideline, out of range of the pyrotechnics generated by San Diego's Pro Bowl triumvirate of quarterback Drew Brees, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tight end Antonio Gates. The Colts avoided an upset, rallying for a 34-31 victory in overtime, but their defense had been worn out.

"Any game you're not a part of, it's hard," said Sanders, the Colts' starting free safety in all 13 games this season. "You want to be out there every game."

Sanders figures to be a major contributor this afternoon in the RCA Dome as the Colts and Chargers square off in a showdown of prominent AFC clubs.

The Colts (13-0) are poised to take another step on their historic journey. Already in possession of home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, they can join the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only teams in the 86-year history of the NFL to post a 14-0 record.

Survival is the Chargers' objective. At 8-5, they're battling Jacksonville (9-4), Pittsburgh (8-5) and Kansas City (8-6) for one of the two wild-card berths. A slip today won't be fatal but will be detrimental with closing games at Kansas City and home against Denver.

Injuries likely will keep the Colts' defense from being at its best. Corey Simon, the run-stuffing tackle, and Robert Mathis, the unit's top sack producer (111/2), are out with foot injuries.

Sanders, though, is healthy and raring to go. Limited to six regular-season appearances by foot and knee injuries last year, the 5-8, 206-pounder has been a physical and emotional catalyst for a defense that required a jolt of each.

The defense isn't one that revolves around one player. It's based on each player tending to his assignment, trusting his teammates to tend to theirs and being accountable.

However, ask coordinator Ron Meeks the difference in a defense that ranks No. 4 in total yards and No. 2 in points allowed and the 2004 unit that ranked No. 29 and No. 19, respectively, and there's no hesitation.

"Bob Sanders," he said. "One guy. When he's in there, he's a very aggressive, physical guy."

Sanders, in his second NFL season, appreciates the praise but respectfully deflects it.

"I just go out and do my job," he said. "It's 11 guys on the field. We play the same defense. We play together."

In 2004, injuries forced the Colts to use 10 starting combinations in the secondary. The mixing and matching contributed to frequent assignment mistakes and the pass defense yielding 50 receptions that gained at least 20 yards, including 13 touchdowns.

This season, there have been only 27 pass plays of at least 20 yards, with three TDs. It's no coincidence that Sanders and cornerback Jason David have started all 13 games, cornerback Nick Harper has started 12 and strong safety Mike Doss 11.

"We're healthier than we've been in the past," Meeks said. "Bob has been healthy. Jason David was forced into the action last year because of the injuries we had at corner. He made mistakes last year and he's not making the same mistakes."

In last year's win over the Chargers, the Colts' pass defense allowed five receptions of at least 20 yards. That included a 74-yarder by Tomlinson when he exploited a coverage mismatch with linebacker Rob Morris, and Colts safeties were unable to limit the damage.

That's one of Sanders' strengths. Coach Tony Dungy describes him as an "eraser." If a mistake occurs in front of him, Sanders has the ability either to eliminate it, or minimize the gain with a jarring hit and sure tackle.

"He has that no-nonsense attitude of 'Let's just get it done,'" Meeks said. "He has that upper-body violence. When he makes a play, it's full speed, it's with a certain type of aggression.

"And people feed off that."