Bob Sanders Profile Week 10

If you saw the play where the ' Bob Sanders hurled his body over his own defensive line to pound shifty running back Laurence Maroney into the turf last weekend in New England, you'll know what I'm talking about.Just when it looked like the Patriots' rookie was about to shoot through a hole for a nice gain, Sanders went vertical Dallas Cowboys jersey
and met him shoulder high, looking more like a human missile or comic book superhero than a mild-mannered guy from northern Pennsylvania. The free safety's return from injury couldn't have come at a more perfect time for Indianapolis this past Sunday night as the team took on its conference nemesis. With two starting tackles out once again (Corey Simon and Montae Reagor) and fellow safety Mike Doss recently going on injured reserve, the Colts were obviously vulnerable going against Tom Brady and the Pats. But 11 tackles and an interception later, Sanders stood out as the spark that lit a fire under the Colts' defense.Stellar play is not new to the third-year pro out of the University of Iowa. Last December he had a career-best 20 tackles (12 solo) versus San Diego. He then became the club's first defensive back to earn Pro Bowl honors since Jerry Logan and Rick Volk in 1971. Sanders finished the season with 118 tackles (71 solo), four passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception.Of course, Sanders' hard-hitting style of play doesn't come without a downside. Of the 41 regular-season games he's been on the Colts' roster, he has been listed as questionable, doubtful or out 22 times on Indy's injury report.Should he stay healthy the rest of 4 Brett Favre White jersey
the 2006 campaign, Bob Sanders will single-handedly raise the Colts' defensive unit from nothing special to above average. He is that good.As much as I dislike clichés, Sanders is a bona fide difference maker on the football field. And the Colts are no doubt happy to have him back.Get more analysis