Manning protected by Vandals

If the statistics being accrued by Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning boggle the mind, try calculating the odds on this: Two-fifths of Manning’s protection up front is often provided by former University of Idaho Vandals who have even lined up side-by-side at times.

“I guess I never thought about it a whole lot, but it’s pretty cool when I think it through,” said Rick DeMulling, the Colts’ starting guard by way of Idaho and Cheney High. “It’s a cool feeling to have a guy that I know and I know where he’s from and what he’s been through.”

That other guy is rookie Jake Scott, a Lewiston High and UI product who has started six games when injuries sidelined Colts regulars.

“We played one year together at Idaho,” Scott said. “The last two weeks Rick has been filling in at center and I’ve been at right guard.”

DeMulling and Scott actually overlapped by two years at Idaho. Scott was a redshirt when DeMulling was a junior in 1999. Both were starters in 2000. DeMulling was drafted in the seventh round by the Colts and emerged as a starter in 2002. The Colts selected Scott in the fifth round of the draft in April.

And now they protect Manning, who needs two touchdown passes Sunday night against Baltimore to equal Dan Marino’s single-season record of 48, and clear holes for Edgerrin James, the NFL’s leading rusher.

The Colts have put up points like a pinball machine. Indianapolis joined the 1960 Chargers and 2000 Rams as the only teams with four straight games of 40 points or more. The Colts had that streak snapped in last week’s 23-14 win over Houston – their lowest point total of the season.

“When you sit back and look at the last month or so, it’s ridiculous to be scoring 45 points a game,” Scott said. “It’s just a lot of fun to be part of it.”

It’s nothing new for DeMulling, who has started the last three years and seen the Colts pass for 4,000-plus yards every season (Manning is at 3,919 and counting). But DeMulling admits to a new appreciation when he was forced to watch a couple of games with a bruised chest earlier this season.

“I was depressed (to be out) and they were just lighting it up,” DeMulling said. “We were just putting up the points and I was sitting and watching. It’s impressive. Our job is to score points and every drive we feel like we can. When we don’t we feel like we could have.”

The Colts’ weekly media release is 33 pages. Page after page is dedicated to Manning’s milestones, followed by more pages detailing the accomplishments by James, receivers and tight ends. Manning has at least two TD passes in an NFL record 13 straight games. Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley are trying to become the first trio of receivers with 10 touchdown receptions. Harrison has 13, Wayne 11 and Stokley nine.

“Peyton’s the consummate pro,” DeMulling said. “The way I describe him is he’s a computer with the way he processes everything. He does have a great personality and a great sense of team. He likes to play jokes. Everybody sees him as a little stuffy, but he’s completely the opposite. He likes to have a good time.”

Page 25 of the release is devoted to the offensive line. Some of the tidbits: Indianapolis has given up just nine sacks, tied for fewest in the NFL. The Colts allowed an AFC-low 18 sacks in 2003 and just 23 sacks in 2002, second-fewest in the AFC. The Colts are allowing one sack every 48 pass attempts. The best ratio in team history: 1 in 40 in 1999.

Anonymity is part of the job description for offensive linemen and it’s no different in Indianapolis. The Colts haven’t had a Pro Bowl lineman since the mid-1980s. While Manning jerseys rank in the top three in NFL sales, DeMulling mused that they don’t “mass produce” his No. 64 jerseys.

“I think Jeff Saturday is one of the best centers and Tarik (Glenn) is a great athlete at left tackle,” said DeMulling, who will be a free agent after the season. “I won’t say we’re getting shafted, but it doesn’t seem fair at times.”

Offensive line coach Howard Mudd has been quoted as saying DeMulling ranks with the best guards in the NFL.

DeMulling played center the last two games, at one point literally throwing a shoe while the Colts were in their 2-minute offense. “It wasn’t going back on too well and I didn’t have a lot of time,” he said. “I gave it the ref’s (underhand) throw to the sideline, but it turned out Peyton called timeout so I was able to get it back on.”

Scott has made an impressive transition to the NFL, quickly learning the Colts’ no-huddle system. He’ll probably return to a backup role Sunday when the Colts are expected to have their five starters together for the first time in weeks. Another ex-Vandals lineman, Patrick Venzke, was in the Colts’ training camp, but was released in early September.

“It was tough the first few weeks of camp,” he said. “There’s a lot to learn and pick up on, but once we got into preseason games it started to get a lot easier.”

Scott’s and DeMulling’s careers have numerous parallels. DeMulling was a 235-pound quarterback at Cheney High. Scott was 175 pounds and a backup tight end as a junior at Lewiston. Both sprouted into four-year starters at Idaho.

DeMulling was first-team All-Big West Conference three times, one of only six Vandals to receive first-team all-conference recognition three times. Scott was twice second-team All-Sun Belt and would have probably rated higher if the Vandals had been more successful as a team.

These days they share the same address. Scott and two other Colts rent rooms in DeMulling’s house.

“He charges me, but it’s not too bad,” Scott said.

“I own those fools,” DeMulling chuckled. “No, it’s fun. It’s kind of like a frat house.”

A Vandals fraternity.