By Dan Parr
Jan. 17, 2008

He measures 5-foot-8, 206 pounds, but to get a good read on Colts SS Bob Sanders, you’d have to look at the big, beating, blood-pumping muscle in his chest.

Sanders’ imperfect size, strength, and speed have caused some to doubt him, whether it was at Cathedral Prep in Erie, Pa., the University of Iowa or in the pros. When the skeptics see him hit some poor running back who didn’t see the white blur coming, or the wide receiver who was punished for being brave enough to catch one over the middle, the questions are knocked out of mind.

Colts S Bob Sanders

“My goal has always been to have the biggest heart on the field. I might not be the biggest guy, but I have the biggest heart, and I work hard. It’s paying off. It’s definitely working for me, and I’m truly excited about it.”

That tremendous passion, which translates into jaw-unhinging hits, has led to serious injuries for Sanders in past seasons. In 2007, however, he made it through 15 regular-season games, missing only one game with bruised ribs — the closest he’s come to playing a full schedule in his four-year career.

His 96 tackles, 3½ sacks and two interceptions — all of which are career highs — earned him enough votes to become this season’s Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America Defensive Player of the Year.

Sanders is the first Colt ever to win the award and the third safety to gain the honor. The Ravens’ Ed Reed (2004) and the Seahawks’ Kenny Easley (1984) were the other safeties to be named the NFL’s top defender.

Sanders’ arrival in Indianapolis has coincided with a complete remodeling of the team’s image. With Peyton Manning, one of the highest-profile players in the league both on the field and off, at quarterback, the Colts were always considered an offensive powerhouse. Indianapolis’ defense was holding it back, league analysts surmised, suggesting that it wasn’t a tough enough unit.

A factor many voters likely kept in mind this year is Sanders’ ability, when healthy, to turn that unit from pedestrian to dominant.

Last season, when Sanders missed 12 games with a right knee injury, Indianapolis gave up a league-high 5.3 yards per carry. When he returned in time for the playoffs, the team’s defense was suddenly stifling, holding opponents to 17 points or fewer in 3-of-4 postseason games on the way to a Super Bowl championship.

This year’s Colts defense ranked third in the league, allowing an NFL-low 262 points and holding opponents to 3.8 yards per rush.

“Our defense has not really been known to be physical or strong,” Sanders said. “A couple years back, we were called a finesse team and not physical and not one of the top teams in the league.

“I think this year we really stepped it up, and that’s the main reason why I’ve been able to grab some of these awards.”

Perhaps the biggest accolade the 26-year-old Sanders snagged this season came on Dec. 28, when the Colts inked him to a five-year, $37.5 million contract extension that included $20 million in guaranteed money.

The deal made Sanders the highest-paid safety in the league. It came after months of speculation that Indianapolis would slap the franchise tag on Sanders in the offseason before he became a free agent — a maneuver that has severed more than a few relationships between tagged players and organizations in recent years.

“Being here and getting the opportunity was the best thing for me,” Sanders said. “Not only do we have a great organization, great coaches, a great group of guys, but I think the scheme is built for me. That was the main thing that helped keep me here.

“They want me here; I want to be here. Everything worked out great.”

The Colts relied on Sanders more than ever this season, particularly after DE Dwight Freeney was lost for the final seven games of the year with a foot injury.

“A lot of guys are able to see plays, sniff them out. They even call out certain plays, (saying) ‘The ball’s coming here,’ but they don’t have that ability to get there and make that play,” said Colts MLB Gary Brackett.   “Bob, on the other hand, he does. Whether it’s 3rd-and-1, 4th-and-2, whatever the situation is, Bob’s going to be there.”

Head coach Tony Dungy — who calls Sanders “The Eraser” — moved his strong safety closer to the line of scrimmage this season to help collapse running lanes.

“For us and for him, we’ve been known so long as an offensive team, I think for someone from our defense to be recognized is quite an accomplishment because I don’t think, nationally, we’re thought of as a defensive team,” Dungy said. “He’s been good; he’s made a difference for us.”

Though his salary pulls him out of the blue-collar category, Sanders’ roots keep him grounded. His father, Marion, worked in an iron foundry for three decades, and his toughness set an example for the entire family.

“The way my parents raised me, they were hard workers. They told me to do what you got to do to fight to survive and strive to do your best,” Sanders said.

“That’s definitely something that’s carried on from Erie to Iowa. Iowa really helped me grow as a player and a person, and it’s carried on to Indianapolis, and it’s been the same way.”

As a Hawkeye, Sanders’ fierce style of play led to fans calling him the “Hitman.” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said he’ll never forget the way the late Joe Moore — who, in an incredible twist, coached both Ferentz and Sanders as prep athletes — described Sanders to him during the recruiting process.

“(Moore) said, ‘I don’t know if he’ll ever play for you because I don’t know if he can learn to cover the pass or be big enough to be a linebacker. The one thing he’ll do is make your special teams a lot better,’ ” Ferentz said. “More importantly, he guaranteed he’d make our football team better.

“His words were very prophetic, outside of the defensive part. The day Bob walked on our practice field, he made the tempo of our team better.”

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Links to 2007 PFW/PFWA awards