Published: August 10, 2008 10:13 pm         

Colts find positives in Carolina loss

Harrison starts preseason game; Mike Hart turns in another impressive performance

Two games into the 2008 preseason schedule and the Indianapolis Colts find themselves in a familiar position. The Colts — 2-14 in preseason games since 2005 — have come out on the short end of contests with Washington and Carolina the last two weeks, the latter a 23-20 overtime loss at Charlotte on Saturday night.

While winning as many games as possible in the regular season and the playoffs is the ultimate goal, finding the right combination of players to fill a roster is what counts the most during the summer months. That’s been the plan against both the Redskins and Panthers, with nothing expected to change as Indianapolis uses its final week of training camp at Rose-Hulman to prepare for this weekend’s game with the Atlanta Falcons [Aug. 16].

Continuing work on the fundamentals will be the main item on the agenda for Colts coach Tony Dungy beginning with today’s two short practices [11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.]. The Terre Haute portion of training camp will wrap up after Friday’s 9:30 a.m. workout at Cook Stadium.

Indianapolis’ No. 1 offensive and defensive units struggled at the outset of the Carolina game, falling behind 14-0 thanks in large measure to a pair of pass-rush induced turnovers [a fumble by starting quarterback Jim Sorgi during a sack by Panthers’ defensive end Julius Peppers and an interception after a deflected pass at the line of scrimmage].

Inconsistent pass protection — the Colts allowed four sacks in all — and turnovers [Indianapolis had three passes picked off] coupled with a sluggish run defense [207 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns] caught Dungy’s attention.

“It will be a great fundamental week for us. I think our first group will really benefit from those extra couple of days [of practice this week]. We didn’t control the line of scrimmage offensively or defensively with our first group [against Carolina]. And that’s what you have to do to win games,” the Colts coach said during his post-game radio show Saturday night.

“So that’s going to be our focus [this week]. Just getting back to our fundamentals and making sure we’re on our pad level and our run fits on defense and protecting the passer on offense.”

• And there were positives — Rallying from a 14-0 deficit to tie the game at 20-20 on a 38-yard field goal by rookie Adam Crossett with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter gives Dungy and the coaching staff some positive things to think about this week.

Backup quarterback Jared Lorenzen completed 12-of-23 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, both to rookie tight end Jacob Tamme. Tamme, meanwhile, had five catches for 57 yards and two TDs. Wide receiver Onrea Jones also had five receptions for 44 yards.

Veteran wide receiver Marvin Harrison made his first start of the preseason and had three catches for 22 yards.

Defensively, second-year safety Brannon Condren was unofficially credited with a team-high nine total tackles

“That’s what we have to look at. Individual performances, again, we had some things to build on,” he said.

• No additions to the injury list — Dungy thought that the Colts made it through the Panthers

Game relatively injury free, although a full report won’t be known until today.

“I think we made it through OK. For being a long game and our second group having to play so much, we got through it OK. It’s always a good sign,” he said.

• Gotta have Hart — Rookie running back Mike Hart continues to push for a spot on the Colts’ regular-season roster. Hart had 20 yards rushing on just two carries, including an 18-yarder up the middle in the second half of the Carolina game.

“Mike runs well. He just has a feel for the game. Everytime we’ve asked him to do something, he’s done it well. So that’s a good sign.”

• Game notes — Ex-Indianapolis practice squad running back DeCori Birmingham paced the Panthers with 70 yards on 17 carries...Crossett was re-signed prior to Saturday night’s game. Indianapolis waived second-year running back Clifton Dawson in order to make room on the roster. Dawson had missed the last week of practice with a strained knee.