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  By Kelly Brinkman February 25, 2010 The 2009-2010 NFL season
brought many highs for the Indianapolis Colts. Quarterback Peyton
Manning was
touted as the best ever at his position, seven players were selected for
the
Pro-Bowl, and after a 14-0 start, the Colts finished the regular season
with a
14-2 record. Indianapolis went on to roll through the post-season with wins over the Ravens and the New York Jets on their way to clinching the AFC championship and subsequent ticket to Super Bowl XLIV. Led by superstar Peyton Manning, and featuring league-leaders such
as Joseph
Addai, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark, the Colts offense is a
well-recognized
juggernaut.
The flip-side of the ball is a different story. Because of how powerful their offense is, Indianapolis defense is often overlooked. Emerging as a key component of this underrated defensive scheme is sophomore linebacker Philip Wheeler. Wheeler was drafted in the third round, the 30th pick overall, by the Colts in 2008. He had attended Georgia Tech and made a name for himself by being an explosive hitter and devastating blitzer. His on-the-field resume was strong: a three-year starter, two-time second-team All-ACC, 10th all-time on Georgia Techs single-season sack list (7), and 7th all-time on the career sack list (19). At 62", 240-pounds, and with 4.7 40-yard speed, it wasnt surprising that Wheeler was being scouted as an early pick in the draft. What was surprising was that Indianapolis, a team known for a defensive strategy that includes zone coverage and not a heavy blitzing attack, was the organization that brought Wheeler home. In 2008, his inaugural season, Wheelers impact was slight. He contributed solid play as a special teams player, and made 14 tackles as a reserve linebacker. While some rookies might be content with this contribution, Wheeler was not. Wheeler prides himself on being a student of the game, a habit he attributes to his high school football coach. He spent his off-season time analyzing film and taking notes on his opponents. "Im a guy who likes to watch film a lot, study a lot." That studying paid off. During the 2009 season, just his second as a professional, Wheeler worked his way out of the ranks as a reserve. He played in every game and was a starter for the final seven match-ups of the regular season, and also the three games of Indianapolis Super Bowl run. By combining his off-season preparation with his natural athleticism, Wheeler showed dramatic improvement, and his stats are proof. Wheelers sophomore line: 19 games played (10 as a starter), 61 total tackles (42 solo, 19 assist), 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Considering the gains made by Wheeler from his first season to his second, and given his already proven strong work ethic, only the Colts nation may recognize Philip Wheelers football prowess, but soon, so will everyone else. This editorial is exclusive for CurvSports.com in partnership with
NovaFantasySports.com
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