| Colts rookie linebacker Jerrell Freeman celebrates returning an interception four yards for a touchdown against Chicago in Week 1. (US Presswire) |
No Pat Angerer, no problem.
When the inside linebacker broke his foot during the Indianpolis Colts' training camp, it created a major void, considering Angerer made 148 tackles, fourth-most in the league last season.
Enter Jerrell Freeman.
Yes, that Jerrell Freeman.
You know, the linebacker who played collegiately at Division III Mary Hardin-Baylor in Central Texas before being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2008 by the Titans, who cut him before the season.
A year later, Freeman spent the first of three seasons with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, capping his stay by leading the league with 105 tackles in 2011.
Goodbye, Canada.
Hello Colts, who signed him in January.
Nine months later, he was on the field and in the first quarter of his first game, intercepted Chicago’s Jay Cutler and returned it four yards for a touchdown.
But Freeman’s story only gets better.
Through two games, the Colts have credited the 6-foot, 234-pounder with 44 tackles (22 unassisted), a sack, a forced fumble and a pass defensed. However, NFL.com has him making 18 tackles, 11 unassisted, through two games.
Either way, Freeman, 26, appears to be on his way to perhaps becoming the next Cameron Wake, an undrafted defensive end who went from starring for the British Colombia Lions of the CFL to a Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins. Wake made 122 tackles and 28 sacks in his first three seasons in Miami. The Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $49 million ($20 million guaranteed) contract in May.
“[Jerrell’s] exceeded all of our expectations,” coach Chuck Pagano told reporters this week. “That’s because of the work he’s put in and the time he’s put in. He’s playing a ton of plays and you could see at the end of the game. He didn’t have obviously the same speed and burst that he had at the start but you know 70, 72 plays into it, we’re really pleased with Jerrell. After losing Pat and having him step up and fill in, he’s done a remarkable job and you can see his progress and you can see him getting better with each series in each game.”
Freeman’s play has been a major reason why the Colts held the Vikings to 95 yards rushing on 26 carries, an average of 3.7 an attempt, in a 23-20 win on Sunday. In a Week 1 loss to Chicago, the Bears finished with 114 yards rushing on 33 carries, an average of 3.5 per attempt.
“I’m past that 'being tickled and giddy’about the opportunity,” Freeman told the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. “Now, I’m trying to get the work down that they brought me here to do, and that’s play football.”
The Colts are 14th in the league in rushing defense (104.5 ypg). Last year, Indianapolis ranked 29th in rushing defense (143.9 ypg), a major reason why it opened 0-13 en route to a two-win season.
Indianapolis (1-1) hosts Jacksonville (0-2) and its 23rd-ranked in rushing offense (89 ypg) on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Jaguars feature Maurice Jones-Drew (31 carries, 137 yards), who led the league in rushing last year with 1,606 yards.
“Defense is, I don’t want to say it’s complicated but it’s one where you have to get a feel for a lot of things,” Freeman told reporters. “When you get in there and you get enough reps, you start to get a feel for other players, feel for the call, where things are going to pop, what to do with your feet, being patient, all stuff like that. You get more comfortable as the weeks go on.”
But how will Freeman’s rookie story end?
Angerer is expected to be ready to go in Week 5 against the Packers, as the Colts have a bye week after facing the Jaguars.
Freeman, however, is savoring his time in Indianapolis.
“You can always get better,” Freeman told the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. “A guy like Ray Lewis, he’s been in the league 17 years and he says he's still learning. You're going to be learning the whole time you're here.”
Streak continues: The Colts’ game against Jacksonville is sold out, extending the team’s streak to 81 straight sellouts, including the postseason.
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