Indianapolis prepares for another dangerous running back

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI) - The Colts defense is in the midst of dealing with three of the premiere running backs in the NFL to begin the 2012 season.

Chicago’s Matt Forte, Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson and Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew have made six Pro Bowls over the last three seasons and also happen to be the three backs the Colts face the first three weeks of the season.

Peterson is next up on the Colts agenda and is coming off an impressive 17-carry, 84-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 1 of the season.

That effort came in his first game back from offseason knee surgery after he tore his ACL and MCL in Week 16 of the 2011 regular season.

“Great running back over the years, a lot of yardage, a lot of carries,” defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said of Peterson. “He’s still a physical runner, good sight lines, still has the speed to take it outside. He had a pretty a good first game and we just got to make sure we corral him and get a lot of hats on him.”

Another game-breaker that has Manusky’s attention this week is do-it-all ‘receiver’ Percy Harvin.

The speedy Harvin lines up at a variety of positions for the Vikings and had six catches for 84 yards to go along with five carries for 20 yards against the Jaguars.

“(Harvin’s) an explosive player that has a lot of speed and quickness,” Manusky said. “He plays all over the field. He plays in the slot. He plays X. He plays Z. He’s in the backfield so we just have to make sure that we corral him as well. Two players, Adrian Peterson and of course (Harvin).

While Manusky’s unit will be trying to stop the Vikings rushing attack, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will be looking to establish it by balancing out the offense.

The Colts offense had 48 dropbacks (45 throws and three sacks) against the Bears, a stat that Arians hopes decreases in Week 2.

“I don’t care what team you are, in the National Football League, once you get back there over 40 times, (Luck’s) going to get hit,” Arians said.

“They (quarterbacks) all do. It’s just what kind of hits are they? Are they free guys or are they just whooping somebody, pinning their ears back, that kind of thing. When you get stuck in that, you’ve just got to battle your butt off, and do the best you can.”

On 48 of those dropbacks, Luck targeted wide receiver Reggie Wayne 18 times.

It’s no surprise to Arians that a rookie quarterback like Luck would look for someone with Wayne’s pedigree.

“He’s a great player. He’s a good football player no matter where you put him,” Arians said of Wayne. “I think he’s relishing being where he’s at, being able to play all over the field, made multiple positions. I think Andrew likes him too so he should flourish in this offense.”

For the first time since early in his 12-year NFL career, Wayne is now moving around the Colts offense and had a lot of his nine-catch, 135-yard effort out of the slot position against the Bears.

Luck has said that he’s just looking for the open guy and not necessarily keying on finding Wayne each play.

It’s the days leading up to game day that Arians believes has made Wayne into one of the game’s finest, and most reliable receivers.

“Reggie knows where to go. He trusts that he knows where to go. That usually happens on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,” Arians said.

“On Sunday you’re going to throw to that guy. He’s the steady force in Andrew’s diet of OTAs, training camp and everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if that ball goes towards him again.”