Catch him if they can: Indianapolis Colts face tough task corralling Devin Hester

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) _ The mere thought of trying to corral Devin Hester kept Indianapolis' special teams coach wide awake last week. <br/><br/>Russ Purnell isn't getting much rest in South

Thursday, February 1st 2007, 5:52 am

By: News On 6

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) _ The mere thought of trying to corral Devin Hester kept Indianapolis' special teams coach wide awake last week.

Russ Purnell isn't getting much rest in South Florida, either.

``I slept about four hours for four nights,'' Purnell said. ``He's extremely talented and his blockers are outstanding. That's what really gets lost in this is how good his blockers are.''

Regardless of who's out in front, Hester has been the one finishing off the runs, often ending up in the end zone.

The rookie set an NFL record by returning six kicks for touchdowns _ three punts, two kickoffs and a 108-yard mad dash with a missed field goal.

His combination of speed, deft moves and coy tactics gives the Chicago Bears a distinct advantage in Sunday's Super Bowl against a Colts team that has struggled to cover kicks all season.

Defending Devin takes the challenge to a whole new level. Plus, Hester will have the added motivation of playing in Miami, where he starred in college for the Hurricanes.

Indy allowed the second-highest average on punt returns (13.1) and third-highest mark on kickoffs (26.0). The Colts and St. Louis were the only teams to give up three TDs on kick returns in the regular season.

For a team that places a premium on small, fast defenders, exactly the kind of players who should solidify special teams, it's a befuddling problem.

Coach Tony Dungy was so concerned he made several switches on his coverage teams before the playoffs. Defensive regulars Robert Mathis and Rob Morris, along with occasional starter Marlin Jackson, were suddenly doing special teams work again.

``I think the intensity level has been up in the playoffs, and there's more of a sense of urgency now,'' Jackson said. ``It's going to be very important Sunday.''

The changes helped, at least at the outset.

Indianapolis made return specialist Dante Hall a nonfactor in a 23-8 wild-card victory over Kansas City. But the Colts let New England's Ellis Hobbs average 36.7 yards on six kickoff returns in the AFC championship game, including an 80-yarder that set up a touchdown.

Hester said he doesn't think those shaky numbers give much indication of what will happen Sunday.

``Sometimes you have a bad game,'' Hester said. ``That was one of their bad days on special teams, but we know they'll bounce back. We'll see a different team out there.''

Purnell would love to neutralize Hester, with Adam Vinatieri booming kickoffs for touchbacks and punter Hunter Smith getting 5.5 seconds of hang time.

Or Indianapolis could try something else _ directional kicking to keep it away from Hester.

Smith doesn't buy that. He'd rather stick with the same routine and hope everyone does better.

``The idea is not to eliminate somebody, the idea is to defeat somebody,'' Smith said. ``Those are gimmick-type things. I think special teams are dictated by emotion and the playoffs are an emotional time, so I think our guys will go out and fly around, and you'll see a different special teams.''

That probably wouldn't put Purnell's mind at ease.

Justin Miller of the Jets, ranked No. 1 in kickoff returns, scored against the Colts this season. So did Jacksonville's Maurice Drew, ranked No. 3 in the category.

Hester averaged 26.4 yards per kickoff return, putting him fifth. The Colts plan to put him on the ground from the start.

``I think it's more of what we do,'' Purnell said. ``Obviously, we need the guys who punt and kick to help your people and give them an opportunity to make tackles. We just have to do everything a little better.''