X's and O's: the Indianapolis quarterback draws up what is involved in becoming a passing machine.(Interview: Peyton Manning)(Interview)

Publication: Football Digest

Publication Date: 01-NOV-05

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Century Publishing

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS QUARTERBACK Peyton Manning set an NFL record in 2004 with 49 touchdown passes, but he isn't particularly interested in duplicating the feat this season. Instead, the eighth-year veteran has something else in mind: winning his first Super Bowl.

Truth be told, Manning doesn't care how many TD passes he winds up with this season. If he gets the monkey off his back and finally takes the Colts to a championship, his work will be done. Since entering the league in 1998, Manning has put together an enviable record of 66-46. What's more, he has won the NFL MVP award the past two seasons. But that Super Bowl title still is conspicuously missing from his resume.

FOOTBALL DIGEST sat down with Manning recently to find out what it takes to become a two-time MVP,. and what it will take to win the Super Bowl. Here's what he had to say:

FOOTBALL DIGEST: Peyton, with all of the no-huddle, complex schemes the Colts run, how mentally challenging is the game?

PEYTON MANNING: For a quarterback, the mental challenge is what it's about. You expect your protection to be good. You certainly keep you arm in shape. As a quarterback, you have to keep your legs and core strong and flexible--we do the, full workouts that everyone else does. So that's the physical aspect.

But the mental challenge is something else. Being able to put last week's game behind you, whether it was a great win or heartbreaking loss. You're watching tons of tapes. Early in the season, say you're in Week 4, it's easy to watch an opponent's first three games. But I try to watch all of an opponent's games. [laughs] So by Week 10, now that's a problem. That's a lot of tape to watch.

FD: I've heard you watch tape at home in addition to at the Colts' practice facility.

PM: At the Colts' practice facility, I like to Watch what we call "cutouts." Every time they ran defensive calls, I watch the cutouts, just the actual defensive play. But when I get home, I like to watch the whole game, even though there's no sound and just sideline and endzone camera angles. There are no frills to it. But watching the game tape allows me to get a flow for the game.

So...

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