T Will rushing game emerge as factor for Colts in Super Bowl?

Wouldn't that chew up the clock and help keep New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and the rest of an explosive attack that paced the NFL in points (31.9) and yards (403.8) on the sidelines? And didn't the Saints defense show vulnerability to the run during the regular season, ranking 21st in allowing a generous 122.2 yards per game?

Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell and his staff are surely pondering this as they watch film of Brees marching the Saints up and down the field. Yet their seeming conclusion may be surprising.

Caldwell says the right things about his team's ground game, "We'll try to be as effective as we can in that area. Running is important to us and it's something we continue to work on. We just think it adds balance to our offense."

But his most telling remark appears to come when he says, "Overall, we just kind of have to do what we do."

That would indicate that Manning, given authority to do what he deems necessary at the line of scrimmage, will survey the defense, go through his gyrations, and then drop back repeatedly.

Of the 53 touchdowns Indianapolis scored during its 14-2 regular season, only 16 came courtesy of the ground game. Of the 339 first downs the Colts produced, only 69 came on handoffs.

Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden, a former NFL head coach, believes Manning's interest in calling for a run stems only from his greater desire to create an opportunity for a certain throw later.

"He's going to use the run," Gruden says, "to set up the sting of the play-action pass."

As much as statistics underscore Indianapolis' obvious tendencies, the visiting Minnesota Vikings' approach to New Orleans in an NFC Championship Game they extended to overtime before bowing, 31-28, at least provides food for thought.

While Minnesota's Brett Favre loves to pull the trigger, the Vikings mixed in a heavy dose of the run with 36 rushing attempts that generated 165 of their 475 yards. Running back Adrian Peterson carried 25 times for 122 yards and three scores.

If Minnesota can have that kind of success by land against New Orleans, wouldn't Indianapolis swipe at least a few pages from that playbook?

Joseph Addai, the Colts' leading rusher during the regular season with 219 carries for 828 yards and 10 touchdowns, does not think so.

"Regardless of who we play — the Saints, Vikings, Seattle — it always comes back to us. It's not about the other team.

"It's never about what they have on defense and what they bring. I don't think that's been in our mindset, so it wouldn't change this time."

ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski marvels at how deadly Indianapolis can be with play-action passes even though the Colts ranked last in the NFL in averaging 80.9 rushing yards. "No matter how well-coached the defense is on passes off play-action," says Jaworski, "they still get them."