Mike Chappell

IndyStar

Arthur Jones and Josh Chapman aren't joined at the hip, but imagine the heft anchoring the interior of the Indianapolis Colts defensive line if they were.

Their combined weight? 677 pounds.

Jones carries his 337 pounds on a 6-3 frame. Chapman is 6-0, 340.

Their joint objective is to shore up a Colts' run defense that a year ago ranked No. 26 in yards per game during the regular season (125.1) and was gouged for 384 total rushing yards in playoff games against the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.

Being more stout against the run in 2014 isn't simply one of the items on defensive coordinator Greg Manusky's "to do'' list. It's No. 1. With a bullet.

Virtually every aspect of efficient defense can be traced to limiting an opponent's ability to pound away and break off an occasional long gainer on the ground.

"Like our coach says, 'Stop the run, then you can have some fun,' " Chapman said Wednesday afternoon following the latest of the Colts' organized team activity sessions.

Fun was often lacking for the team's rush defense last season. The Colts yielded at least 100 rushing yards to six different players, and the last was the most damaging. The Patriots ran roughshod over Manusky's defense in a 43-22 divisional playoff win with LeGarrette Blount accounting for 166 of New England's 234 rushing yards.

The Colts trailed 29-22 in the fourth quarter before Blount's 73-yard touchdown run. The blame for Blount's game-breaker rested with safety LaRon Landry, who whiffed in run support, but the front seven was inconsistent from start to finish in Foxborough.

General manager Ryan Grigson made signing Jones his top offseason priority. He got his man, signing the former Baltimore Ravens interior presence to a five-year, $33 million contract. The allure of Jones was understandable. He had played at a high level in a similar 3-4 defense for four seasons in Baltimore.

"Tenacity, run-stuffing and championship pedigree,'' linebacker Robert Mathis replied when asked of Jones' attributes. "He came from a Super Bowl-winning team and we need him.''

The Colts also need Chapman to emerge.

"I'm ready,'' he insisted. "I feel this is the year I say, "Here I am.'

"I'm going to show everybody I can make plays. I love to stop the run and keep my linebackers clean. That's my expectations."

The Colts selected Chapman in the fifth round of the 2012 draft and the former Alabama standout spent his rookie year completing rehabilitation after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee as a senior. He delayed surgery until after helping the Crimson Tide won the 2011 national championship.

"Frustrating," Chapman said. "In your mind, every player feels like he can get out there and play. But when I sat down with the coaches, they said they were looking at it long-term.

"If it was up to me, I would have played. That's the kind of player I am. But they kind of looked out for me."

Chapman finally saw the field last season, getting into 13 games as Aubrayo Franklin's backup at nose tackle. He finished with 18 tackles.

"I felt comfortable," Chapman said. "I was learning from Aubrayo. The guy had been playing in the league for a long time and I learned a lot of things from him."

Coach Chuck Pagano saw flashes of Chapman's potential as the season unfolded. He's the prototypical 3-4 nose tackle: bulky, strong and tough to move.

"We saw signs of what we saw in college," Pagano said. "Midway through the season, he was finally healthy. He missed the whole first year and he finally gained the confidence.

"It's one thing for the doctor to say, 'You're healthy. Your knee is fine.' But until you get in there and you take on a double team and put that foot in the ground and take on all that weight on that knee ...''

Until that time, doubt may linger. But no longer.

"I'm fine," Chapman said, smiling. "Full tilt."

It's uncertain how the Colts will utilize Jones and Chapman in the base defense. Does Jones start at nose and Chapman back him up? Is Jones the starting tackle and Chapman the starting nose?

"We're all circulating together," Chapman said.

Appropriately, Chapman and Jones are locker room neighbors.

"The way (Jones) said it is nothing comes between 96 and 97," Chapman said, referring to the players' jersey numbers.

In a short period of time, Jones has developed an appreciation for Chapman. He compares him with former Ravens' nose tackle Kelly Gregg.

"Oh man, Josh is a strong country boy," Jones aid. "He's a shorter nose tackle who understands leverage, is strong, really knows how to take on double teams and not get knocked off the ball.

"The sky's the limit for him. He can be as good as he wants."

Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830. You can follow him on Twitter at @mchappell51.