What grades from Pro Football Focus did the current group of Indianapolis Colts’ defensive ends receive for their performances last season?
When it came to getting after the quarterback last season, the Colts’ defensive ends and the defensive line unit as a whole didn’t rank all that well. In terms of pressure rate, the Colts ranked 22nd, and they were also 26th in sacks.
However, the addition of Lou Anarumo as defensive coordinator should help provide this unit with a boost. One of the contributing factors to the low pressure and sack production numbers from the Colts was that opposing quarterbacks often got the ball out of their hands quickly as they attacked the softer coverages. This makes getting pressure regularly quite difficult for a defensive lineman when the ball is routinely out so fast.
But this season, Anarumo’s more aggressive scheme should help reduce those quick game opportunities for offenses, not to mention that disguising coverages can keep quarterbacks off balance and lead to hesitation, which means more time to get home. More movement up front could also be a part of this new-look defense, and that can create mismatches for the defensive linemen to exploit.
Now, as always, when it comes to PFF’s grading system, I always want to add the caveat that this metric is far from the be-all end-all when it comes to evaluating a player’s performance. It is one tool out of many that are out there and should be treated as such.
For some context around these metrics, here is a look at PFF’s grading system to provide some context behind the numbers:
Alright, now let’s dive in.
Laiatu Latu
PFF grade: 72.1
Latu’s 38 pressures were the second-most on the Colts but ranked 50th among defensive ends. However, a sign of things to come is that he ranked 27th in pass rush win rate, and where there is consistency, production often follows.
Kwity Paye
PFF grade: 66.8
Paye was again solid against the run, while also posting 37 pressures and a team-high eight sacks.
Samson Ebukam
PFF grade: N/A
Ebukam missed the 2024 season with an Achilles injury.
Tyquan Lewis
PFF grade: 65.0
An injury limited Lewis to just 10 games, but he was stout against the run with a grade of 70.4. As a pass rusher, Lewis logged 17 pressures and two sacks.
JT Tuimoloau
PFF college grade: 86.2
Tuimoloau brings a very well-rounded presence to the Colts as a three-down defender. He graded among the best against the run last season and recorded 51 pressures and 15 sacks.
Isaiah Land
PFF grade: 49.1
Land played just 78 snaps last season, most of which came during passing situations. He recorded three pressures.
Durell Nchami
PFF grade: N/A
Nchami didn’t play any regular season snaps in 2024.
Desmond Little
PFF grade: 73.4
Among 200-plus defensive ends last season, Little ranked 60th in PFF’s pass-rush productivity metric. He also improved as a run defender by PFF’s metrics, but may be on the field during more pass-heavy situations.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: PFF grades for Laiatu Latu, Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts’ defensive ends
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
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