INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts rookie class made an impact offensively in Sunday’s overwhelming 33-8 wino over the Dolphins.
First-round tight end Tyler Warren led Indianapolis in catches, fifth-round running back DJ Giddens cleaned up late and even fourth-round tackle Jalen Travis played a key role as the team’s sixth offensive lineman in certain short-yardage situations.
But the only rookie remaining on the defensive side of the ball was forced to watch from the sidelines.
JT Tuimoloau, the defensive end the Colts grabbed in the second round, was a healthy scratch, inactive for his NFL debut instead of taking on the Dolphins.
“We went deep with the (defensive) tackles in that game,” Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen said. “That’s really what went into it. Will it be like that every week? I don’t know. It just depends on the team we’re playing.”
All five defensive tackles played against a Dolphins team that has traditionally put together a big-play running game under head coach Mike McDaniel, although Miami only handed off 10 times on Sunday, largely because the Colts built a 20-0 halftime lead.
DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, the team’s two starters, played 33 and 27 snaps, respectively. Backup tackles Neville Gallimore and Adetomiwa Adebawore played 13 defensive snaps apiece, plus 10 on special teams for Adebawore, and backup nose tackle Eric Johnson played seven.
The Colts decided they were better off being short at defensive end.
Laiatu Latu and Kwity Paye started at Tuimolau’s position, backed up by Tyquan Lewis and Samson Ebukam in a pass-rushing role. Tuimoloau was productive in the preseason, producing a sack and two quarterback hits, but new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is expected to change his personnel on a game-by-game basis to fit the opponent.
“Obviously, we’ve got the four ends right now,” Steichen said. “We just wanted to go heavy at d-tackle, so he was down for this game.”
Joel A. Erickson covers the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Colts 2nd-rounder JT Tuimoloau was a healthy scratch for opener
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
