3 Strengths/Weaknesses for Colts' Defense Going into 2023

Defense is one of the strengths of the Indianapolis Colts going into the new season, but there could be strengths and weaknesses involved with a changing group.

Last season the Indianapolis Colts may have only logged four wins, but this was not the fault of a gritty and efficient defense. 

Former Colts players like cornerback Stephon Gilmore (now with the Dallas Cowboys) and safety Rodney McLeod (now with the Cleveland Browns) bolstered the defense and made plays to seal the few wins that Indianapolis compiled. Now, those two are on other teams and the Colts have a much younger defensive secondary.

With many changes happening since last year, it’s time to get into what the three strengths and weaknesses could look like for Gus Bradley and co. As with the offense in the previous piece, the strengths start.

Strength #1: The Defensive Tackles

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The Colts aren’t short of talent for their starting defensive tackles. There is an argument that DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart could be the deadliest DT duo in the NFL. Last season alone, this was on full display.

Buckner logged a career-high in total tackles (74) but also threw in 22 QB hits, eight sacks, and 11 tackles for loss. Buckner put massive pressure on interior offensive lines, pushing opposing QBs into “gimme sacks” for other Colts' defensive ends.

Along with Buckner is the often-overlooked Stewart. Last season Stewart went on a career tear, notching bests in tackles (70), tackles for loss (nine), QB hits (seven), and sacks (four). There was the argument he could have made a Pro Bowl but only left guard Quenton Nelson got a nod for the Colts.

With both Buckner and Stewart returning in 2023, look for them to continue their destructive ways and potentially improve their performances from last season. 

Strength #2: The Linebackers

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Superstar linebacker Shaquille Leonard wasn’t able to suit up for most of the 2022 season with a nerve issue in his lower back. This was a tough blow to the Colts' defense with how instinctive Leonard is and his innate ability to cause turnovers.

However, Zaire Franklin answered the call and never looked back, seizing his opportunity to show that he is a starting-caliber player. Along with now-New York Giant Bobby Okereke, Franklin played at a high level and set a huge record in the process.

Franklin broke the Colts franchise single-season tackle record with 167 tackles, previously held by the aforementioned Leonard. While it’s true that the defense was on the field more than they should be, it’s also true that Franklin had 40 tackles as a previous career high. For him to step in like that and take a record from an incredible talent like Leonard is a big deal.

While changes have happened involving the productive Okereke, a new name is up next to show what he’s got. The Colts have trusted E.J. Speed to step up now that Okereke is in New York.

Speed is also coming off of a career year, setting personal bests in tackles (63), tackles for loss (seven), and forced fumbles (two). With more of a snap count in order, Speed will have a chance of a lifetime to showcase what he can do with a full workload.

The biggest question mark might still be Leonard, but all signs are pointing to “The Maniac” being ready to go. Leonard is one of the biggest factors for this entry, and his presence in 2023 will make this a potentially deadly corps for the defense. 

Strength #3: Safeties

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When you draft a player in the seventh round it’s a complete dart throw usually. However, the Colts landed on the bullseye with safety Rodney Thomas II out of Yale in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Last season after fellow safety Nick Cross showed he wasn’t entirely ready to start, Thomas stepped in with low expectations. What he did with those low expectations is prove the league wrong. In 2022 he led the Colts with four interceptions. He also threw in 52 tackles and six passes defended.

Alongside Thomas is Julian Blackmon. Blackmon has struggled with injuries but showed up last season. Blackmon would tally a career-high in tackles with 50. He would also be put in multiple positions, even playing cornerback to help a depleted db room at the end of 2022.

Blackmon will look to get back that fire that he had coming into the NFL in 2020. Maybe a new switch from free to strong safety will suit his skills better. His potential is still there, it’s more of a matter that he remains healthy.

Lastly, Cross might be the x-factor here. If he can hit the potential that the Colts believed him to have, this could be a formidable and underrated area of the defense. He might still need time, as he’ll be only 22 years old once the league gets into full swing for the season.

Now that the strengths have been covered, it’s time to reveal the potential weaknesses this team could have. 

Weakness #1: Consistent Pass Rush

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While the Colts did close in on their Indianapolis-era team sack record with 44 (in 2005 they had 46), it never seemed as if the pass rush was consistent enough to cause issues.

While Buckner and Stewart provided pressure, it wasn’t the same from the defensive ends. Despite former Colts end Yannick Ngaukoue leading with 9.5 sacks, it was often a product of internal pressure forcing QBs to bail.

Currently, the Colts have the high potential of Dayo Odeyingbo and Kwity Paye to be on the edges. Also, the newly acquired Samson Ebukam will be a constant motor, whether he starts or rotates.

While both Paye and Odeyingbo showed big flashes of star potential at times, the former was injured and didn’t play the entire year and the latter caught fire in the later parts of 2022.

Will a fully healthy season and a new addition bring life into the pass rush from these three? It’s too early to tell, but for now, this is a weakness. 

Weakness #2: Pass Defense

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This one is interesting, but it makes sense with context. With the defensive pass rush brought up, it’s worth mixing it with the young defensive backs who will likely suit up and start.

Rookie corners JuJu Brents, Darius Rush, and Jaylon Jones will all likely be starting or rotating in on defensive packages. This is a young corps that will need a consistent pass rush to help them with coverage, which I believe isn’t there until shown in 2023. Truth be told this can change with two or three nice performances, but it must be reliable.

While the linebackers will help in pass coverage, it’s the defensive backs who shoulder a lot of the coverage responsibilities in the grand scope. Bradley’s zone defensive scheme may assist with the matter, but it could be tougher for the rookies to get adjusted to man coverage against high-level NFL competition.

Speaking of the rookie DBs. 

Weakness #3: The Cornerbacks

This one is glaring, but not due to the rookies and their potential trajectory. This is merely because of the level of experience of all three.

Brents, Rush, and Jones could all three be stars, nobody knows yet. However, opposing offenses will now look to attack all three of the rookies, testing them at the earliest point of their NFL careers. Whether they’re ready or not is unknown, but it should be assumed that NFL veteran receivers, and superstars at that, will have the edge.

With an already thin room at DB, the looming gambling investigation of Isaiah Rodgers Sr. muddied the waters in a bad way, leaving the corps even more sparse. Yes, the Colts have Kenny Moore II, but he’s more of a slot corner and not an outside cover man. Likely, he isn’t taking a role switch, either.

Will the Colts lean on the rookies to start and take their lumps? Could this experience help them blossom quicker? Or, will general manager Chris Ballard trust more of a veteran to be the leader on the field or locker room and sign a free agent?

As the 2023 season rolls along this will be the group to watch for their development as they begin the season with one of the youngest CB groups in the league. 

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