Duo of Colts LBs to Step into Shaquille Leonard’s Void

The Indianapolis Colts shocked the NFL world when they waived linebacker Shaquille Leonard, opening a spot for a duo of defenders ready to make their mark.

The Indianapolis Colts waived former four-time All-Pro, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquille Leonard in a shocking move that nobody saw coming this early.

We have waived LB Shaquille Leonard.

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 21, 2023

In recent weeks, Leonard has been vocal about his frustrations with limited snaps and the method he was being used in Gus Bradley’s defense. Regardless of how or why, Leonard is no longer a linebacker for the Colts, opening the door for two defenders to take over as the undisputed commanders of the second level.

The duo of linebackers, E.J. Speed and Zaire Franklin, will now look to establish themselves as the full-time solution at the position. While some may see Leonard’s absence henceforth as a setback, Speed and Franklin are proven and ready to handle the big task.

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E.J. Speed

© Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Last season, Speed broke out as a problematic run defender for opposing ground attacks. He would post a career-best 63 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a sack.

However, through ten games, Speed is on his way to career-best numbers again. The linebacker currently sits at 41 tackles, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a sack. He’s also the team’s best run defender, per Pro Football Focus, with a rock-solid mark of 82.6. Along with that metric, Speed’s also the best-graded overall defender in the linebacking corps, sitting at 65.9.

While Pro Football Focus isn’t the analytical Bible, it’s worth noting that Speed is playing as efficiently as ever, and will likely continue to do so with more opportunities in front of him. Look for Speed to play a crucial role in the Colts’ playoff chances as the final seven-game stretch ensues.

Zaire Franklin

© Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Along with Speed last season, fellow linebacker Franklin took off in the absence of the injured Leonard. In the process, he’d set the Colts’ single-season tackle mark previously held by Leonard (163) at 167. He’d accompany that with three sacks, six passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

Franklin is on a completely different level this season, currently sitting third in the NFL in total tackles with 117. It’s worth noting he missed a game (nine total) while Chicago Bears LB T.J. Edwards (121 tackles) and Baltimore Ravens LB Roquan Smith (118 tackles) have played 11 games. However, Franklin still leads the league in solo tackles with 76.

Franklin has also forced two fumbles, notched three pass defenses, and has 1.5 sacks. Along with these numbers, he’s the second-best graded coverage linebacker for the Colts, with 63.2 behind Segun Olubi (64.4). A noteworthy mention is that Olubi only has 80 snaps on the season, while Franklin leads Indy’s linebackers with 634.

Look for Franklin to continue to perform week in and out. Without Leonard, it may take getting used to, but Franklin has already shown the making of a top-five NFL linebacker and is on his way to getting his first Pro Bowl nod or better.

Outlook

Leonard’s departure is a somber one. “The Maniac” was a staple of Indy’s defense and a joy to watch play on Sundays for anyone who enjoys football. He was, and still is, a massive part of the local community and always offered a helping hand to bring smiles. Despite this, the reality is that it’s a new chapter in Leonard’s pro career and one that already likely has Ring of Honor acclaim.

But, the next step for the Colts is to look to the duo of Franklin and Speed henceforth. Both have shown they are capable of playing at the highest level a linebacker can play. It will be interesting to see how the new defensive situation in Indianapolis unfolds for this pair.

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