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Indianapolis Colts Need Consistent Pass Rush in 2016

By Garrett Hagan

Dec 13, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis (98) celebrates with Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jalil Brown after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis (98) celebrates with Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jalil Brown after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indianapolis Colts struggled to get to the quarterback in 2016. If the defense wants to thrive, the team will need to find a consistent pass rush for the upcoming season.

The Indianapolis Colts’ defense ranked as the 26th-overall defense in the NFL in 2015. Things looked promising for the unit before the season had started, but injuries and inconsistencies plagued the defense for the majority of last year.

Rookie Henry Anderson — a 3rd-round pick out of Stanford — had shown promise through the Colts’ first nine games last season, before tearing his ACL and later being put on injured reserve, thus ending his season.

Before the start of the 2015 season, the Colts had inked veteran linebacker Trent Cole to a two-year, $16-million contract during the 2015 NFL Free Agency period. By signing Cole, the team hoped that his presence on the field would add a much-needed spark to a pass rush in which an aging Robert Mathis was the only consistent piece to the puzzle.

Defensive linemen Arthur Jones‘s season ended before it could have even started. Jones suffered an ankle injury last year in one of the team’s exhibition games, and was put on injured reserve after having season-ending surgery to repair the torn ligaments in his ankle.

The Colts were able to find some productivity is the pass rushing department as the season went along, however. Despite being in his mid-30’s, Mathis was still able to accumulate seven sacks after starting in just 10 games.

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Free agent acquisition Kendall Langford also provided the Colts with something to look forward to in the future. Langford tallied seven total sacks and was healthy for the team last season, as he started all 16 games at defensive end.

David Parry — another Colts’ 2015 draft selection out of Stanford — started all 16 games for the Colts last year, proving that he can stay healthy. Parry’s 2015 season wasn’t just about him being able to stay on the field throughout the entire year, but the 24-year-old rookie also showed potential as a pass rusher for the Colts moving forward.

Now, the Colts are searching for a defensive unit that can easily put pressure on the quarterback and force turnovers. General Manager Ryan Grigson used the team’s 4th-round pick this year on defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway with hopes that Ridgeway can provide the Colts with what they’re looking for.

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During the Colts’ OTA’s earlier in the week, head coach Chuck Pagano touched base on the availability of Arthur Jones. Pagano made it clear that the team expects Jones to be ready to go by the start of training camp in late-July.

With the returning of Anderson and Jones along with what the Colts did in this year’s draft, they hope to have all of the proper ingredients for an efficient defense in 2016.

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