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Indianapolis Colts: NFL Insider Says “Colts will have to outscore foes to win”

By Garrett Hagan

Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina defeated Indianapolis 29-26 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Carolina defeated Indianapolis 29-26 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Many people have wondered how the Indianapolis Colts‘ defense will fare in 2016. One anonymous NFL insider gives their opinion on a unit for the Colts that is looking rather weak.

The Indianapolis Colts ranked towards the bottom in the NFL last season in terms of overall defense. One anonymous NFL Insider gave his opinion on the Colts’ defensive situation, per Hays Carlyon of Jacksonville.com.

The given insider addresses a few questions regarding the three other teams in the AFC South, but then touches base on some questions regarding the Colts’ personnel as the 2016 season approaches:

"However, there is one hard and fast truth.The Indianapolis Colts will have an awful defense.Actually, awful might be too kind a term.The top three Colts defenders are as follows:■ Quality cornerback Vontae Davis.■ Used-to-be-elite edge rusher Robert Mathis, who is 35.■ The on-side kick.Quarterback Andrew Luck is elite and the receiving corps could be electric with T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett.They’ll need to be electric every week to give the Colts a chance."

The analysis on the Colts’ defense is true to some extent. Outside of Davis, the Colts do not have a truly proven talent whom they can count on to consistently make plays and force turnovers. As a rookie, defensive end Henry Anderson showed flashes of promise and potential in 2015 before tearing his ACL halfway through the season.

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The Colts did sign cornerback Patrick Robinson to most likely play alongside Davis this coming season, but it would be too early to tell just how good Robinson can be for the Colts considering he hasn’t even played a snap with his new team.

The anonymous source also provided an alarming look at General Manager Ryan Grigson’s early-round draft history on the defensive side of the ball:

"A disturbing trend has developed in Indianapolis on general manager Ryan Grigson’s watch. The Colts do not have a single defensive player on their roster who they selected in the first round of the draft.Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Kansas City each have six. Carolina has five.We hear coaches and general managers across the league always state that they build through the draft. They are referring to both sides of the ball, Ryan.Here are Indianapolis’ first-round picks under Grigson:2016 – C Kelly.2015 – WR Dorsett.2014 – Traded to Cleveland for running back/debacle Trent Richardson.2013 – Defensive end Bjoern Werner, miscast, cut and now with the Jaguars.2012 – QB Luck."

As seen, Grigson has used his early-round selections on mostly offensive players — and when he has taken a defensive player, it hasn’t necessarily been deemed a success — more so a colossal failure.

If the 2016 draft class works out well for the Colts — who used four of their eight selections on offensive linemen — the offensive woes could be solved, thus meaning that Grigson needs to work on building a quality defense in Indianapolis.

Next: Indianapolis Colts: How Well Can Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano Get Along?

As we all know, a team’s success isn’t decided in the offseason — it’s about what happens on the field come week one.

If quarterback Andrew Luck can stay healthy throughout the entirety of the year and the Colts can find some form of a pass rush, then look for them to quiet some of their harshest critics in 2016.

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