Indianapolis Colts: 5 Rookies to Watch in Hall of Fame Game
By Kyle Nishida
Defensive Tackle Hassan Ridgeway
The Indianapolis Colts have a very deep defensive line. As a result, rookie Hassan Ridgeway has a lot of work to do if he wants to work his way into the rotation.
The Colts selected Ridgeway in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft because he was an effective pass rusher in college. The Colts definitely need more defensive players with pass rushing skills. They only accumulated 35 sacks as a team in 2015.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ridgeway had the fifth best pass rush productivity amongst all draftable defensive tackles. Specifically, PFF liked that Ridgeway was a “smooth-mover on the defensive line” and can quickly detach from offensive linemen.
Despite his good skillset, Ridgeway may have some trouble earning playing time. The defensive line is probably the Colts’ deepest position group.
Kendall Langford, David Parry and T.Y. McGill all played well for the Colts in 2015. Meanwhile, Henry Anderson and Arthur Jones are returning from significant injuries. The Colts usually play three defensive linemen at a time so playing time will be limited.
Even with a crowded position group, Ridgeway has a chance to get some playing time early this season. Anderson may not be ready by Week 1, and Jones is suspended for the first four games of the season.
It will be interesting to see how much Ridgeway has learned since joining the Indianapolis Colts earlier this summer. A solid performance in the team’s first preseason game would certainly put him on the right track for playing time early in the season.
Next: OT Le'Raven Clark