The production for the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive front took a step back in 2024, contributing to the defensive struggles the team experienced this season.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder in a recent article, the Colts went from producing 51 sacks in 2023 to just 36 this season. In terms of pressure rate on the quarterback, Indianapolis had the opposing quarterback under duress 38.9% of the time in 2023 but just 31.5% of the time in 2024.
Compared to the rest of the NFL this season, the Colts ranked 26th in sacks and 22nd in pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference.
It’s not surprising that the Colts sack production dipped quite heavily this season. As we discussed during the offseason, the odds of the Colts repeating their 2023 sack production–or getting somewhat close–was relatively low, considering that their sack rate was the eighth highest in football despite ranking in the bottom third in pressure rate.
So what does that mean? Well, an unusually–and unsustainable–number of pressures turned into sacks and replicating that type of sack production became even less likely when the Colts pressure production decreased this season on top of that.
Obviously, not having DeForest Buckner available for a handful of games will impact your pass rush, not to mention that Samson Ebukam missed the entire season with an Achilles injury. However, for the most part, the Colts just didn’t win up front often enough.
Grover Stewart is more of a run-stuffer than a pass rusher and the Colts’ defensive tackle depth behind him and Buckner has struggled to produce for multiple seasons now. At defensive end, only Laiatu Latu ranked in the top 30 in PFF’s pass-rush win rate metric. Dayo Odeyingbo was 46th, while Tyquan Lewis and Kwity Paye ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in that category.
Making this lack of production even worse for the Colts is how heavily GM Chris Ballard has invested into this unit. Holder would add that the Colts had the highest-paid defensive line in football in 2024.
As we know, pressures and sacks are the name of the game. When the quarterback is under duress, all 11 defenders benefit. Whoever the new defensive coordinator is will have to get more production out of this unit.