With Gus Bradley bringing his defensive philosophy to the Indianapolis Colts, one player many are keeping an eye on is defensive end Kwity Paye.
Entering his second season, Paye is looking to break out in a big way after a rookie season that featured some flashes of his potential. While there was no contact or pads being worn during the offseason, Bradley sees the upside with the former first-round pick.
During the offseason training program, the emphasis was focused explicitly on the get-off. Getting Paye comfortable with letting loose is the end goal.
“I think it’s just right now, that’s the big emphasis for us is the get-off and the disrupt up front,” Bradley told reporters during minicamp. “Kind of let him loose a little bit, all those guys up front. Obviously, it’s not chaos but just the mindset of get-off and set the line of scrimmage.”
Paye has no lack of burst or bend to his game. It’s partly why the Colts were so enamored with him during the pre-draft process in 2021.
But developing that burst off the snap is vital to the pass rush.
“To affect the quarterback this day and age, you got to be able to affect the quarterback and it starts with a good get-off,” said Bradley.
With Paye on one side, the Colts will be featuring a player with plenty of experience in Bradley’s system on the other side.
Yannick Ngakoue has worked as the LEO in Bradley’s system for two seasons (2016, 2021). During those seasons, Ngakoue recorded 8.0 and 10.0 sacks, respectively.
With Ngakoue manning the LEO position, Paye will find himself working mostly at left end. But what Bradley likes so much about Paye is his ability to work at both spots.
“We have a LEO type and then we have a left end type. You’re looking for those combination type guys,” Bradley said. “He fits in nice with us because he has some speed, athleticism but that strength also to hold a point out that you need from a big end or a left end.”
Paye flashed his potential for stretches at a time during the 2021 season. The hope is that this new, aggressive system will let the Michigan product work loosely and explosively.
When training camp arrives is when Bradley feels they’ll have a better judgment of Paye’s overall skill set.
“You see his skillset and his speed and overall athleticism. So, I think we’ll have a better judgment in training camp when we actually go team, full-speed but what he’s asked to do up to this point has been good.”
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