WESTFIELD, Ind — A blink of the eye. A split-second. Just that much.
That’s what contributed to a level of frustration in Laiatu Latu’s rookie season.
By any measure, the Indianapolis Colts’ first-round draft pick – No. 15 overall and the first defensive player taken in the 2024 draft – took a good-not-great first step into the NFL. He appeared in all 17 games with one start, was on the field for 54% of the defensive snaps and generated four sacks, 12 quarterback hits, 23 pressures and three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
For context, consider the bottom line of Jared Verse, taken No. 19 overall by the Los Angeles Rams and the NFL’s Rookie of the Year: 4.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, 33 pressures, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He reinforced his solid first season with 2 sacks and three tackles for loss in the Rams’ loss to Philadelphia in an NFC Divisional round game.
As he reflected on 2024, Latu lamented his numerous almost-sacks and what might have been.
A more comfortable Latu in year two should translate into an edge rusher with quicker reaction time who’s just a tick quicker. And often, that’s all it takes for a near sack to turn into a quarterback on the ground with the football still in his hand. Or a sack-fumble.
“He was close many times,’’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said during the offseason. “This year, we feel like he’ll seal the deal.’’
So does Latu. His individual goals include one sack per game.
And that would place him in rare company among Colts’ pass rushers.
Even if Latu would fall short of his one-per-game objective, he could become the first Colt with at least 10 sacks in a season since Justin Houston in 2019. The only Colts since 2002 not named Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis with at least 10 sacks: Houston and Eric Walden (11 in ’16).
Anarumo insisted Latu’s “God-given ability’’ jumps off the tape.
“Anybody can see that,’’ he said. “Now, it’s just going to be the recognition of how he’s about to get blocked, both in the run game and the pass game.’’
After six training camp practices at Grand Park, Anarumo’s assessment hadn’t changed. In fact, it’s been reinforced.
He’s seen a player who “wants to be great. He wants to be the best. Works tirelessly every day, like a lot of our guys.”
“But really pleased with where he’s at, what he’s doing and the skillset that he brings to that position.’’
Latu – 6-5, 265 and quick off the ball and around the edge– laid the foundation for making the necessary jump between year 1 and year 2 by attacking his offseason. The UCLA product and Sacramento native spent much of the offseason on the West Coast with private coach Eddy McGilvra, who’s the defensive line coach at Sacramento State.
As was the case last summer, Latu’s workout colleagues included Kwity Paye, the Colts’ 2021 first-round pick, and former teammate Dayo Odeyingbo.
“I definitely honed in on a lot of power and being able to work off of that and I feel like I’ve been demonstrating that a little bit more this camp as opposed to late year,’’ he said. “I’ve definitely elevated my game from last year, for sure.
“I’ve also been getting better at getting off the rock on time and stuff like that. I feel like cutting down that time, getting to the quarterback will be super beneficial for me and the whole defense.’’
Anarumo inherited a pass rush that produced 36 sacks in ’24, tied-7th fewest in the league. The previous season, the Colts set an Indy-era record with 51.
Losing Samson Ebukam during camp with a torn Achilles clearly impacted last season’s productivity. He led the defense with a career-high 9.5 in ’23.
Ebukam has returned and reinforced an edge rotation that’s without Odeyingbo – the 2021 second-round pick signed a free-agent deal with Chicago – but features Latu, Paye, Tyquan Lewis and second-round pick JT Tuimoloau, who had 23.5 sacks at Ohio State.
It remains to be seen whether Latu, Paye, or someone else is able to emerge as a catalyst of the pressure, or it’ll be rush-by-committee. Pressure will also come from DeForest Buckner. The veteran tackle has 39 sacks since being acquired in a 2020 trade, tied-4th most in club history.
Paye led the Colts with 8 last season. Buckner was next in line with 6.5 despite missing five games with a high sprain to his right ankle.
Anarumo’s recent past has involved a definitive pressure point.
Trey Hendrickson had 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons for Anarumo in Cincinnati and led the NFL in 2024. He had 35 of the Bengals’ 80 sacks.
“If I had one word to describe the defense, I would say ‘gritty,’’’ Latu said. “I love playing under Lou.
“He demands greatness out of everybody every day.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.