Analyzing the Colts’ top contributors, here’s how they ranked.
Pro Football Focus can be a controversial thought to some NFL fans, but they are a massive resource helping track data for teams and players alike. For the Indianapolis Colts through the first two weeks of the 2021-22 season, it provides a glimpse into how the top contributors have stacked up thus far.
No surprise with 0-2 start for Indianapolis, it hasn’t been pretty. With only three players receiving grades above 70, it shows how lackluster the roster has been. Let’s go ahead and dive into the entire list below:
+70 = Kwity Paye (75.3), DeForest Buckner (71.3), Jack Doyle (71.2)
So, the three best players for the Colts in the eyes of PFF through two games are Paye, Buckner, and Doyle. For the Colts’ first-round pick to be No. 1 is certainly impressive, but it speaks to how it’s gone for the entire team. Paye has flashed some great reps in pass rush, but he’s also shown a stout rush defense off the edge as well.
Buckner being near the top is no surprise with his dominance. Just like last year, though, Buckner isn’t getting any consistent help alongside him.
Doyle is looking like a revamped version of himself. After disappearing from the Colts’ passing attack over the last 2-3 years, Doyle has become an early security blanket for Carson Wentz.
+65 = Tyquan Lewis (69.7), Darius Leonard (69.5), Michael Pittman Jr. (68.8), Ryan Kelly (68.8), Carson Wentz (67.8), Al-Quadin Muhammad (67.7), Grover Stewart (66.9)
Separating the mid-60 grades from the low 60s helps paint a clearer picture. Leonard had some good moments in the first two games, but him being a top-five graded player is surprising. Pittman’s monster Week 2 outing led to his big jump. Meanwhile, Wentz checks in as the Colts’ eighth-best player. Personally, Wentz should be higher, but he was likely docked a good bit due to his shovel-pass interception against the Rams.
Muhammad and Stewart round out the mid-60s, which includes three defensive lineman when tossing in Lewis. The pass rush has been nonexistent from this group, and it needs to pick up for Indianapolis to have a real shot to notch a win in the five-week opening gauntlet.
+60 = Julian Blackmon (64.4), Quenton Nelson (63.9), Parris Campbell (62.6), Rock Ya-Sin (62.5), Matt Pryor (62.3), Michael Strachan (62.3), Zach Pascal (62.0), Eric Fisher (62.0), Nyheim Hines (60.9), Braden Smith (60.8), Jonathan Taylor (60.5)
Simply put, so many of these players need to be much higher on the grading scale a few weeks from now. Blackmon and Nelson lead this group, which isn’t surprising. Ya-Sin has actually held up a good bit, which hopefully is a continued trend throughout the rest of the season. The wideouts behind Pittman are all clumped together with Campbell, Strachan, and Pascal. It’s a long-term thought, but I really hope the Colts splurge a little bit to add another 1A or 1B playmaker alongside MPJ in 2022.
The running backs grade out low, which is no shock. Taylor and Hines have been unable to be real threats on the ground thanks to the offensive line’s woeful performances.
+50 = Ben Banogu (59.5), Zaire Franklin (58.9), T.J. Carrie (58.8), Bobby Okereke (57.4), Marlon Mack (53.8), Mo Alie-Cox (51.2)
Having this many players graded below 60 is a yikes moment. Indianapolis needs to be much better, and many off the bottom tier have to escape it. Banogu has only played 10 snaps, but he leads off this group. I’ll be curious to see his usage and whether it increases later on.
Okereke and Alie-Cox have been disappointments so far. In terms of the run defense, it’s fair to say Indianapolis might be missing Anthony Walker’s presence in the middle.
+40 = Khari Willis (47.0), Mark Glowinski (45.3), Kemoko Turay (44.4), Julien Davenport (43.0), Kenny Moore (42.9)
When watching the games, these names in the 40s isn’t surprising at all. Willis, Glowinski, Davenport have all been major liabilities. Turay was a non-factor in his season debut on Sunday in 11 pass-rush snaps. Kenny Moore has been the most disappointing Colt being cooked to bits by Tyler Lockett and Cooper Kupp in consecutive weeks.
+30 = Taylor Stallworth (39.4), Isaiah Rodgers (33.9)
Both Stallworth and Rodgers have not seen many snaps, but they round out the list here for PFF grading in the 30s. Both as rotational pieces, they haven’t made any impact really.
So, what’s your thoughts on how PFF has graded the Colts through the first two weeks? Any surprises? We’ll keep track of this list and update it every week or two throughout the regular season.
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