The Indianapolis Colts wanted to make it a point to emphasize the defensive side of the ball this offseason—which lead to them making some big additions in both free agency and the draft.
Even if the defensive unit is looking deeper and more talented on paper, there are still plenty of questions the unit faces entering training camp. From how the rookies will make an impact to where certain veterans will line up, the Colts defense has a lot to prove in 2019.
Here are three questions facing the Colts defense as training camp arrives:
Will the pass rush improve?
The biggest question of them all when concerning the defense. While there was a tangible improvement in 2018 regarding the pass rush, the unit itself was simply far too inconsistent. This led to the Colts adding veteran Justin Houston in free agency and a pair of pass rushers in the draft (Ben Banogu, Gerri Green).
But the Colts will need this group to perform better than it did. Switching to a gap-shooting front under first-year coordinator Matt Eberflus, the Colts defense finished with 38 sacks—good for 19th in the NFL. It was a nice improvement, but one that needs to continue in 2019.
The defense appears to be deeper at all three levels and while that will certainly help as the long season progresses, the pass rush will be the key to the unit’s success in 2019.
How quickly can the rookie class make an impact?
The Colts wound up with 10 selections in April’s draft. Eight of those 10 picks came on the defensive side of the ball. Now, it would be a bit premature to expect all eight of those players to have a significant role at their respective positions, but there are a few that will be competing.
For guys like Rock Ya-Sin, Ben Banogu, Bobby Okereke and even possibly Khari Willis, the Colts have a solid core of rookies leading the way. But none of them are guaranteed a starting spot Week 1. In fact, it would be more likely that none of them are in the starting lineup come Sept. 8.
That’s not a knock on them. It’s simply how the Colts have improved their depth. But Indy will need help from its rookie class, even if it is unclear when that will be.
Can the safety room stay healthy?
It is no secret that the biggest question mark along the defensive unit features the safety room. The group—while talented—faces some impending injury concerns entering the 2019 season. Malik Hooker appears fully healthy for the first time in his career, but Clayton Geathers has struggled to stay on the field while Matthias Farley played just five games before an injury ended his season.
The Colts added to the room in the form of fourth-round pick Khari Willis, but injuries are still a major concern for this unit. If the secondary is to make any tangible improvement in 2019, healthy is the biggest objective for the safety room.
