The Indianapolis Colts defense exceeded expectations during the 2018 season large in part due to the performance of All-Pro rookie linebacker Darius Leonard.
While Leonard quickly became a household name throughout his first season as a pro, should the linebacker position be considered an area of need for the Colts this offseason?
When looking at the Colts’ linebacker corps, there seems to be plenty of talent and promise at the top, but the defense could certainly use some help adding depth to the unit.
At the top, the Colts have the aforementioned All-Pro in Leonard, who was among the best linebackers in the NFL. His numbers were incredible and he showed strong run fits and an ability to make an impact in the passing game.
As a running mate with Leonard, the Colts got a strong season from Anthony Walker, who emerged as a starter in the middle of the defense. He was especially strong against the run while proving to be a leader in the front seven in just his second season.
While the Colts had impressive seasons from Leonard and Walker, the unit falls off in terms of depth. There was a duo of rookies in Matthew Adams and Zaire Franklin that worked in, but there wasn’t a player that could keep the group moving should a starter fail to play.
Adams wound up carving out a solid role in the defense toward the end of the season, but he still had his struggles in coverage while Franklin was used mainly on special teams.
Veteran Najee Goode was also a part of the unit, but the majority of his snaps came on special teams as well.
There are a few ways the Colts can go should they decide to address the linebacker corps this offseason. With an abundance of resources in free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft, there will be an opportunity to do so.
With Leonard and Walker being a solid duo, the Colts would benefit from a cover linebacker that can help out in zone coverage and even if tasked with man assignments.
The Colts prefer to use more safeties than linebackers, which could be a reason for the lack of depth, but it wouldn’t hurt for Indy to add some talent to the middle of the defense.
In terms of need, the linebacker corps isn’t necessarily high on the list. However, the depth is pretty thin in the middle, which could force the front office to make some additions.
