In what has been a difficult stretch in the Indianapolis Colts’ schedule, the defense has been able to hold it’s own.
Over the last three games, the Colts have faced Houston, Minnesota, and Buffalo, who combined have a record of 21-8, with the Bills and Vikings both ranking in the top half of the NFL in EPA (expected points added) per play–an advanced efficiency metric.
However, as noted by Zach Hicks of Sports Illustrated’s Horseshoe Huddle, the Colts’ defense during that span ranks 11th in EPA per play and they have the sixth best coverage EPA.
Contributing to that success has been the pass rushes ability to get after the quarterback, with a pressure rate of a whopping 53 percent. That, at times, has been sparked by Gus Bradley’s willingness to blitz at 30 percent of the time, and overall, the defense has forced six takeaways.
As always, there are numerous contributors that have led to these results. Getting DeForest Buckner back in the middle of this defense was huge. In addition to his ability to fill up the stat sheet on his own, his presence creates opportunities for others.
It’s also a credit to the growth of Nick Cross and Jaylon Jones in the secondary, along with the emergence of Sam Womack, all of which has added stability to a unit that entered the season with major question marks.
Also deserving of quite a bit of praise is Bradley. This defense as a whole is playing at a completely different level then where they were at during the first few weeks of the season. Ultimately, it is the players who make the plays, but Bradley has pushed the right buttons with the adjustments he has made.
With that said, if there’s an area of improvement that can still be made, it’s in the fourth quarter. While, for the most part, the Colts’ defense has held up well, they do begin leaking some oil late in these games, allowing 20 points in that quarter over these three games.
“The scoring points in the first quarter, second quarter, third quarter are all much better than they were, but the fourth quarter is not,” said Gus Bradley on Tuesday. “The fourth quarter we’ve given up more points than we have in year’s past and that’s the part now we have to focus on.
“That’s not to our standard, it’s not good enough, and now it’s to direct our unit’s attention to that–we have to be better in the fourth quarter and the number of points that we’re giving up.”
Now when it comes to the defensive performance late in games, the Colts’ offense isn’t providing that unit with any help. The lack of points and short drives, resulting in the Colts ranking last in time of possession this season, takes its toll on the defensive side of the ball.
The negative trickle-down effect of that is the Colts’ defense is on the field for a more significant amount of plays, which can wear that unit down, not to mention that opposing offense has more opportunities to put up points.
At this point in the season, the Colts’ defense has been on the field for roughly 100 more plays than their offense has–or about the equivalent to playing about an additional game and a half of football.
“We look at that part, just how do we take care of our players,” said Bradley. “But the good defenses, the really good defenses, they love the opportunity to go out there and play.
“And we have to continue to build that mindset, that we get another opportunity to go out there but you have to build that mentality and look at it as another opportunity to get the ball back for our offense.”
Ultimately, the Colts’ as a team are 0-3 during this stretch and that is what matters most at the end of the day. However, the defense is doing just about everything they can to keep the team in these games and give the offense opportunities to regain the lead or get back into the game, but that side of the ball isn’t coming through right now.
