“They drafted me for this moment,” Latu said, via the team’s website.
The Indianapolis Colts selected Laiatu Latu with their first-round pick in hopes that he’d become what the franchise had been lacking for too long: a superstar pass rusher.
Ever since Dwight Freeney left and after Robert Mathis retired, the Colts have been plugging and playing various pass rushers to get by. Justin Houston’s two-year tenure in Indy was without a doubt worthwhile (19 sacks), though they knew he wouldn’t be a viable long-term option to build around.
DeForest Buckner, otherwise known as the driving force of the Colts’ defense since his arrival, has been perpetually underrated. While his constant production as both a pass rusher and run-stopper should not go unappreciated, a dominant pass rusher from the edge is what Indy has been missing.
And they may have just found their next iteration in Laiatu Latu.
End zone cutup of Laiatu Latu’s (97) arrival.
Latu provided a team-high 7 pressures on 28 rushes (25% pressure rate) to go with his first strip-sack in the NFL. #Colts pic.twitter.com/s2f07empt6
— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) September 23, 2024
Latu led the Colts’ pass rush in their Week 3 victory over Chicago with seven pressures to go with his eventual game-clinching strip-sack, a play that must have made Robert Mathis proud. It was a coming-out party that featured a 25% pressure rate from the right side.
So far this season, Latu leads the Colts in total pressures with 10 in 55 pass rushes (team-high 18.2% pressure rate).
Following the game, Latu spoke with the media regarding his and his team’s big-time performance. “They drafted me for this moment,” Latu said about his timely 4th quarter strip-sack via the team’s website. After being sidelined from practice all week due to a lingering hip injury that occurred in the Packers game, Latu knew the assignment and executed when his team needed him most.
The Colts notched three takeaways against the Bears after forcing just one in the two previous weeks combined. After such a performance, Latu was asked what takeaways do for a defense, and specifically theirs.
“Well, shoot, I mean, any takeaway we have juices our defense up, and makes us go out and play even better than the previous downs. It was turnover after turnover after turnover, that’ll definitely boost our confidence [moving forward], said Latu.
Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, Nick Bosa, Maxx Crosby, the ever-ascending Aidan Hutchinson — they are what they look like, game-wreckers from the edge. While Latu has a long way to go before he can be considered as such, especially in the run game, the tools he possesses and the abilities he’s shown in a short time as a pro should prove that he has the capabilities and makeup of what a modern-day superstar looks like.
