Stock Up
Laiatu Latu
The breakout year continues for Latu, who had his first career multi-sack game, a tackle for loss, and six stops in the running game. He is slowly becoming one of the best overall edge rushers in the NFL, and his production under Anarumo has been impressive. First time in quite some time that I am excited to watch a Colts’ edge rusher play. Compared to Jared Verse, Latu now has a higher pass-rushing win rate, more sacks, and even added two interceptions this season. Also, Verse enjoys the benefit of having a stud like Byron Young opposite him. Way to silence the doubters Laiatu.
Michael Badgley
Once again perfect, and this time making two field goals over 50 yards in a very tough place to kick like Pittsburgh is. Badgley has earned the kicker spot for the rest of the year, getting the perfect opportunity to revive his NFL career. His training camp battle with Shrader next off-season will be fun to follow.
Alec Pierce
Pierce has been such an amazing football player this year, showing he is way more than just a deep threat. Crisp route running, solid run blocking, great effort on every play. This is the #2 receiver that every good offense dreams of having. The only problem is that if he keeps playing like this I think that some other team will be tempted to give him #1 receiver money, which I don’t think the Colts will be able to do.
Jaylon Jones
Jones came back from his hamstring injury and had an amazing game facing a tough matchup in Steelers’ wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. He played 89% of the snaps, and held Metcalf to just 6 yards. With him and Charvarius Ward healthy, hopefully after the bye-week, the Colts’ defense will go from having perhaps the worst outside cornerbacks in the NFL to arguably the best.
Stock Down
Offensive line
The offensive line as a whole had by far their worst game of the season, going up against an underrated Steelers’ front-seven that made life impossible for them all day long. First of all the Steelers focused on stopping the run at all cost at first, stacking the box and forcing Jones to beat them. On the first drive Jones was accurate, avoided mistakes, and ended up scoring, but after that the Steelers had the upper hand all game long. After containing Taylor, the defensive line won their one-on-one matchups, and generated consistent pressure on Jones, who definitely felt it.
From left to right, Raimann struggled on his one-on-one matchups with Nick Herbig, and two Alex Highsmith sacks came on blitzes on his side, where him and Nelson could not adjust in time. Nelson was probably the only one that held his own throughout the game, because Cameron Heyward was having his way versus Bortolini and Goncalves. Braden Smith was once again dominated by T.J. Watt, which is nothing to be ashamed of considering the talent of the younger Watt brother, but it is definitely not good for the team.
Daniel Jones
We can sit here and argue case by case whether the turnovers were his fault or not, how the offensive line failed him, and every other excuse, but the simple truth is that Jones turned the ball over five times. That is inexcusable for a quarterback, and for Jones it brings back ghosts from his time in New York. He will have a chance to show it was merely a fluke next week, but it was certainly a reason for concern.
Kwity Paye
What more is there to say about Paye, who I don’t believe will be re-signed after this season. Paye once again played the majority of the snaps, with a 84% share being the highest of the season, but failed to make any sort of impact on the game. He did not generate a single pressure on 35 pass rushing snaps, but was okay against the run game. I would like to see more J.T. Tuimoloau down the stretch, because Kwity Paye does not contribute much to the overall success of the defense.
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