Stock Up
Blake Grupe
4/4 on his kicks, including 54, and 60 yard makes, the last one to put the Colts up with less than a minute remaining in the game. This was perhaps the Colts’ best kicking performance since Matt Gay in Baltimore two seasons ago, and it is even more impressive considering Grupe was just signed off the Saints’ practice squad this week. After such a performance he has earned himself the starting position the rest of the year, and will be competing with Shrader for the job next spring.
Shane Steichen/Lou Anarumo
I have been critical of Shane Steichen for how the team has looked the past couple of weeks, but I will give him plenty of credit not only for the offensive gameplan around a quarterback like Philip Rivers, but also because his offense was without their two starting tackles, playing away from home, in the midst of a three game losing streak, and the team never seemed to quit. Sure, we can criticize him (fairly) for the late game management, and perhaps going for it on 4th and 3 would have been a wiser choice, not leaving Seattle a chance to retaliate, but if you had told me beforehand that the Colts would have been in that situation I would not have believed you.
Anarumo has been working wonders with the defense despite not having his two shutdown cornerbacks and his All-Pro defensive tackle, against some really good offenses. It sucks that we never got to see the defensive unit at full strength, but I am really optimistic for next year. And even though I recognize I have my doubts about it, Steichen will most likely be the Colts’ head-coach next year too.
Laiatu Latu
Latu added another sack, got a key stop on run defense, and made his impact felt on the game. He has struggled with consistency, but there is no questioning that his production has improved after a pedestrian rookie year. Not having Buckner garner attention on the inside, and playing alongside a non-factor in the pass-rush department like Paye is hurting him, but the stuff is definitely there.
Adetomiwa Adebawore
Adebawore has been one of the quietest breakouts for the Colts this year, and against the Seahawks he played a season high 43 snaps, taking over the 3-tech defensive tackle spot in Buckner’s place. After playing just 130+ snaps in each of his first two years, Ade Ade now has close to 450 this year, establishing himself as a viable defensive line depth piece.
Stock Down
Alec Pierce
Pierce has the highest ADOT for receivers with over 50 targets this season, showing he makes his money on the mid and deep routes, and he is now playing with a quarterback that can barely throw the football over 20 yards. It really is just basic math. Pierce played 100% of the snaps yet saw just a single target. It kind of works for the Colts to try and lower his value in free-agency perhaps?
Jonathan Taylor
Taylor’s stock is clearly down not because of any fault of his own, but very much like Pierce, playing with a quarterback that cannot throw the football over 20 yards means that opposing defenses can afford the luxury of having their entire defense at least 10-yards from the LOS. Taylor had just 87 yards on 25 carries, which are not good numbers, but he did not have a bad game, its just really tough when you consistently have to beat three tacklers to get positive yards.
Jaylon Jones
Going into the pre-season Jones was slated as the #2 cornerback for the Colts. He initially was reportedly beat by rookie Justin Walley, before the 3rd round pick tore his ACL before the season even started. He then suffered a hamstring injury in the first game of the season which resulted in a minor cornerback crisis for the Colts that were forced to play Xavien Howard, but since being back healthy he has been benched first because of Mooney Ward and Sauce Gardner (which is understandable of course), but with both out, Jones has still been on the bench in favour of Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards. It has been a weird career path for the 7th rounder that played close to 2.000 snaps in his first two years before vanishing in his third.
Kwity Paye
I just cannot understand how Paye continues playing so much on this Colts’ defense. Of the 24 qualified edge rushers with over 350 pass rushing snaps, Paye ranks dead last in total pressures with just 32. The closest one is Dre’Mont Jones with 39. The narrative used to be that he was really good against the run, but that has not been the case at all this year, with just 10 total stops, which ranks 38th among 49 qualified edge rusher with over 150 run defense snaps. This sort of production from a starter in a really important position is just not enough.
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