Colts' lack of a pass rush must be addressed in offseason

INDIANAPOLIS – When newly hired Indianapolis Colts General Manager Chris Ballard walked in the door in January, he spent his first weeks on the job grinding through game film of the 2016 season.

He found lots of issues: inconsistent pass protection, an overall lack of depth and, most of all, a defense in utter disrepair.

The defense was aging and short on talent. A quick fix was not an option, Ballard decided. It was time to gut the whole unit. Soon, pink slips were being distributed.

The Colts replaced those former defenders with free agents such as Johnathan Hankins, Jabaal Sheard and John Simon and draft picks such as Malik Hooker, Quincy Wilson and Nate Hairston. Ballard and his staff have watched the unit take shape this season, a gut-wrenching process that can be both rewarding and frustrating.

And they’re finding they’re onto something with this group. They’re also finding what is lacking.

As the Colts prepare for Sunday’s road game against the Buffalo Bills, it’s more apparent than ever that Ballard’s defensive rebuilding job is incomplete in one critical way: The Colts still don’t have a pass rush.

They are undoubtedly formidable against the run, holding each of their past five opponents under 100 rushing yards. That includes the Jacksonville Jaguars, who defeated the Colts last Sunday but lead the NFL with 149.4 rushing yards per game.

But, oh, the pass rush. Put simply, there is none.

The Colts are tied for 30th in sacks with 20 quarterback takedowns. Accordingly, their pass defense is suffering, with Indianapolis now last in the NFL in passing yards per game (271.6). But you don’t have to just look at the numbers. Just watch the Colts play and your eyes will confirm the statistics. Just consider the limitless time quarterbacks are enjoying while in the pocket, allowing them to patiently wait for pass routes to develop and receivers to get open.

It has put undue stress on the defensive backs, a unit that could use some help. The Colts’ top three cornerbacks on Sunday will be rookies – Quincy Wilson, Kenny Moore and slot corner Nate Hairston.

“We want to throw extra bodies at them,” defensive coordinator Ted Monachino said, referring to extra rushers beyond the standard four-man pass rush. However, “that puts pressure on those young corners and (defensive backs) back there. We’ve got to manage that in a way that works for us.”

Monachino has had to pick his spots with blitzes, but he’s tried that, too. Some have worked, others have been ineffective. He’s resorted to more frequent safety blitzes and is increasing the team’s use of its three-safety lineup now that Clayton Geathers is back from his neck injury.

But none of that truly compensates for the Colts’ lack of a reliable pass rusher. The Colts just don’t have one right now. Not Sheard. Not rookie Tarell Basham. Certainly not Simon, who was placed on injured reserve this week.

Sheard is the Colts’ sack leader, with 4.5, Simon has three and no other Colts defender has more than two. That’s a hard way to live in today’s NFL, where the pass rush is paramount because the passing attacks around the league are often prolific. Maybe that won’t be the case with the Bills, whose starting quarterback, Tyrod Taylor, has an injured knee. His status will be determined Sunday before kickoff. His backup, Nathan Peterman, threw five interceptions in the first and only start of his career last month.

In either scenario, the Colts seemingly will need to lean heavily on their much-improved rushing defense. The Bills have a potent rushing attack led by veteran running back LeSean McCoy (851 yards, 4.1 yards per carry). Fortunately, the Colts have the NFL’s top-ranked rushing defense on first down, allowing 2.9 yards per carry.

But this story isn’t about Sunday’s game. It’s about the state of the Colts’ defense moving forward. And that defense can’t compete at a higher level until its most glaring weakness is addressed.

Ballard knows this. It’s why pass rushers will probably rank near the top of his offseason to-do list. The solution might be found near the top of the NFL draft. It might come in free agency. It could be a combination of both. And it’d be nice if Basham factored into this equation, too, given his status as a third-round pick. Look for him to have lots of opportunities in this season’s final four games, with the Colts hoping he shows the flashes that can be slow to come for young pass rushers.

When this season comes to its merciful end, with the Colts presumably enduring their third consecutive postseason on the sidelines, Ballard will once again go back and evaluate his team.

He’ll see a very different defense this time around. But he’ll also know exactly where it needs to get better: Rest assured, improving the pass rush will be job No. 1.

Follow Colts reporter Stephen Holder on Twitter @HolderStephen.

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