Indianapolis Colts 2020 Prospectus: Defense

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» The Colts had one of the better linebacker corps in the NFL in 2019. In fact, Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker last season became the second pair of linebackers in NFL history to each have at least 120 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one interception (the Buffalo Bills' London Fletcher and Angelo Cowell were the first duo to accomplish this feat in 2005). Despite missing three games with a concussion from Weeks 3-5, Leonard finished the 2019 season with 121 total tackles (seven for a loss) to go along with 5.0 sacks, six quarterback hits, five interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), seven passes defensed and two forced fumbles. It was just the ninth time since at least 1982 that a player has accumulated at least five sacks and five interceptions in a single season; Leonard was named Second-Team All-Pro, and to his first-career Pro Bowl, for his efforts. And let's not forget about Bobby Okereke, who was Pro Football Focus' top-graded rookie linebacker in the NFL — he was, accordingly, named to PFF's All-Rookie Team — after collecting 58 tackles (two for loss), 1.0 sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovered, two pass breakups, one quarterback hit, and he intercepted and returned a two-point conversion attempt for points. Leonard, Walker and Okereke all return to the Colts' defense in 2020.


» For a second year in a row, the Indy defense was stingy against the run. The Colts allowed just 97.9 rushing yards per game in 2019, the seventh-fewest in the league, and they were even tougher the closer they got to the end zone, as Colts opponents scored just eight rushing touchdowns on the year — the third fewest allowed in the NFL. Over the past two seasons, the Colts rank seventh in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (99.8), have allowed just 20 rushing touchdowns, tied for the second-fewest in the league, and their 4.0 yards-per-carry average allowed ranks sixth. While the guys up front — particularly Justin Houston and Grover Stewart — did a solid job containing the run last year, it was truly a group effort, as seven of the top 10-graded run defenders for the Colts in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus, were either linebackers (Darius Leonard), cornerbacks (Kenny Moore II, Rock Ya-Sin, Marvell Tell III) or safeties (Clayton Geathers, Malik Hooker).


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