Colts GM Chris Ballard investing in DL depth is no surprise

[JAFF]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...h/70061367007/

PHOENIX — Chris Ballard has never fully realized the vision he’s painted for the Colts defensive line.Ballard has always said he prioritizes the battle for the line of scrimmage, obsesses over the offensive and defensive lines, wants to send eight to nine defensive linemen at opposing quarterbacks in waves.

But he’s always come up a little short of that number.

Even last season, when the Colts had everyone healthy for a defense that produced 44 sacks — the second-highest mark of any Indianapolis team — the Colts probably topped out at a rotation of seven dangerous rushers.

Ballard’s responded by focusing most of his energy and dollars in free agency on the defensive line, a position group he’s always favored in free agency.


While the Colts haven’t signed a starting-caliber cornerback yet to ease the blow of trading away Stephon Gilmore, and haven’t added veteran competition on the offensive line, Indianapolis signed defensive end Samson Ebukam to a three-year deal worth up to $27 million, defensive tackle Taven Bryan to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million and brought back versatile lineman Tyquan Lewis on a one-year deal for the second consecutive offseason.

“We added some depth on the d-line,” Ballard said, “which we thought was critical.”

Chris Ballard addresses the media at the 2023 NFL combine.
Colts Insider:Are Colts in a rebuild? Trying to win now? Pull off both at the same time?

The cumulative effect of injuries took a toll on the Colts defensive line late in the season, contributing to the team’s defensive swoon in December and January.

When starting defensive end Kwity Paye was down because of an ankle injury, or when Lewis went down with a torn patellar tendon halfway through the season, the Colts had trouble replacing their production.


The team’s biggest guns had to carry even more of the weight.

DeForest Buckner, the team’s best pass rusher, still had to play 80% of the snaps in almost every game, even though he was battling a significant elbow injury and double-teamed heavily. Edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue played more than 70% of the snaps in the 15 games he was healthy, even though he was a liability against the run.


SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE
News Across the U.S.
Access the digital replica of USA TODAY and more than 200 local newspapers with your subscription.
Click "Universal" in the eNewspaper
Ballard believes the Colts’ signings this offseason immediately addresses those issues.

Ebukam fits nicely in Ngakoue’s LEO spot, bringing a stronger run presence and a pass-rush game that produced 47 pressures last season, according to Sports Info Solutions; six more than Ngakoue’s 41, in fewer pass-rush snaps.


The Colts need Ebukam, who has either 4.5 or five sacks in each of his last four seasons, to get home a little more than he did in San Francisco. But he’s much more likely to be an every-down presence than Ngakoue, who remains a free agent and made his impact in brief flashes last season, rather than causing havoc on every snap.


“Samson fits our defense schematically,” Ballard said at the owner’s meetings this week.

Bryan’s the kind of signing who probably could have helped Buckner.

Taking one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL off the field is hard, but Buckner has regularly played around 75% of the snaps in his three seasons in Indianapolis, far more than most defensive tackles across the NFL.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley spoke openly down the stretch about the need to give Buckner a few more chances to rest.

Indianapolis is hoping Bryan can handle those snaps. For years, the Colts’ third tackle has been a player signed off the street for little compensation. Bryan didn’t cost too much more, but he was a starter in Cleveland last year.

“A backup 3-technique to give Buckner a break,” Ballard said.

The Colts are also confident that Lewis will bounce back from his second consecutive torn patellar tendon, this time on the opposite leg of the one he injured in 2021. When Lewis rehabilitated his other patellar tendon the first time, he felt like he came back stronger.


“Tyquan’s a big piece,” Ballard said. “We feel good about him medically going forward.”

The Colts could still add another piece through the draft.

If Indianapolis is going to get to eight or nine rushers, though, the Colts are going to need one of their young, developmental players to take the next step.

Ballard is highly confident in the 2021 draft-pick defensive end tandem of Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo, who piled up a combined 11.5 sacks last season. Buckner and superb nose tackle Grover Stewart make four. Add Ebukam, Bryan and Lewis to the mix, and the Colts get up to seven.

Indianapolis needs a big step from fifth-round defensive tackle Eric Johnson, who tested off the charts as an explosive athlete before the draft last spring but faced a significant rise in competition after playing at Missouri State. The Colts also brought back Khalid Kareem, a defensive end Indianapolis signed off Cincinnati’s practice squad late in the season.


Colts news:Colts re-sign DE Khalid Kareem

If the Colts get a big step forward from one of those players, or a draft pick, they could finally realize Ballard’s vision.

But it should come as no surprise that the team’s general manager prioritized the defensive line in free agency.

Ballard has always been open to finding outside help on the veteran defensive line market. far more than he has at other positions. He traded for Buckner and Ngakoue, and there’s a long list of signings that includes Denico Autry, Justin Houston, Jabaal Sheard, Johnathan Hankins leading to the signings of Ebukam and Bryan.

Draft-pick misses have led to Ballard coming up short of his vision before.

Only time will tell if he addressed it enough this offseason to finally reach his goal.