Pro Football Focus went through each AFC team’s offseason moves and selected the best decision made over the last several months. For the Indianapolis Colts, PFF’s choice was drafting Laiatu Latu.
As PFF noted, while the Colts were able to total 51 sacks last season, they ranked 23rd in total pressures and 23rd in pressure rate.
What this means is that a perhaps unsustainably high number of their pressures turned to sacks. So, likely, in order to duplicate that level of sack production this season, the Colts will have to generate pressures more consistently–which they are equipped to do with the help of Latu.
“The Colts impressively recognized their need for pass-rushing talent despite the high sack total,” wrote Trevor Sikkema, “and that should pay dividends in 2024.”
Latu joins the Colts after being one of the most disruptive pass rushers in college football for two seasons. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Latu totaled over 60 pressures and double-digit sacks each year. In 2023, he ranked first among all edge rushers in pass rush win rate.
“I would say he’s real slippery,” Kwity Paye said. “He gets on and off blocks real easy, can bend the corner, turn the edge, and just really manipulating the O-line. You know, just his counters and his spins, everything like that, just watching his film, it’s crazy.”
Colts’ GM Chris Ballard called Latu “polished” after the draft and expects him to be able to make a quick impact. However, as is the case for any rookie, Ballard added that there will be a learning curve as well.
Part of that learning curve that Latu has already experienced during offseason programs is being able to counter the offensive line’s counters.
At the NFL level, pass rushers can’t always win with just speed or power and need a secondary move to lean on so they aren’t taken out of the play immediately.
“At times, moves will work crisp out here,” said Latu, “but there’s times where I feel like it works crisp, but they’re still latched on to me. Now I’ve got to figure out a way where I can use their momentum or use my momentum to shift their hands off of me or try to reduce some type of surface level on my body.
“So I’ve just been in the flim room trying to watch how to beat certain tackles off of certain sets because everyone is talented out here. Everyone’s so good from the top down. It’s just a blessing that I get to go up against them every day.”
Also contributing to what should be a quick impact from Latu is the depth of the Colts’ defensive front. The ability to rotate heavily will help keep Latu and his counterparts fresh, help wear down the offensive line, and allow defensive coordinator Gus Bradley to really play matchups, putting Latu in consistent positions where he can find success.
