On the first play of the game for Colts’ rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu, he recorded his first sack of the preseason.
Using that patented speed and bend, Latu worked his way around Bengals offensive tackle Cody Ford and came up with the third down sack.
LATUUUUUUU. ❌
📺 Prime Video / FOX59 pic.twitter.com/nlksuYuEMP
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 23, 2024
Fellow defensive end Kwity Paye was recently asked about what makes Latu so effective–describing him as water-like.
“It’s crazy, man,” said Paye last week. “The way how he just bends, like just seeing him, how he plays. Sometimes, the tackle will get him on his inside shoulder, and he just takes the shoulder away, drops, bends, and just keeps going. Like it’s amazing to see how he could manipulate the O-line and just play, man.”
This was the first play of the game for Latu and just the third play of the game overall. As we saw briefly in the preseason opener against Denver, Kwity Paye, and Tyquan Lewis handled the early–more run-likely–downs with Latu then coming in during the obvious passing situation, where he can just get after the quarterback.
This level of disruption has been fairly normal for Latu throughout training camp. Whether against the Colts’ own offensive linemen or against other opponents, as the first defender taken in this past April’s draft, Latu has looked the part.
GM Chris Ballard said after the draft that Latu is coming to the NFL a fairly “polished” pass rusher and should make an impact sooner than later–which we are routinely seeing.
