Let’s project what the Colts’ starting defense will look like this season with the offseason now behind us and training camp on the horizon.
After projecting what the Indianapolis Colts’ starting offense will look like this season, let’s do our best to project what the starting defense will look like with the offseason now behind us and training camp on the horizon.
Just as I did when discussing the offense, I’ll add the all-important caveat that a lot can change based on what takes place during training camp. In addition to that, the information we do have based on what took place during OTAs and minicamp is still relatively limited, so guesswork is still a part of this equation in some areas.
Defensive line: Laiatu Latu, DeForest Buckner, Grover Stewart, Kwity Paye
This is a heavily rotated position group with four of five players at defensive end and defensive tackle seeing regular reps each week. But my guess is that on the Colts‘ first defensive play of the game, this will be the grouping we see. Now, how the rotations behind these four shake out will be one of the more intriguing positional battles to watch this summer. Also, in Lou Anarumo’s malleable defensive scheme, there is going to be more opportunity for mixing and matching up front as well, which can create some different configurations.
Linebacker: Zaire Franklin, Jaylon Carlies
The big question at linebacker for the Colts revolves around the inexperience they have overall on the depth chart. But Carlies seems locked into that starting spot next to Franklin. Under Anarumo, there is going to be a much greater reliance on the defensive back position, which can help take some of the coverage burden off the linebacker position and also limit the need for the Colts to have three on the field as they regularly did last season.
Cornerback: Charvarius Ward, Kenny Moore, Justin Walley
Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself here, but Walley received a lot of high praise during offseason programs from both teammates and coaches for his play. Jaylon Jones would miss time due to a “soft tissue injury,” and I’m not sure what to expect from JuJu Brents, who has missed significant time during his first two seasons.
Safety: Cam Bynum, Nick Cross
Other than the one outside cornerback position, we have a good idea of what the Colts’ starting defense will look like. Like linebacker, to a degree, safety is another position where the Colts do not have a lot of experienced depth on the roster.