INDIANAPOLIS – We are inching closer and closer to the 2021 NFL football season.
It’s time to pick back up our ‘burning questions’ series on 1075TheFan.com.
Here are our burning questions along the defensive line heading into the 2021 Training Camp:
1. What’s Next For DeForest Buckner?
After Aaron Donald, DeForest Buckner deserves serious consideration for the best defensive tackle in football.
At this point, we are just nitpicking in dissecting Buckner’s game.
There’s a reason why he was our most indispensable Colt in 2021.
We saw full well last season the lack of defensive playmaking, from the entire unit, that came when Buckner wasn’t on the field.
At 27, Buckner should just be entering his prime years.
Again, it’s nitpicking with Buckner, but seeing more consistency, against the better teams on the schedule is where he can take a jump.
Buckner had 9.5 sacks last season, with all those coming in 5 games. The records of those 5 teams were a combined 16-59-1 though (Houston twice, Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Minnesota).
There’s no debating Buckner’s status among the game’s best defensive tackles, but this is an area to take his status further up the mountain.
STAT TO NOTE: Since entering the league in 2016, DeForest Buckner rankings among defensive tackles are as followed: 321 tackles (1st), 203 solo tackles (1st), 38.0 sacks (4th), 100 quarterback hits (4th).
2. What Should Be The Rookie Expectations For Kwity Paye?
This is a tough one to pinpoint.
By all accounts, the Colts feel that Paye can be a three-down player from Day One. And there’s plenty of open playing time at both defensive end spots.
At Michigan, Paye had 11.5 career sacks in 28 games.
Even with first-round rushers, expectations should probably be tempered when talking about rookie production.
Ideally, if the Colts could get 6-7 sacks out of Paye, and him also be a presence on run downs, that would be a win.
The Colts do need instant impact from their first-round selection, but this is a tough position to come in and immediately offer production.
STAT TO NOTE: From 2017-21, the Colts have spent 6 top-three round picks on defensive linemen (Tarell Basham-3rd round, 2017; Kemoko Turay-2nd round, 2018; Tyquan Lewis-2nd round, 2018; Ben Banogu-2nd round, 2019; Kwity Paye-1st round, 2021; Dayo Odeyongbo-2nd round, 2021).
3. Do We See A Sense Of Urgency From Kemoko Turay, Ben Banogu?
Both of these guys have a ton to improve as they reach the back half of their rookie contracts.
It’s an actual contract year for Turay, who believes that he’ll be back to 100 percent before camp starts.
A healthy Turay would give the Colts a definite speed option off the edge on third down, who can bring some bend to that outside rush position.
For Banogu, he’s entering his third NFL season with zero place on the depth chart. It’s probably a coin flip just for Banogu to make the team.
It would be massive for the Colts if they got one or both of these guys to provide the Colts with something they’ve searched for off the edge.
The staff remains high on Turay, despite his injury history, and he has shown flashes of being a disruptive rusher.
STAT TO NOTE: In losing Justin Houston and Denico Autry, gone are 15.5 of the team’s 40 sacks from last season (38.8%).
