The Indianapolis Colts played their first preseason game at home against the Denver Broncos. This game tested Gus Bradley’s defense, and it brought out a lot of good and a lot of bad. Bradley is entering his third season as the Colts’ defensive coordinator. After a less than stellar 2023 season, the Colts are counting on Bradley to turn things around. Preseason games don’t show the big picture of a team. However, they do paint a remarkable picture of individual players and units. Gus Bradley and the Colts have a lot to be happy about after Sunday’s game, but some improvements need to be made.
The good and the bad about Gus Bradley’s defense
The Good – Laiatu Latu
One of the highlights of the Colts’ first preseason game was rookie edge rusher Laiatu Latu. He was only in the game for a few series, but his impact was notable. On a few occasions, Latu managed to disrupt the quarterback. He was also double-covered a few times with a tight end making a pass to him. In his locker room interview, Latu expressed that being double-covered was a “badge of honor” as it showed that the opposing offense respected his abilities. He finished the game with a tackle and a quarterback pressure.
There’s no doubt that Latu loves the game and is dedicated to being great. If he stays healthy, the Colts have found a potential top edge rusher who will bring excitement to Gus Bradley’s defense, and he has the skills and talent to make an impact for years to come.
The good – forcing ball losses
Another outstanding aspect of the Colts’ first preseason game was the way they forced turnovers. In this league, turnovers are crucial to a team’s success. On Sunday, the Colts had two more turnovers. They forced two in the first half, one of which was a key interception on a botched pass and the other a fumble in the opponent’s own territory. The third turnover came in the third quarter on a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
Gus Bradley’s starting defense showed tremendous speed with the ball. In the three series in which the starting defense was primarily on the field, they forced a punt, an interception and a field goal. All in all, a very good day. However, it must be noted that they were playing against six-year backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham and rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
The Bad – Stop the Run
Gus Bradley’s second and third line defense has had some minor coverage issues in the secondary. However, the defense’s main problem on Sunday was stopping the run. The Broncos amassed 131 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns. Throughout the game, the Colts had issues with containment from the outside and in the middle.
Deforest Buckner and Grover Stewart, the Colts’ best defensive linemen in the middle, did not play on Sunday. The depth in the line showed poor execution in stopping the run. The depth in the secondary also showed poor execution in stopping the outside containment. Overall, the Broncos managed just 3.4 yards per run. However, the timing of their runs and the situations in which they ran made them highly efficient in setting up the pass.
The Colts have two preseason games left, including a joint practice this week with the Arizona Cardinals. Unless Indy decides to add more experience to the defense to create more depth, Gus Bradley will have an uphill battle ahead of him. However, that inexperience can lead to development and potential greatness. Unfortunately, it may take some time for that development to show up.
Main photo: Grace Smith/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK
