Kendall Langford Has Quietly Been Rock Solid for Colts
Indianapolis Colts veteran defensive lineman Kendall Langford may not quite be a household name, but he’s quietly been rock solid for his team starting along the defensive line.
Having now lost both Arthur Jones and Henry Anderson to season-ending injuries, Langford has remained the one constant at the Colts starting defensive end position.
Oct 25, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked for a loss by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kendall Langford (90) late in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Saints went on to win, 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
It shouldn’t come as a surprise either, as the incredibly durable veteran has the longest active streak of consecutive games played at defensive tackle/defensive end with 121 consecutive games–having never missed a game in his entire 8-year career (knock on wood).
Even though bashing general manager Ryan Grigson has been “the cool thing to do” as of late, it’s time to give credit where it’s due here. Having signed Langford to a 4-year, $17.2 million contract this past offseason, Grigson has clearly gotten this one right so far.
It’s not just that Langford plays in every game either, as he’s played at a very high level for the Colts this season.
Making all 9 starts, Langford has 24 tackles and 3 sacks. However, that doesn’t paint the entire picture. Specifically, according to ProFootballFocus (subscription), Langford is currently the 15th best 3-4 defensive end with a +8.7 overall grade including a +6.9 grade in pass rush.
When the Colts have needed a big play, it’s often been Langford as the one supplying it, especially in Sunday’s win:
Only 1 def. player in NFL had a better day than Kendall Langford Sunday: 8 pressures, 4 run stops, 4 QB hits, 1 sack. Best day as a Colt.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) November 9, 2015
The 29 year old managed to take down Peyton Manning on a 2nd and 7 play for the sack early in the 4th quarter of Sunday’s win. However, those are the type of plays that Langford has simply made all season for the Colts.
Even if it’s been rather quietly.
Nov 8, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano celebrates with defensive end Kendall Langford (90) after winning the game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Denver 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports