Colts looking to improve pass rush from within

The Indianapolis Colts couldn’t find a top-tier pass rusher in the draft last weekend and are hoping it comes from within…for now.

The 2016 NFL Draft was weak at a position that is crucial for the Colts success going forward. The team desperately needs to find a game changing EDGE rusher to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but this draft was very light at the position. They had a few opportunities to take one, but there wasn’t a sure thing in this year’s crop of rookies.

The Colts pass rush currently consists of a 35-year old Robert Mathis (featuring a 10-times operated on achilles tendon) and a soon to be 34-year old Trent Cole, who didn’t seem to fit with the defensive scheme last season. The duo have a combined 206.5 sacks in their careers, but just ten total sacks in 2015. Simply put, this isn’t like Mathis and Dwight Freeney in their prime.

The Colts have largely whiffed on drafting pass rushers over the past four seasons as well. First round pick Bjoern Werner never developed into the player they thought he might be (which never made sense because he was a) changing positions, and b) had limited experience playing football). Jonathan Newsome led the team in sacks as a rookie in 2014, but was cut from the team this offseason due to off the field issues.

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Now it looks as if the Colts are going to throw a number of bodies at the problem and see who stands out. It was the same approach the team took to the defensive line last season, and that looks to be an area of strength heading into 2016. This is also the same approach the team is taking with the offensive line: throw young talent at the issue, see who can handle starting duties.

One of those players who is going to get a shot at the EDGE rush position is Earl Okine. The defensive end is switching positions to get a better shot on the field. Okine played in just five games last season, the opening three and the final two of the year. He didn’t record a sack and notched just four tackles.

Okine is a former Florida Gator and bounced around between the Canadian Football League, Arena Football League, and the Fall Experimental Football League before landing a spot with the Colts prior to last season. The team obviously see something in Okine as he managed to stick with the team for an entire year (either on the active roster or practice squad).

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When you look at his numbers, it is a bit perplexing as his production hardly scream “NFL pass rushing stud.’ In the AFL, he had just 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble. In four seasons at Florida, Okine recorded 27 tackles and just one sack.

Speaking to reporters, Okine was excited about the position change:

"“Y’all gonna see,” Okine said. “I’m pretty confident in myself. I’m ready.”“It’s not that different,” Okine said, comparing the two positions. “I can drop and cover. I just have to fine-tune a couple of things. It’s not a very hard transition for me.”“I’m a lot more athletic than I was in college,” says Okine, who ran a pedestrian 5.1 40-yard dash back then. “I’m a lot faster than my 40 says online. I don’t think it’s going to be that hard a transition for me. I’m really excited for it.”"

Okine also spoke about leaning on Mathis for advice and learning as much as he can from him. Okine couldn’t ask for a better player to mentor him, but how that translates to the field is a different matter.

Okine has his work cut out for him (and for the Colts this might be a pipe dream). As we mentioned, he’s never shown flashes as a solid pass rusher. Two, he’s listed at 290-pounds right now where most outside linebackers are closer to 250 (Mathis is listed at 245). Hopefully that means he’s cut some weight this offseason or he’ll be the slowest OLB in the NFL.

Okine will compete with seventh round pick Trevor Bates and possibly more if the Colts bring in anyone else during the offseason.

Luckily next year’s draft class appears to have a lot of talent at the EDGE position.

RB-TE-EDGE look to be really deep for next year's draft class.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) May 4, 2016

Coincidently, the Colts also have a bit of a need at those other two positions as well.

Okine might turn into a serviceable player, but this season’s pass rush is going to rely on Mathis and Cole from the EDGE spot. Anything else would be a welcomed bonus.

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