Can Hassan Ridgeway Become Colts Version of Malik Jackson?

While the Indianapolis Colts may not have drafted a pure pass rusher, the team potentially found a defensive lineman who can “push the pocket” by selecting Texas defensive lineman Hassan Ridgeway in the 4th round of this year’s NFL Draft.

The Colts are hoping that the 6’3″, 303 pound defensive tackle can generate some much needed pass rush for the defense–only primarily from the interior and not necessarily the edge:

"“Hassan is a big, strong guy that can give you push inside,” said head coach Chuck Pagano via Colts.com.“We’ve got guys that can do that and have done that. They may not have the same sack totals as some of the edge rushers, but they’ll effect the quarterback and they’ll push the pocket inside and they’ll create sacks for those other guys on the outside.”"

After all, the NFL is a copy cat league, and while Von Miller stole the show, the Colts have seen firsthand how an interior defensive lineman who can pass rush from the interior such as former Denver Broncos defensive tackle Malik Jackson can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

Jackson was a key cog in the Denver Broncos dominant pass rush that led them to a Super Bowl 50 championship–highlighted by their harassment of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on the game’s biggest stage.

Jackson’s exceptional play was rewarded as he signed a 6-year, $90 million mega-deal with the Colts divisional rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars, earlier this offseason.

Like Ridgeway, Jackson was initially overlooked by scouts, as he was a 5th round pick of the Broncos out of Tennessee in 2012. Yet, he’s now become one of the best interior defensive lineman in football.

In college, Jackson was a bit more productive than Ridgeway–albeit with an extra year of seasoning under his belt:

Nevertheless, the two players compare quite favorable from a physical measurables standpoint:

If he can keep his conditioning in-check, as well as stay healthy on the field, Ridgeway has the talent of a 1st or 2nd round defensive tackle:

The Colts rookie defensive tackle graded in the 75th percentile of SPARQ, which grades a player athletically in relation to his professional peers at his position, and is frequently used by NFL franchises such as the Seattle Seahawks to search for physical specimens.

Interior defensive lineman like Ridgeway who can consistently push the pocket are rare, and thus are highly coveted around the league. Defensive lineman like Jackson and even dating back to the likes of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Warren Sapp are tough to find.

Nevertheless, Ridgeway has at least flashed the initial ability to generate pressure from the interior in his brief football career:

With the Colts desperately looking to improve their pass rush this season, Ridgeway’s development and on-the-field production could go a long way towards solving some of their defense’s woes.

If the team is lucky, he’ll develop into the franchise’s version of Malik Jackson, as he certainly has the potential and physical ability to become that type of standout pass rusher along their defensive line.

The Colts will happily take this kind of play and worry about the potential payday later: