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‘Shadowing’ Vontae Davis Continues to be Sole Star on Colts Defense Starved for Playmakers

By Luke Schultheis

Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis (21) intercepts a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis (21) intercepts a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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While the Indianapolis Colts defense has struggled so far this season, the defense’s sole star Vontae Davis continues to dominate.

Currently, the Colts defense is allowing an average of 29.0 ppg (28th) and 411.2 ypg (30th) after 6 games respectively.

However, don’t blame that on Davis.

While the unit does feature some young and talented building blocks such as defensive end Henry Anderson and safety Clayton Geathers–along with solid veteran safety Mike Adams, it’s Davis who remains the defense’s lone true star and its top playmaker overall.

Shadowing Houston Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins, a reigning 2015 All-Pro and Pro Bowler, Davis simply shut down the opponent’s most dangerous weapon in coverage:

He’s arguably the only defender on this Colts defense that opposing offensive coordinator’s actually have to gameplan for–as he’s capable of not only taking away their best receiver, but also eliminating one side of the field entirely.

Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) attempts to catch a pass while being defended by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis (21) during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) attempts to catch a pass while being defended by Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis (21) during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /

After missing the Colts first two games because of a foot injury, Davis has continued to round into superstar shape–showing flashes of his 2014 form in which he was one of the best cover cornerbacks in all of football, having not surrendered a single touchdown in coverage.

While the former 2009 1st round pick of the Miami Dolphins has always possessed immense physical talent and ability, it’s actually his competitiveness that most impresses his new defensive coordinator Ted Monachino:

"“Vontae’s a top competitor first of all. He’s got talent–we all know that, but when it comes to him lining up from another man–imposing his will on him, that’s what he lives for,” said Monachino earlier this week on his top cornerback. “That’s what he wants to do. He wants to compete that way.”“So, the way we organized Vontae (Davis) in the gameplan made a lot of sense to him, and he took it by the horns and ran with it.”"

In truth, he’s been one of the Colts defense’s few bright spots upon his return to the starting lineup. He’s on the short list of Colts defenders that can actually be counted on to consistently ‘make a play’ when the unit needs it the most.

While those plays have simply been too few and far between this season for the Colts defense collectively as a whole, there’s only so much Davis can do as an individual defender.

So far though, he’s once again shined as the Colts defense’s sole star and lived up to his billing as a shutdown cornerback.

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