Indianapolis Colts Defensive Player of the Game: Week 5 vs 49ers
By Drew Koch
The Indianapolis Colts defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime 26-23. The win was due in no small part to part to the entire defensive line, especially defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who is this week’s Defensive Player of the Week.
Hankins, the fifth-year defensive lineman from Ohio State University, signed a three-year deal with the Colts this past off-season. So far this season, he’s been worth every penny.
Hankins is part of a revamped front seven for Indianapolis that has been stout against the run all season, and this past Sunday against San Francisco was no different. The 49ers had been averaging 104.5 yards per game coming into the game, but the Colts held them to only 66 yards rushing on 22 attempts.
Carlos Hyde, the ‘Niners leading rusher, was averaging over five yards per carry before Sunday’s game. Indianapolis totally shut Hyde down, holding him to only 11 yards on 8 carries for an average of 1.4 yards per rush.
Hankins, along with fellow defensive linemen Al Woods and Henry Anderson, combined for five run stops and seven quarterback pressures. Hankins himself finished the game with two tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defended.
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While those stats may not jump off the page, Hankins’ presence in the middle, along with his ability to clog the rushing lanes, allowed linebackers Jon Bostic, Jabaal Sheard and Antonio Morrison to rack up 21 tackles between them.
The offseason additions of Hankins and Woods, along with the now-healthy Anderson, have created a dominant front line for the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts have held their own for the most part against the run this season, and Sunday’s win against San Francisco was no exception.