Colts 2017 Free Agent Grade Series: John Simon

John Simon was brought in from Houston as part of an overhaul on the defensive side of the ball. He was one of several new linebackers added by Indianapolis. How was his first season playing for the Horseshoe?

John Simon was one of the fresh faces brought in at linebacker this season. He was brought in from the Texans, where he spent his previous three seasons. The Colts definitely needed help at the outside linebacker position. Did Simon deliver in his first Colts season?

Simon is a hard worker and is very cerebral. He is very good at diagnosing plays and has a knack for taking down ball carriers. He can typically be seen at the center of most tackling piles. Simon is also very strong, which allows him to get off blocks and track down running backs.

He had a productive year for the Colts, while he was healthy. He only played in 9 games before being placed on Injured Reserve. But in those 9 games, he played very well, having a part in 43 tackles and recording a pick six against the Titans.

Speaking of Simon in the passing game, he is one of the few linebackers the Colts can trust in coverage. He can cover tight-ends and running backs fairly well, which allows the Colts some diversity in their defensive play-calling. The Colts trust Simon to drop into zone and man-to-man coverage, which is key.

Final Grade:

For all of Simon’s positive attributes, he needs to be able to stay on the field. Health has been an issue throughout his career, and it was in his first season with the Colts as well. If he can’t say on the field, he can’t help the Colts.

Simon also plays extremely hard. Before being placed on IR, he played through the shoulder injury that eventually sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He plays every snap with 100% effort, and that can be infectious to other members of the team.

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Simon is a bright spot in the Colts’ back seven, and it would be wise of the Colts to put him on the field as much as possible. If Simon can stay healthy, he can be a valuable piece for the Colts for years to come.