What Will the Colts Defense Look Like When it’s Healthy?

The Colts defense suffered a rash of injuries this past season. Key players went down at different points during the season. But what would the unit look like if they were healthy?

The Colts’ defense was one of the worst rated units in the league this season. They were bad stopping the run and the pass, and didn’t force many turnovers. Their defense was one of the main reasons they only won four games.

Perhaps thing would have been different if the unit hadn’t been so injured. The defense suffered injuries at every level of the unit. Henry Anderson got placed on IR in November, John Simon only played 9 games, and Malik Hooker tore his ACL mid-way through the year. These were only some of the many injuries the defense sustained.

The Colts might look different on defense next year if they don’t sustain these crippling injuries. Simon is their best linebacker, Anderson is a starter on the defensive line, and Hooker could be a budding superstar at safety. Rashaan Melvin is their best corner, and he also got placed on IR.

If Chris Ballard makes changes to the roster in free agency, the unit might not be as bad as people think. The best players the Colts have on defense never got a chance to prove their worth over the length of the season. Adding some outside talent and having healthy players would go a long way.

The Colts’ defense will be better next year. Even if they keep all of the same pieces, the Colts would still have better stats than this season. Continuity is a big key in any unit playing well, and with the defense being healthy the unit would finally have that.

Next: What are the Colts' Super Bowl Odds for 2019 and 2020?

With most of the injured players being ready for the start of next season, the defense should be much better next year.