Colts mid-season awards: Best defensive player

Now that we’re at the midway point of the season, it’s time to take stock in how the year has gone so far for the Colts. Time to look at who has been the best defensive player through the first 8 games.

A lot has happened in the first 8 games this season. The Colts lost a quarterback, another one got hurt, and the whole team seemed to be on the injury report at one point. The defense has played surprisingly well at times this year though. There have been a lot of good performances.

No player has been better through the first half of this season than Justin Houston. Houston was signed as a big free agent from Kansas City. The Colts looked to him to give them a consistent pass rush. That’s what he’s done so far in his time in Indy.

Through 8 games, Houston has 6 sacks 2 forced fumbled and a fumble recovery. He has done a great job changing positions from outside linebacker, where he has been his whole career, to defensive end. He has been able to get consistent pressure, as he has 10 QB hits.

His production hasn’t been limited to just pressuring the quarterback either. He has a total of 24 tackles and 7 of them have been for loss. He’s done a good job playing the run game as well as the pass. The Colts are going to need him to keep producing down the stretch.

If more players on defense were as impactful as Houston has been, this team would be a lot better off. But they haven’t been. The Colts have to find a way to generate more turnovers. Sunday against Pittsburgh was a start, but they still need more.