Colts: Darius Leonard and defense struggling vs Seahawks is a bad sign

All eyes were on Carson Wentz entering Sunday’s Week 1 action between the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.

Of course they were. After all, we could count on Indy’s defense and offensive line to at least put forth respectable efforts. Why not focus our attention on the wild card in the room?

Well … about that …

Thus far, the defense — which should’ve been equipped to handle Russell Wilson, after years of mounting evidence regarding how to keep him off kilter — has seemed flummoxed and controlled. Darius Leonard up the middle has led the way, overwhelmed on Wilson’s second touchdown pass of the game to tight end Gerald Everett.

The Colts defense looks subpar against the Seattle Seahawks.

Leonard led the defense’s charge this offseason — in terms of vaccination controversy, not preparation. We expected more of an energetic effort from the team’s defensive leader, but thus far, he’s struggling to contain Wilson’s aerial attack, and has been taken advantage of in coverage.

Additionally, while Wentz’s return to action under center commanded the majority of the analysis, Quenton Nelson’s improbable comeback from foot, back and COVID issues was potentially even more unexpected for the offense.

After one half, it’s fair to call the team out for their swift and risky reinsertion of Nelson. He hasn’t exactly looked himself, manhandled by Poona Ford on Seattle’s D-Line. The big-bodied Ford could be a reasonable Vita Vea impersonator against inferior competition, but … Nelson’s not supposed to be inferior.

So far, after a brief stretch on the team’s very first drive in which Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines were able to plow downhill, nothing’s looked completely in sync.

Have there been positive signs? Sure. Wideout Parris Campbell returned from years away in order to prove his mettle with this difficult catch. Zach Pascal absorbed a hit nicely to give Wentz his first touchdown in blue, too.

Wilson is a superstar for a reason, but thus far, the defensive side of the ball looks collectively a step slow.

One thing you can’t do? Allow a 69-yard Russell Wilson passing touchdown to Tyler Lockett on 2nd and 20 with less than a minute to go in the half to go down 21-10. Why is Khari Willis covering him again?

If Indianapolis is going to continue on their trajectory from 2021, the D has to be a strength, not a detriment. A Wentz MVP-type campaign is a pipe dream. Hoping for him to bounce back to competence while the defense carries the team yet again seemed more reasonable entering Week 1.

Now? We’re just hoping we see the real Leonard sooner rather than later.

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