Colts’ PFF grades through Week 2 yield surprising underperformers
Not much more has to be emphasized about the Indianapolis Colts‘ nightmarish start to the 2021 season, but it’s still shocking that so many previous areas of strength have seemingly taken a step back for what feels like no reason at all.
What did the franchise do to deserve this? The Colts were just a few moves away from true Super Bowl contender status and now (though it’s still early) fans are questioning way more than they have to.
Carson Wentz’s injuries? People saw that coming. A weak pass rush? Not surprising, that’s going to take a little bit of time. But an underperforming linebacking corps? A Swiss cheese secondary? One of the best offensive lines in the NFL getting dominated in the trenches?
This simply can’t be. And if you take Pro Football Focus grades to heart, then you’re really not going to like what you see.
Top five and bottom five #Colts through two weeks sorted by @PFF grade:
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) September 21, 2021
📈: Kwity Paye (75.3), DeForest Buckner (71.3), Jack Doyle (71.2), Tyquan Lewis (69.7), Darius Leonard (69.5)
📉: Kenny Moore (42.9), Julién Davenport (43.0), Kemoko Turay (44.4), Mark Glowinski (45.3)
Colts studs Kenny Moore and Mark Glowinski are having a rough start.
We’ve gone in depth against Moore, whose combination of poor play and apparent misuse has defined his early missteps. Why is he playing shallow zone? Why is he “passing up” coverage to the team’s underperforming safeties? When he is covering receivers, why are they easily finding separation?
He got a pass against DK Metcalf because of the Seahawks wide receiver’s imposing size, but then Cooper Kupp took Moore to school this past Sunday.
The “best slot corner in the NFL” has not played the part in the first two weeks despite the Colts desperately needing him to with Xavier Rhodes out.
As for Glowinski, among the starters along the offensive line, he’s easily the worst one when everyone’s healthy … but he’s not this bad. He’s been unable to block. Period. Not against the run or the pass.
And he allowed Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald to bulldoze through and get the free shot at Wentz that caused the QB’s two ankle injuries.
Carson Wentz' ankle takes a nasty turn after Aaron Donald rips him to the ground. pic.twitter.com/ChjIgulcMU
— The 60FPS & GIF Guy (@IHaveFourBalls) September 19, 2021
ZERO push! Everyone would understand Glowinski eventually getting beaten by Donald, but he might as well have been a mannequin there. It took Donald two seconds to rip through him AND find Wentz for the QB hit.
Julién Davenport and Kemoko Turay making the list of worst performers is hardly surprising, but a star such as Moore and a seasoned veteran such as Glowinski? This needs to be amended as soon as possible.
