Colts picked to be the best defense in the NFL in 2022
After adding a couple of more stars, the Indianapolis Colts are being picked by experts to be the best defense in the NFL next season.
Last season, the Indianapolis Colts had a pretty solid defense. They forced the second-most turnovers in the league last year and that’s what made them special. However, Indy’s defense sometimes struggled when it wasn’t taking the ball away. There were times when the Colts gave up late leads and struggled to get after the quarterback.
This offseason, the issues were addressed. Indianapolis traded for Yannick Ngakoue, signed Stephon Gilmore, and got depth at some key positions. The entire defensive staff was also rebuilt under Gus Bradley after Matt Eberflus took the head coaching job for the Chicago Bears.
Now, with Pro Bowl talent at every level of the defense, many believe Indy could have one of the league’s best units next season. In fact, during a segment on Good Morning Football, Mike Garafolo picked the Colts to be the most dominant defense in 2022.
Can the Colts’ defense be dominant in today’s NFL?
With current NFL rules, talent, and offensive play calling, it’s really hard to have a dominant defense in today’s NFL, but many feel Indianapolis may have what it takes. Garafolo argues that Indy will benefit from playing in the AFC South, saying, “ I think the Colts playing in the division would be a little easier, a little smoother path to the top statistically.”
With the rebuilding Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars accounting for four games on Indy’s schedule, this is a solid point. However, the Colts have the talent defensively to have a unit that can shine against top offenses as well.
With DeForest Buckner, Yannick Ngakoue, and the emerging Kwity Paye, Indy should be able to consistently generate a pass rush. Behind them are Darius Leonard and Bobby Okereke, both quality linebackers against the run and the pass. The unit rounds out with Kenny Moore and Stephon Gilmore in the secondary. Those two should be able to lead a young defensive backfield that has the talent to make a lot of plays.
If the defense can put it all together under new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, the Colts could have the best defense in the league, and that alone should help Indianapolis win a lot of games.
