The Indianapolis Colts are not expected to compete for a Super Bowl this season. While that is the goal for the majority of NFL teams when they kick off Week 1, it's simply not a reality for all, but that's not an admission coaches or players would say outright, at least, most of them. This is the reality for the Colts, but it doesn't mean it's all bad for them.
If the Colts miss the playoffs this season for a sixth straight year, both Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard could be cut loose; that's part of the bad. The general manager and head coach are entering this season on the hot seat. For Ballard, he did almost everything he could this offseason to revamp his roster and sign the best depth he could.
Looking specifically at the Colts defense, where Ballard made most of his free-agent signings, the majority of those incoming players have been solid, rotational players in previous years with previous teams. That said, while there isn't much greatness to the Colts defense, there is one key element that could actually make them a middle-of-the-pack-type defense this season: balance.
The Indianapolis Colts have their most balanced defense in years thanks to key free agent signings
First, you can't talk about the Colts defense without mentioning longtime veterans DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. Both players have been mainstays of the Colts' defensive line for a combined 16 years, with Stewart having played his entire NFL career in Indianapolis. They will continue to be mainstays, although how much Buckner will be able to give this season is a question mark.
Laiatu Latu is the future of the Colts' defense and is expected to have a career season, and nothing much more needs to be said. In the secondary, the Colts have one of the league's top cornerback duos in Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward (plus Justin Walley), and a future Pro Bowl-caliber safety in Cam Bynum.
The Colts' depth is what makes the defense a well-balanced group, across the board. With Adetomiwa Adebawore and the offseason additions of Colby Wooden, Derrick Nnadi, Michael Clemons, and Arden Key, Indianapolis has solid rotational depth on the defensive line, not to mention the further development of J.T. Tuimoloau.
Furthermore, the draft selections of George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry only deepen the Colts' defensive line depth, and Curry especially has looked good in OTA's, mini camp, and training camp so far. Colts' defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has plenty of players to look at, and that's not a problem, but a good one.
Speaking of rookies, the Colts are in a great position at linebacker and safety for the future. CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcey went into this year's draft and walked out as expected starters for the Colts at their respective positions. Since the beginning days of training camp, at least Haulcey has continued to trend in that direction, while Allen has missed much of camp due to a hamstring injury.
If there's one thing that Ballard got right this offseason, it was finding depth, and plenty of it. There's no great player on the Colts defense other than Buckner and Gardner at this point (Latu is on that trajectory). There is, however, a lot of good to very good ones, and maybe that's all the Colts need for this season to remain competitive, even if they're not Super Bowl or even playoff-bound.
Well-balanced may be the best way to describe Indianapolis's defense, and with the defensive line and secondary currently constructed as is, they have the most balanced defense in years.
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