The Indianapolis Colts lost to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, ending their win streak and raising concerns about the team's prospects for the rest of the season. The defense in particular struggled, so while the offense continues to thrive, it simply wasn't enough.
Still, questions have been raised. Daniel Jones' ability to elevate an offense is no longer assured, as his shortcomings were on full display against the Rams. While he has still improved, it's clearly not enough.
Yet not everything was bad. Tyler Warren had a great game, and despite a disappointing overall performance from the defense, there was one bright spot in particular: Laiatu Latu.
Has Indianapolis Colts' Laiatu Latu's breakout finally begun?
Matthew Stafford had an excellent game, as the Colts' defense was underwhelming, but Latu stood out, and signaled that the potential so many fans had been waiting for might finally have arrived. While Latu had a good rookie season, it fell short of what so many had expected - but it didn't take long for the buzz to start building about his sophomore year.
Latu was predicted to have a big jump this season, and despite losing, fans saw the first hints of that during the game against the Rams. He kept the pressure on Stafford constantly and had his first sack of the season, along with two quarterback hits.
He had his highest pass rush rate of the season yet, and his nine pressures were the highest in the NFL. His Pro Football Focus (subscription required) defensive grade of 90.2 was the best on the team.
So far, Latu hasn't been the most explosive playmaker out there, which could be frustrating. It's even more frustrating considering that Sunday's loss was largely due to the Colts' own mistakes. But that Latu was still able to perform as well as he did says a lot about his talent and potential.
Latu needs more help if he is to succeed. The Colts need another dangerous defensive end to help confuse offensive lines and provide a complementary rush. The two could work to keep blockers off balance, and altogether, generate more pressure and sacks for the defense as a whole.
Unfortunately, Kwity Paye isn't helping Latu enough, which is disappointing, as he's been solid in the past. But for now, Colts fans can at least rest assured that even during less-than-spectacular games, Latu's game appears to still be improving.