Over the last month of games, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye has been picking up pass rush steam.
During that span of four games, beginning with the Colts’ second matchup with Houston, Paye has recorded 14 pressures and four sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
This included a five-pressure and two-sack performance this past Sunday against the New York Jets.
To put some context around those figures, among all defensive ends during that stretch, Paye’s 14 pressures are tied for the 14th-most in football. His four sacks, meanwhile, are tied for the fourth-most.
Coming off of an offseason, where Paye cut weight but put on muscle, he’s been one of the fastest pass rushers off the ball this season. According to ESPN analytics, Paye’s average time of 0.75 seconds across the line of scrimmage is the fifth-fastest in football.
The name of the game in football is getting after the quarterback. When done consistently, there is a positive trickle-down effect to the rest of the defense. Pressure disrupts the timing and rhythm of the play, often meaning less time in coverage for the secondary and potential mistakes from the quarterback.
Overall, the Colts’ pass rush unit as a whole has improved over the last month of play as well.
This also happens to coincide with the return of DeForest Buckner off of injured reserve. We all know that Buckner has the ability to fill the stat sheet himself, but his presence creates opportunities for others, with the attention that he draws helping to create advantageous or one-on-one matchups for his teammates.
Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s willingness to drum up pressures via blitzes has been a factor in the Colts’ causing more disruption as well.
Continuing to find that success, for both Paye and the rest of the defense, will be a must this week against Detroit’s Jared Goff, who can pick apart even the best defenses when he has time in the pocket. Creating that pressure, however, won’t come easy against perhaps the best offensive line unit in football.