Pro Football Focus put together its ranking of the top-32 pass rushers heading into Week 4 of the regular season. Making an appearance on the list was Indianapolis Colts rookie defensive end Laiatu Latu.
These rankings are based on PFF’s grading system and are updated weekly based on the most recent performances.
This week, Latu checks in at No. 28 after not being ranked the week prior. At the top of the list are Myles Garrett, Aidan Hutchinson, and TJ Watt.
Production-wise, we didn’t see Latu filling the stat sheet by any means during the first two games. By PFF’s metrics, he had only one pressure during that span.
However, going beyond the obvious production, what we did see in those games was a player who was consistently winning his pass rush reps. After two games, Latu ranked within the top-20 of all defensive ends in pass-rush win rate.
Oftentimes, where there is consistency, the production will follow, and we saw that this past week against the Chicago Bears. In that game, Latu totaled five pressures, which was tied for the most on the team, and had a late game-changing play with a strip sack that eventually resulted in a touchdown for the Colts’ offense.
Latu has currently played 94 defensive snaps, roughly 70 behind Kwity Paye and Tyquan Lewis as the third member of that defensive end rotation. The Colts are doing their best to put him on the field during obvious passing situations where he can pin his ears back.