The Indianapolis Colts are going to be without defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for at least the next four games, which means an increased workload for Taven Bryan, Raekwon Davis, and Adetomiwa Adebawore.
Through two games, the Colts’ defense has been run over by their opponents, allowing just shy of 500 rushing yards in those two contests. Any sort of turnaround in that regard in the coming weeks has just become a much more difficult task in Buckner’s absence.
In Week 1 against Houston, there was a night and day difference in the Colts run defense when Grover Stewart was on the field versus when we was off. Then, this past week versus Green Bay, we got a glimpse of what that heavier workload for Bryan, Davis, and Adebawore might look like.
Buckner came into that game with a back injury and appeared to be on a snap count prior to his ankle injury. So we saw Bryan get the start next to Stewart. By the end of the game, Davis did out snap Bryan 30 to 25, while Adebawore played 21 snaps.
In this stretch without Buckner, the Colts will really need Davis to step up. One of the reasons they brought him in as a free agent addition was to bolster their run defense depth behind Stewart and Buckner. We could also see defensive ends Tyquan Lewis and/or Dayo Odeyingbo see some snaps inside as well moving forward.
But for a team in major need of improved run defense, asking Bryan and Adebawore to have to fill a larger role in that capacity is not ideal. Bryan and Adebawore are a bit undersized when it comes to filling a run-specific role and both would be classified as pass-rushers–not run defenders.
With there being such a negative ripple-effect from poor run defense that stems throughout the rest of the game, any sort of potential turnaround for the 0-2 Colts begins with being much better here.
Doing so will take a massive group effort. Gus Bradley has to draw up something different from a game-plan perspective, and the players, both along the defensive front and the linebackers, have to perform better.