Tag: Grover Stewart

Through all of the ups and downs that this 2024 season has provided so far for the Indianapolis Colts, defensive tackle Grover Stewart continues to be a steady force in the middle of that defense.

Stewart’s bread and butter as a defender comes in the run game, where he ranks among the best at his position group.

Stewart will enter Week 11 with the fourth-most solo tackles in the run game, and according to PFF’s metrics, is making those plays at an average of 0.8 yards from the line of scrimmage. Or in short, the ball carrier isn’t going anywhere.

His 22 run-stops–or plays that constitute a loss for the offense, as PFF puts it–are also the fourth-most and he ranks fifth in ESPN’s run-stop rate as well.

However, the run game isn’t the only place that Stewart is leaving his mark. During the offseason, he mentioned wanting to get to the “next level,” which also means getting after the quarterback with regularity.

Through 10 games, Stewart has already tied his career-high in sacks with four–which is currently the most on the team–and his 13 pressures are only nine shy of his current career-high of 22.

With a player of Stewart’s caliber in the middle of the defense, his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. His presence attracts double-teams and his ability to eat up space helps create one-on-one matchups or frees up opportunities for others to shoot gaps and make plays.

Although the Colts find themselves in the midst of a three-game losing streak, the defense has been playing some good football over the last month.

Getting DeForest Buckner back has certainly played a key role in that as have Gus Bradley’s adjustments, but the steady presence of Stewart in the middle of that front continues to pay dividends for the Colts’ defense in a number of ways.

Pro Football Focus continues on with their offseason positional rankings. Recently, PFF put together its list of the top-32 defensive tackles, which included a pair of Indianapolis Colts’ interior defenders.

Coming in at No. 6 on the list was DeForest Buckner, while Grover Stewart was ranked 31st overall among the position group.

PFF’s top-5 included Chris Jones at the top, followed by Dexter Lawrence, Quinnen Williams, Derrick Brown, and Cameron Heyward. Just ahead of Stewart was Devonte Wyatt at No. 29 and Sheldon Rankins at No. 30.

Here is what PFF had to say about Stewart:

“One of the league’s better run defenders, Stewart has graded consistently well in that area in every season of his NFL career. He has shown in the past few years that he can impact the passing game, as well, notching the second-most pressures from a nose tackle alignment over the past two seasons.”

As PFF mentions, Stewart has established himself as one of the top run defenders in the game. Last season, Stewart ranked 11th in run-stop rate and was fifth in overall run defense grade.

When Stewart was on the field versus when he was off, there was a noticeable difference in the Colts’ ability to defend the run. During the first six games of last season, which featured Stewart, the Colts surrendered only 3.7 yards per rush and 2.24 yards after contact. However, over the next six games without him, the Colts gave up 4.9 yards per carry and 3.14 yards after contact, according to ESPN.

The offseason addition of Raekwon Davis, who the Colts added in free agency, will hopefully bolster their run defense depth, so there isn’t such a steep dropoff in play when Stewart isn’t on the field.

While run defense has been Stewart’s calling card, a focus for this season is on becoming more disruptive as a pass rusher, which will help Stewart reach that next level and become an “elite player.”

“I just want to be an elite player, man,” said Stewart when meeting with reporters during offseason programs. “I know that I’ve been labeled as one of the best run-stoppers in the league, but I want to get to that next level like I always say, man. Like everybody big on getting the quarterback, so I want to show them that I can do that too, along with stopping the run.”

As a pass rusher in 2023, Stewart logged 15 pressures, including six quarterback hits, which were a career-high. Stewart’s pass rush win rate of 8.1 percent was a career-high as well–although compared to the rest of his position group, he still ranked 68th.

As a primary run defender, Stewart’s pass rush opportunities may be more limited in comparison to some of his counterparts, but if he is able to get after the quarterback with more consistency, it’s not only his game that he will take to another level, but the entire Colts’ defensive front – which should already be quite disruptive – will reach another level as well.

“I mean, I’ve just got to take more advantage of my opportunity when I’m out there,” Stewart said. “Make it happen when I’m out there.”

Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart has established himself as one of the better run-stoppers in the NFL. Now, he wants to show that he can get after the quarterback consistently as well.

“I just want to be an elite player, man,” said Stewart when meeting with reporters on Tuesday. “I know that I’ve been labeled as one of the best run-stoppers in the league, but I want to get to that next level like I always say, man. Like everybody big on getting the quarterback, so I want to show them that I can do that too, along with stopping the run.”

Stewart has certainly established himself as a top interior run defender and it was clear last season that the Colts greatly missed his presence when he wasn’t on the field.

With Stewart for the first six games last season, the Colts allowed only 3.7 yards per rush and 2.24 yards after contact. Without him for the next six games, the Colts would surrender 4.9 yards per carry with 3.14 yards after contact.

Among all interior defensive linemen in 2023, Stewart ranked 11th in run-stop rate and fifth in PFF’s run defense grade.

As a pass rusher, Stewart totaled 15 pressures last season, six of which were quarterback hits—a career high despite missing six games. His career high in pressures was 22 and that came during the 2021 season.

Stewart’s pass-rush win rate – an efficiency metric from PFF – of 8.1 percent last year was a career-high as well, although relative to the rest of his position group, he ranked 68th in that category.

As a primary run defender, Stewart may not see as many pass rush opportunities as some interior defenders with him often on the field during early downs. However, when asked, Stewart wasn’t looking to make any excuses, he instead has to take advantage of the opportunities that he has.

“I mean, I’ve just got to take more advantage of my opportunity when I’m out there,” Stewart said. “Make it happen when I’m out there.”

Contributing to Stewart’s push for more pass rush production will be the depth that the Colts have along the defensive front. Playing alongside of players like DeForest Buckner, Laiatu Latu, Kwity Paye, Samson Ebukam, and Dayo Odeyingbo will help create more one-on-one opportunities for Stewart to exploit.

If Stewart is able to begin stacking up pressures and sacks, an already formidable and what should be extremely disruptive defensive front will be taken to a different level.

The ability is without a doubt there, now it’s about capitalizing on the chances that come his way.

“They love sacks. I love them too,” added Stewart. “Just get more sacks.”

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart spoke with the media on Tuesday as part of the offseason program availability.

Here are the highlights from Stewart’s availability. To watch the full video, click here.

– Stewart on what’s next in his development: “I just want to be an elite player.” Stewart adds that while he’s been labeled as one of the best run-stoppers in the NFL, he wants to get to the next level by showing that he can get after the quarterback as well, specifically “getting more sacks.”

– Stewart says that to get more sacks, he has to take more advantage of the opportunities he has when he’s on the field.

– Stewart on Laiatu Latu: “Been around that guy, he’s a great guy.” Adding him to the defensive front will help with the depth and getting after the quarterback.

– Stewart mentions that Latu’s work ethic, leverage, and footwork are aspects of his game that stand out.

– “It says a lot. They really love us here,” said Stewart on him and DeForest Buckner getting new deals this offseason. “It means a lot to me to be here.”

– What can Stewart and Buckner do together over the next few years? “Just dominate, man.”

– Stewart on new DL coach Charlie Partridge: “He’s a great guy. He’s got a lot of energy, man” Stewart adds that he’s big on the details. When Stewart first met Partridge he told him, “just push me.”

– “The Colts defensive line, we’ve been doing some incredible things, putting up good numbers, and shoot man, we control the game,” said Stewart.

– Buckner scored a touchdown last season, and Stewart was asked about him getting an opportunity: “I gotta get something, man. I’m going to get one though,” he laughed.

– How does Stewart define being an elite player: “It’s just like a goal for me. Like the more sacks I get, I’ll be happy. Of course, if I do have more sacks and be an elite run-stopper, that’s Pro Bowl. It’s a goal on top of a goal.”