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to add nose tackle in the off-season. I think they definitely should have." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteStampede Bluean Indianapolis Colts communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsColtsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Colts StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Colts NewsYahoo Colts Team PageYahoo Colts ReportYahoo Colts Depth ChartYahoo Colts TransactionsYahoo Colts PhotosShop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Filed under:Colts AnalysisThe Colts failure to address the nose tackle position could prove costlyNew Indianapolis Colts Customized Jerseys ,111commentsThere has been some debate on whether the Colts needed to add nose tackle in the off-season. I think they definitely should have.EDTShareTweetShareShareThe Colts failure to address the nose tackle position could prove costlyPhoto by Peter Aiken/Getty Images0-Tech DTs comparisonColts 0-TechSnapsSacksTFLsQB HitsSafeties/FFs/FRsDisruptive ScoreColts 0-TechSnapsSacksTFLsQB HitsSafeties/FFs/FRsDisruptive Score(*) The “Disruptive Score” is a number I created using the equation (Sacks+TFLs+QB Hits+ FF,FR,SFTY) over (Snap Count/100).(*2) Some of the guys on the chart did not play 0-Tech exclusively, but did so on most of the snaps.The 0-tech defensive tackle is the guy that lines up in front, or closest to, the center on the defensive line. The Colts are now worryingly thin at 0-tech defensive tackles, specially after losing Al Woods in free-agency to the Seahawks, who signed him on a cheap one-year contract. I explored the option of Jihad Ward possibly transitioning to that position in a previous article. Ward scored an amazing 8.25 Disruptive Score, albeit on a very limited 165 snaps. The only true 0-tech left on the Colts roster is Grover Stewart, who has started just one game in his first two seasons. Looking at the 0-tech on the top teams, nearly all of them posted a score above Stewart’s 0.5 except for Bills’ DT Star Lotulelei, who was surrounded by top-tier talent on Buffalo’s defense, and played right next to legend Kyle Williams. The conclusion from the chart is that in order to have a top defense in the NFL today, you need a guy that can disrupt opponents’ offenses from the inside. Gone are the days where the main job of the 0-tech was to eat up blocks in order to leave their teammates in better positions to make plays. Now, they also have to be able to make the play themselves. Guys like Eddie Goldman or Javon Hargrave were among the best in the league at generating pressure from the inside, and both the Steelers and the Bears were among the stingiest defenses. The NFL is clearly a pass-first league, so teams have to be able to generate pressure both from the edges and from the inside. Denico Autry and Margus Hunt, who will most likely play the 3-tech position (next to the 0-tech on the inside), were really good at getting to the opposing quarterback from the inside, racking up a combined 14 sacks. With new addition Justin Houston also drawing attention on the edge, the Colts pass-rushing capabilities look to be much better than the previous season. Still, the conclusion remains that if the Colts want to make the leap from good to great on defense then they will most likely need a 0-tech defensive tackle that can shed blocks and get into the backfield. The Colts had plenty of possibilities this off-season to address the lack of depth at the 0-tech position, but they haven’t advantage of any of them. They could have signed Darius Philon, who ended up with the Cardinals on a cheap 2-year Indianapolis Colts T-Shirts , $10 million contract, or perhaps Ndamukong Suh, who is still a free-agent. After not addressing the position in free-agency, the Colts had a good chance to do so in the Draft, as this class was very deep in defensive linemen. But, yet again, the Colts looked over the 0-tech position.I'm not second-guessing Chris Ballard, he has more than earned the benefit of the doubt, but the data indicates that top defenses included a 0-tech defensive tackle capable of generating negative plays and getting himself into the backfield. There is a difference of 1.4 in the Disruptive Score and now the Colts have only one true 0-tech left on the roster. It is clear that Matt Eberflus and Chris Ballard are focused more on speed and athleticism as they build a new Colts roster. This might result in a move away from more conventional sets, reducing the role of a 0-tech tackle. Still, the Colts definitely have room to improve at the position. Update: 5 additional players have been selected as Pro Bowl Alternates. Denico Autry, T.Y. Hilton, Ryan Kelly, Darius Leonard, and Andrew Luck.The Colts will send two players to this year’s Pro Bowl. Rookie guard Quenton Nelson and tight end Eric Ebron will both make their first Pro Bowl appearances and they’re well deserved. Ebron broke the franchise record set by Dallas Clark for most touchdowns by a tight end, and has been a red zone machine, scoring 13 touchdowns with two games to go. Quenton Nelson has been serving more pancakes than a Denny’s next door to a frat house. He has been a huge part of the turnaround of the Colts’ offensive line and has brought the kind of meanness and attitude to this offense that it has sorely lacked. There is a notable problem with this list of Pro Bowl players for the Colts, and it doesn’t take long to spot it. Two very notable names are absent from the list, and they’re the two best players on this Colts team. On offense, Andrew Luck somehow finds himself below Tom Brady, a feat that in previous years would not have been notable, but based on their play this season, is laughably absurd.Brady has 10 fewer touchdowns than Luck, has been unable to extend plays as he looks scared to take a hit https://www.coltsfanshop.com/hats , and has generally been a better than average to good quarterback for the Patriots. Luck on the other hand has been transcendent at times, weaving around defenders and avoiding sacks to extend plays when needed, and taking the smart dump off pass when it makes sense. He has been nearly impossible to defend and as much as his dramatic decrease in sacks is due to the offensive line’s improvement, it is also a product of his changed playing style. Luck has gotten rid of the ball quickly and made it nearly impossible to sack him. His awareness and decision making have been some of the best in the league and the idea that Brady has even been close to as good this season is just silly.Somehow, though, Luck’s snub isn’t even the worst one. Darius Leonard, the same guy who is playing historically well both for a rookie and for a player at his position in general, did not make the Pro Bowl. That’s right, the guy who leads the league in tackles with 146, has 7 sacks, an interception, 4 forced fumbles, 6 passes defended, and 12 tackles for loss, didn’t make the cut for the Pro Bowl.Jadeveon Clowney made it in ahead of Leonard, because they’re somehow in the same category despite Leonard playing the inside linebacker position. Regardless of his incorrect categorization, Leonard has still been more impactful than Clowney, who has 8 sacks, no picks, no passes defended, no forced fumbles, and just 37 tackles. Darius Leonard has played like one of the best defenders in football, not just at his position or for a rookie. One of the best defenders in the game period. All I can say about this is that I pity how Darius Leonard plays with yet another chip on his shoulder. Saquon Barkley and the Giants had better get ready.