These Two Rookies Are Developing Into Fantastic Pass Rush Duo in Silence

admin | December 8, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Don’t look now, but the Indianapolis Colts’ pass rush tandem of Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye is on the rise.

The Indianapolis Colts had a lot of questions about their pass rush heading into the 2023 season.

With defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, the Colts knew what they were getting. One is a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler who excels at everything. The other is a stout defender who is having the best season of his career.

The unknowns, however, were at edge rusher. Yannick Ngakoue, the Colts’ sack leader in 2022, was not re-signed. Taking Buckner, Stewart, and Ngakoue out of the equation, only 12 sacks came from edge rushers who would be on the club in 2023. Could the Colts generate enough edge pressure?

The response is a resounding yes after 13 weeks of the 2023 season. What’s the reason?Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye are quietly becoming into one of the NFL’s top pass rushing tandems.

Ebukam’s Chance to Shine

Ebukam signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Colts in the offseason, with $10.75 million guaranteed. While it was no secret that money was a motivating factor for Ebukam to join with Indy, the opportunity to be a full-time starter was also appealing. He comes from the San Francisco 49ers’ crowded defensive line group, where he was a rotating player.

Ebukam would also be the primary LEO in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defense. Ebukam would use a wide-nine technique, splitting outside the tackle’s outer shoulder and pinning his ears back to attack the quarterback.

“It just makes it easier mentally for the defensive end that’s playing that technique because you just get to get off the rock and just mess things up for the offensive lineman,” he said. “Like, you’re not thinking about much, so you can play faster.” I like it because I can just go.”

While his sack totals were modest, averaging just under four each season, Ebukam had demonstrated an ability to provide pressure even when he wasn’t able to get to the quarterback. In 2022, the Colts had 44 sacks, but there were too many plays when the quarterback had all day to pass. Even if they weren’t getting the quarterback down for a sack, they needed to apply pressure.

When the 2023 season started, Ebukam instantly shown the talent that the Colts recognized in him. In the first six games, he had four sacks and 18 pressures. The Colts appeared to have struck gold with their new pass rusher.

Ebukam, on the other hand, experienced a midseason slump, failing to register a sack in four straight games. He only recorded six pressures as well. As the Colts’ bye week approached, there were questions about whether he was merely a rotational player after all.

But the seven-year vet never flinched, and his confidence never wavered. He was confident that he was doing everything correctly. It was only a matter of time until production began.

Ebukam has been on a tear since the Colts returned from their bye week. In the last two games, he has four sacks, two caused fumbles, and ten pressures. Ebukam has been nearly unblockable and is presently the NFL’s No.12 ranked edge rusher, according to Pro Football Focus.

Ebukam is on track to have a breakout season. His eight sacks are nearly twice as many as his previous career high. He has three forced turnovers, which is a career best, and will almost certainly establish career highs in tackles and pressures.

When Ebukam signed as a free agent last spring, he received little attention. It could, however, be Chris Ballard’s best signing of 2023.

Paye’s Year 3 Jump

Paye, on the other end of the Colts’ defensive line, was starting his third season in 2023. Paye, a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, had yet to live up to his draft status. He had proven to be a good starter, but nothing more.

During his first two seasons, Paye had only 10 sacks, one forced fumble, and 73 total pressures. Injuries contributed to his lack of production, as he missed seven games in his first two seasons. Paye appeared to get into a groove and gain momentum, only to be derailed by a persistent ailment, causing him to stop.

“The one thing that just bit me in the buttocks last year was injuries,” Paye said in April. “It was just a freak accident trying to turn last year, and someone stepped on my ankle.” For me this year, I’m just wanting to stay healthy for the entire season – just finish the season because it stinks to be on the sidelines every single day watching your men go to battle and then you can’t do anything.”

In terms of his contract, 2023 was also a significant year for Paye. The Colts must decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option after the season, which is available to first-round players. That was not a given at the start of the year.

Paye, like Ebukam, began the season with a bang. He has three sacks and nine pressures in the first three weeks. Paye was pursuing the quarterback aggressively.

However, the injury bug bit Paye in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams. Paye suffered a concussion and was forced to miss the following game against the Tennessee Titans. His progress had come to a halt once more.

When Paye returned, it took three weeks for him to smell the quarterback again. Paye, to his credit, was constantly producing stops in the run game while still being productive in other areas. The purpose, however, was to get after the quarterback.

The Colts coaches noticed how hard Paye had been working and were confident that results would follow.

“He’s a guy who has a lot of trust in him,” Bradley said of Paye. “I believe that the way he plays – his ability, toughness, and effort – are all intact with him.” He’s doing a terrific job of applying pressure. I know he wants to see more, and I believe they will. That’s one of those things, the way he works, the way he approaches things – it’s one of those things where you just keep doing what you’re doing and the opportunities will come.”

The opportunity have arrived, and Paye has seized them. During the Colts’ four-game winning streak, the pass rusher had 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and ten pressures. Opposing offensive tackles are having the same difficulty blocking Paye as his partner on the other side.

Paye is also having a stellar year. He has a career best in sacks (7.5), forced fumbles (two), and is on pace to set a career high in tackles. Paye’s output is exactly what the Colts envisioned when they drafted him in the first round a couple years back.

A Dynamic Duo

While Ebukam and Paye may not receive much national attention, they are gradually becoming one of the NFL’s best pass rush tandems. Their current season stats are as follows:

Ebukam: 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 13 QB hits, three forced fumbles, 34 pressures
Paye: 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, seven QB hits, two forced fumbles, 23 pressures

Ebukam (t-16th) and Paye (t-20th) both have sacks in the top 20 in the league. No other team has two players ranked in the top twenty. Both pass rushers are on pace to record double-digit sacks. The Colts last had a pair of players with double-digit sacks in 2010, when Robert Mathis (11.0) and Dwight Freeney (10.0) accomplished the feat.

They also aid in run defense, as both rank in the top ten in stops on the Colts, according to PFF.Ebukam has made 19 stops, while Paye has made 13. The combination may be a threat to blow up the play in any occasion.

In 2023, the Colts have 42 sacks, just four short of the Indianapolis team record of 46 established in 2005. That mark might be broken this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals, putting them on track for their fifth straight victory.

So far, the pair has gotten little national acclaim. However, Ebukam and Paye are fast putting the NFL on notice that Indy’s next great pass rushing tandem has arrived.