Indianapolis Colts: Edge-Rusher

Prior to the NFL draft, there was essentially a tie for the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest problem area in 2018.

Both the offensive and defensive lines needed work—quite a lot of it.

The former got a big boost on April 26 with the selection of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whom some pundits considered the top overall prospect in this year’s class.

The defensive line, on the other hand, didn’t get a ton of assistance. The Colts added some help in the form of second-round pick Tyquan Lewis, but the former Ohio State star was a rotational player with the Buckeyes who will probably need time to get his sea legs in the NFL.

That leaves Jabaal Sheard and Denico Autry as the front-runners to start on Indy’s new four-man front. Sheard’s the more proven of the two. Twice he’s notched at least eight sacks in a season, but he’s never hit double digits. Autry had five sacks for the Oakland Raiders a year ago, but that’s the high-water mark of his career.

If you can’t pressure the quarterback in today’s NFL, you’re going to get carved up.

Right now, it doesn’t look like a Colts team that was last in the AFC in sacks last year is going to make a leap forward in that regard.

Prior to the NFL draft, there was essentially a tie for the Indianapolis Colts’ biggest problem area in 2018.

Both the offensive and defensive lines needed work—quite a lot of it.

The former got a big boost on April 26 with the selection of Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whom some pundits considered the top overall prospect in this year’s class.

That leaves Jabaal Sheard and Denico Autry as the front-runners to start on Indy’s new four-man front. Sheard’s the more proven of the two. Twice he’s notched at least eight sacks in a season, but he’s never hit double digits. china nike nfl jerseys cheap Autry had five sacks for the Oakland Raiders a year ago, but that’s the high-water mark of his career.

If you can’t pressure the quarterback in today’s NFL, you’re going to get carved up.

Right now, it doesn’t look like a Colts team that was last in the AFC in sacks last year is going to make a leap forward in that regard.

Oh yeah. I went there.cheap nfl nike jerseys from china

As the Jacksonville Jaguars showed in advancing to the AFC Championship Game, this is a team that is equipped to challenge for a berth in Super Bowl LIII.

The Jaguars possess a punishing ground game and one of the best defenses in football—maybe the best. That defense added even more pieces in this year’s draft in interior lineman Taven Bryan and safety Ronnie Harrison.

There’s just one problem. One sticking point. One issue looming over the squad.

Robby Blake Bortles.

Bortles isn’t necessarily a terrible quarterback. But among legitimate Super Bowl contenders, it’s hard to argue Jacksonville doesn’t have the worst player at football’s most important position—with very little behind him.cheap nike nfl jerseys free shipping

If Andrew Luck’s healthy this year, Bortles is probably the worst starting quarterback in the AFC South.

It’s somewhat understandable that the Jags committed to Bortles moving forward. He did, after all, lead the team to the cusp of its first Super Bowl. The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t and all that jazz.nfl cheap jerseys nike

But Bortles’ shortcomings as a quarterback are very real. And they may well come back to bite the Jaguars in 2018.

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