The Colts didn’t wait long to find out what they have in Colby Wooden.
After Chris Ballard sent linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Packers in a deal for the defensive tackle just before free agency opened, Wooden has already started turning heads in Indianapolis. Early in training camp, he’s earning praise from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for the kind of versatility teams covet on the defensive front.
"I'm super happy with Colby," Anarumo said after Thursday's practice, via Locked on Colts. "He's, as you mentioned, he's a multiple position guy, which you know how this league is, the more you can do, the more valuable you are.
And he brings a great attitude every day. Tough, strong, athletic.
That was a great move by Chris (Ballard), and we lost a great player, but I think we got a great player, too."
Wooden’s value starts with the fact that he can move around. In Green Bay last season, he spent most of his time as the nose tackle, even though he was a little light for that job in the 290-300 pound range. Still, he handled it well enough to matter, especially against the run.
That showed up in the numbers, too. Wooden ranked 38th out of 146 defensive tackles in PFF’s run-stop rate metric.
His pass-rush production didn’t jump off the page, but that wasn’t the role he was living in with the Packers. The Colts are expecting something different.
They want him lined up in more places, attacking from different gaps and putting more stress on the pocket. That kind of usage should give him a better chance to make more plays as a rusher.
For now, he’s already getting meaningful reps. With DeForest Buckner not yet taking part in 11-on-11 work, Wooden has been opening alongside Grover Stewart.
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