Samson Ebukam Has Been Vital for Colts' Defense
Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard had a real busy off-season.
Between hiring a new head coach in Shane Steichen and drafting the future face of the franchise, Anthony Richardson, it has been quite the ride. One of the things that went under the radar was the signing of former San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams pass rusher Samson Ebukam. I had a chance to speak to one of Ebukam’s former coaches and they had this to say about him.
“He plays hard and is a high effort guy. He’s going to play physical and hard on every snap.”
Ebukam has been doing that and more since he’s arrived in Indianapolis. Ebukam, for the bulk of his career, has been a high motor guy who gives some solid, but never overwhelming, production. He was always stout against the run and showed flashes when it came to his pass rush.
This offseason, when I studied his tape for the first time, the first thing you notice is his burst. His initial get off is lightning fast and uses his hands very well to beat tackles once they shoot their hands as he bends the corner. This has been what he’s done so well as a Colt so far.
Ebukam currently has 8 solo tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits and 2 sacks in his first 3 games. He is on pace to set career highs in all those categories. Ebukam's career highs are 26 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 13 QB hits, and 5 sacks.
Ebukam is the perfect compliment for Kwity Paye. He brings an element of speed off the edge but is also not compromised in the run game. He offers similar upside to Yannick Ngakoue as a pure pass rusher but with a way higher floor due to his ability to set the edge as a run defender.
This past Sunday in the Colts upset over the Baltimore Ravens, Ebukam had a strip sack on Lamar Jackson in the second quarter and also had a tackle for loss prior to that as well. He is making his presence felt on a defensive front that has been nonexistent the past few years.
If this defense continues to play at this level, Ebukam could end up having the best season of his career. At just 28 years old, there is plenty of juice left in that tank for Ebukam could be breaking out at the perfect time.
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