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Indianapolis Colts 2015 Training Camp Profile: DT Arthur Jones

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Arthur Jones

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

All the talk has been about the Indianapolis Colts’ offense this offseason, but their defense will be the reason why they either make or miss the Super Bowl. The team will rely heavily on defensive tackle Arthur Jones to be a force in the middle, and they need him to be a leader for the rest of the defensive linemen.

Jones joined the Colts in the 2014 offseason after a few successful years with the Baltimore Ravens. His first year with the Colts was turbulent. He could not stay healthy, only playing in nine games during the 2014 season. When he did play, he rarely started because of a nagging ankle injury. He only started three times with just 23 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks. This is not very good for a guy who received a five-year, $33 million deal from the Colts.

In Baltimore, Jones was primarily known for his ability to plug running lanes and to shed offensive run blockers. He has shown he is a capable pass rusher, which makes him an every down type of lineman. However, this ability was not apparent in his first season with the Colts.

The Colts brought in Jones because of his relationship with head coach Chuck Pagano and his familiarity with Pagano’s defensive system. Pagano was the defensive coordinator for the Ravens before taking the Colts head coaching position. Jones will need to find the success he had in Baltimore in order for the Colts defense to be effective.

The Colts lost veteran Cory Redding to the Arizona Cardinals. Redding was an anchor for the defense as he started all 16 games last season for the Colts. The Colts want Jones to step up and be the anchor for the defense this season. Jones has the talent, but the only problem has been his health.

The Colts built their depth along the defensive line to give Jones a break once in a while by adding defensive end Kendall Langford in the offseason and selecting defensive linemen David Parry and Henry Anderson in the 2015 NFL Draft. Langford has a giant body, but he can play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. Parry is primarily a nose tackle, but he is athletic enough to play defensive end. Anderson is a tall, strong defensive end. The Colts will likely use multiple combinations involving these guys in order to keep Jones fresh throughout the game and the season.

The Colts have big team goals, and they need Jones to perform like he did in Baltimore in order to achieve them. Jones says his ankle is healed, and he is ready for a big role this season. If he stays healthy and returns to his previous form, the Colts could have a top 10 pass and rush defense.

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