Cardinals must emphasize ball security against turnover-thirsty Colts

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that NFL offenses like the Arizona Cardinals’ want to limit turnovers, especially given the team’s recent track record of giving the ball away.

That couldn’t be more true in Week 16 against one of the most opportunistic teams in the league, the Indianapolis Colts.

While running back Jonathan Taylor and his 17 touchdowns have been the hot topic of discussion this week, the Colts defense is a force all its own.

Entering play Tuesday, Indianapolis sports the best turnover differential in the league at +14, highlighted by 17 interceptions and 14 forced fumbles through 14 weeks of play.

“They are [sound across the board],” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Tuesday. “Their defensive coordinator’s done a great job of playing sound football, making you earn everything, great at disguising looks. You get a third down, all sorts of exotics blitzes and pressures and they attack the football.

“They lead the league in takeaways, you can tell that’s a huge emphasis from their coaching staff. I think they’ve won every game that they’ve won the turnover margin, so that’s been a big part of their success.”

Per Pro Football Focus, the Colts are the seventh-highest rated defense with a grade of 73. Of the teams the Cardinals have already faced, only the Los Angeles Rams (83.8) and Green Bay Packers (75.3) graded out higher. Indianapolis has achieved that mark with an 18.8% rate of pressures per dropback and blitzes per dropback (19.7%), both near the bottom of NFL ranks.

At every level of the defense, the Colts have a playmaker or two capable of turning a game on its head.

Leading the way for the Colts defense is linebacker Darius Leonard. Through 14 games, the linebacker has amassed a league-leading six forced fumbles to go along with three interceptions (second among Colts defenders), seven passes defensed and 107 tackles. He’s been especially stingy against the run, posting the second-best PFF grade in terms of run defense at 87.6.

“One thing that sticks out with D is — first, I’m so glad he’s from the FCS so I already admired his game — he does a great job,” running back Chase Edmonds said Tuesday. “He’s a true playmaker, getting the ball out whether it’s picks, turnovers, fumble recoveries. He’s always by the ball and always finding a way to get the ball out.

“That’s the first goal of our offense, really handling his ability, the Colts’ ability to do takeaways. … It’s a great group. … I think the first thing is finding a way to neutralize Leonard and (DeForest) Buckner up front.”

Backing up the linebacker is Kenny Moore II, who leads the team in interceptions and passes defensed this season with four and 13, respectively. The slot cornerback hasn’t just patrolled the secondary, either, being used an added blitzer off the edge at times.

And while he hasn’t quite made the same impact in the turnover department as Leonard or Moore, defensive lineman DeForest Buckner has put his mark on games, recording 6.5 sacks (a team high), eight tackles for losses and three passes defensed.

Just three times this season has he not picked up at least one QB hit, posting 16. He’s not the only one finding success against opposing quarterbacks, with four other Colts posting at least three sacks.

“Taking care of the football is going to be the first goal and it always should be the goal, but especially as you get down the stretch, December football,” Edmonds said. “The ball has to be the No. 1 object in our goals this week.”

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