Laiatu Latu looking for more after producing first sack, earning first commemorative football

INDIANAPOLIS – If Laiatu Latu has plans to construct a trophy room at his home, another bit of memorabilia is in search of a choice spot.

The Indianapolis Colts’ rookie defensive end has the football from his first career sack, and it’s autographed.

“I had Grove sign it and he gave it to me,’’ Latu said Thursday.

Grover Stewart ended a pivotal play in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s 21-16 win over the Chicago Bears that Latu started. The veteran tackle pounced on Caleb Williams’ fumble, got to his feet and held the football in his right hand as the defense rallied in the end zone for a group celebration.

Latu initially flexed in the area of his pass-rush destruction before being escorted to the end zone by linebacker Zaire Franklin and safety Julian Blackmon.

“I know he’d been looking to get one,’’ Franklin said after the game.

There was a question of whether Latu would have the opportunity. He missed two days of practice leading up to the Bears game with a hip injury before returning on a limited basis Friday.

The strip/sack was reminiscent of so many shock plays generated by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

The Bears trailed 14-9 with 6:52 remaining. A possible comeback drive started with a first-and-10 at their own 18. It ended six seconds later.

That’s how long it took for Latu, positioned in a three-point stance at right end, to come up with what the Colts hope is the first in a career chockful of memorable closing moments.

He faced a double team of tight ends Cole Kmet and Marcedes Lewis, but rendered Lewis harmless with an outside rush against Kmet. Despite Kmet wrapping his left arm around his neck, Latu kept his low leverage, ran around the block attempt and zeroed in on Williams.

Veteran Kwity Paye had prepared Latu for that exact situation.

“Kwity told me to attack a certain guy (Kmet) when I get that look,’’ Latu said. “I did, and then I was able to work the edge. I saw Caleb back there and the rest is history.’’

He tomahawked the football out of Williams’ hand – just as he had a few times when his UCLA Bruins faced Williams’ USC Trojans – for his first sack/strip.

Four plays later, the Colts maximized the short field by pushing their lead to 21-9 on Jonathan Taylor’s 1-yard touchdown.

Latu’s game-changer was the type of play general manager Chris Ballard envisioned when he made him the first defensive player selected in the April draft with the 15 ^th overall pick.

“Any time you can rush the passer – you got a guy that can rush the passer – you got a chance to be a difference maker,’’ Ballard said at the time.

Latu understands what’s expected of him and embraces it.

“Every snap I go out there, I’m thinking, ‘They drafted me for this moment,’’’ he said after the game. “Being the first defensive player off the board, I hold myself to a certain standard. Every time I go out there, I want to prove what they brought me here for.’’

A byproduct of that is adding commemorative footballs.

“I would say I collect things for sure,’’ he said. “I mean, it’s definitely valuable.’’

The sack is tangible evidence Latu is providing immediate impact. But there’s more.

According to Next Gen Stats, he has 10 pressures, third among rookies even though he’s still being worked into a heavier load in the d-line rotation. He’s been on the field for roughly 40% of the defensive snaps.

Pro Football Focus has Latu No. 25 among all edge rushers, the best ranking by a Colt. Paye is No. 47.

“I’d say I’m getting more accustomed to the speed out there,’’ Latu said.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley has been impressed with Latu’s maturity and analytical approach.

“The play that he had in the game, we’ve seen that happen in practice,’’ he said. “So, it was cool to see. I think for him, too, to have a game-changing play, like that was big. He’s been very consistent, a guy that we can count on.’’

You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51 .

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