Is Laiatu Latu an elite pass rusher already?

The Colts rookie pass rusher has emerged as a menace to opposing Quarterbacks over recent weeks? Has the rookie already entered the elite stratosphere?

Over the last 2 weeks of the season, the rookie pass rusher from UCLA has been special.

Finishing top 3-7 among all edge rushers in PFF Grade, Pass Rush Grade, Pass Rush Win Rate, and Sacks is impressive. While his 2 week pressure total at 8 is Tied 11th in that span, it is on just 51 pass rush snaps, 26th most in the last 2 weeks.

Latu is winning his matchup, consistently and with a big impact. So far in his career, half of his sacks have been strip sacks, helping to end the game vs the Bears with a strip sack and most recently knocking the ball out of Jared Goff’s hands.

Latu’s recent success isn’t just a promising rookie beating teams with porous Tackles and slow release QBs. He won vs fellow rookie Olu Fashanu and veteran Morgan Moses with the Jets, then followed it up with a strong performance against the best Offensive Line in the NFL: the Detroit Lions. The Lions have two bookend franchise Tackles with Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell, and the former Bruin still had a sensational game against the stout duo of pass protecters. The QBs he brought down, veterans Aaron Rodgers and Jared Goff, rank 3rd and 15th in the NFL in Time To Throw, showing quick and decisive triggers in the pocket.

He isn’t just a situational rusher either, as Latu ranks Tied 20th in Run Defense grade over the last 2 weeks with Micah Parsons.

Could this recent success be a sign of things to come with the young pass rusher? Time will tell, but Latu hitting his stride as a pass rusher and winning reps with his vast array of moves and counters could be a big factor in the Colts Defense going forward.