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From the sounds of it, new defensive tackle Colby Wooden will take on a different role with the Indianapolis Colts than what he had played previously.
During the 2025 season with the Packers, Wooden was the primary nose tackle, despite being quite undersized in that 290 to 300-pound range.
The Colts won't be asking Wooden to do that within their defense.
"Last year I played out of position a little bit," Wooden said, via Colts.com. "Obviously, I was the nose, but that's not my normal position. So for me to be, for coach to come get me and told me that I'm going to be playing in a scheme that fits me better and I'll be doing something that I know how to do."
Although in a bit of a different role last season and not the same size as many who provide a run-stuffing presence, Wooden was effective, ranking 38th out of 146 defensive tackles in PFF's run-stop rate metric.
As a pass rusher, he generated only 14 pressures. However, that wasn't his job either. As a nose tackle, that player is often tasked with taking up space and eating up blocks to clog up the middle and create opportunities for others. That player often isn't going to fill the stat sheet.
However, in Indianapolis, Wooden is going to have more opportunities to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback.
"I won't be playing nose, I don't think," Wooden added. "I feel like I'm going to be playing that three, a little bit of that four, anywhere from three to five. That three-to-five technique, which I love. That's where I came out of college playing for most of my life. It's kind of getting me back to playing ball, attacking more, rather than playing that 0 and squatting."
Wooden joins a Colts' defensive tackle position that features DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. He will fill a rotational role with Adetomiwa Adebawore. The Colts also signed Derrick Nnadi in free agency, a run-stuffing presence inside.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: How will Colts utilize new DT Colby Wooden?
Continue reading...
During the 2025 season with the Packers, Wooden was the primary nose tackle, despite being quite undersized in that 290 to 300-pound range.
The Colts won't be asking Wooden to do that within their defense.
"Last year I played out of position a little bit," Wooden said, via Colts.com. "Obviously, I was the nose, but that's not my normal position. So for me to be, for coach to come get me and told me that I'm going to be playing in a scheme that fits me better and I'll be doing something that I know how to do."
Although in a bit of a different role last season and not the same size as many who provide a run-stuffing presence, Wooden was effective, ranking 38th out of 146 defensive tackles in PFF's run-stop rate metric.
As a pass rusher, he generated only 14 pressures. However, that wasn't his job either. As a nose tackle, that player is often tasked with taking up space and eating up blocks to clog up the middle and create opportunities for others. That player often isn't going to fill the stat sheet.
However, in Indianapolis, Wooden is going to have more opportunities to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback.
"I won't be playing nose, I don't think," Wooden added. "I feel like I'm going to be playing that three, a little bit of that four, anywhere from three to five. That three-to-five technique, which I love. That's where I came out of college playing for most of my life. It's kind of getting me back to playing ball, attacking more, rather than playing that 0 and squatting."
Wooden joins a Colts' defensive tackle position that features DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. He will fill a rotational role with Adetomiwa Adebawore. The Colts also signed Derrick Nnadi in free agency, a run-stuffing presence inside.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: How will Colts utilize new DT Colby Wooden?
Continue reading...
