Linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts Grant Stuart was a man on a mission last Sunday. Start at the place of the injured EJ speed (then move to a larger position in nickel packaging once Jaylon Carlies left the game), Stuard collected 18 tackles and made numerous big plays in the Colts’ Week 7 victory.
Stuard was an absolute animal in run defense this outing, flying around the field and playing on almost every offensive snap for the Miami Dolphins. His 18 tackle day was the third-highest tackle total in a game by a Colts player since 1984 and the most since Shaquille Leonard hit 19 in 2019.
This performance from Stuard may not be on par with the greats like Ray Lewis or Luke Kuechly, but it brings back fond memories of old-school energizer bunny types like Mike Peterson once was in Indianapolis. Stuard’s brand of linebacker may be a dying breed in the NFL, but his performance on Sunday reminded me (and many others) of what NFL games are like.
Shane Steichen praised the veteran linebacker after his career-best performance, saying Stuard can be “an example for the entire NFL.”
“The way he goes about his business, the way he trains is like nothing I’ve ever seen. It’s all happening at 100 miles an hour, and he finishes every exercise. And to go out and have the performance he did on defense – 18 and then I want to say he had 23 reps on special teams It could have been more The guy works and there is no secret to success when you. works as hard as a guy like him at one point.”
“And so you have the opportunity to come in and make plays, and that’s what he did. I mean, he flies around the field all day long. He was the player of the game for us on defense. It’s very special to see – His story and everything that happened to him and his life, and the way he played that game and got that opportunity, it was special.
Grant Stuard reminds me of a simpler time when linebackers like this were the norm. Bring back tackling machines that throw their bodies in every play pic.twitter.com/BhDqnA9tHc
-Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) October 21, 2024
Stuard may not be an ever-present player for the Colts moving forward, but there’s just something beautiful in football when a special teams ace gets the chance to shine on defense. In a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Stuard, he made the most of it and helped propel the Colts to victory against the run-dominant Dolphins.
Regardless of Stuard’s future in Indianapolis and the NFL, this game was certainly a joy to watch as a fan of the game.
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