Stampede Blue
The Colts are looking to better defend the passing game, which means less linebackers and more defensive backs within their coverage packages.
New Indianapolis Colts veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo met with members of the local media on Wednesday and divulged some tidbits on his more modernized defense that he’s bringing over from the Cincinnati Bengals (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder):
As the NFL has become more and more of a passing league, defenses continue to deploy more nickel and dime coverage looks—essentially subbing out what ordinarily would be the third or second linebacker for an extra defensive back(s) to better match up in coverage.
It also explains why so far this offseason, the Colts have taken a pretty laissez-faire approach to addressing their linebacking corps, which outside of reigning NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro Zaire Franklin still has some remaining question marks.
2nd-year linebacker Jaylon Carlies excelled in coverage as a subpackage linebacker last year, playing alongside Franklin and since departed linebacker E.J. Speed, and could be poised for a much larger role as the 2nd-level defender predominantly receiving the snaps next to Franklin.
It also better explains why despite the arguably glaring hole, the Colts bypassed linebacker nearly all together in this year’s past draft, aside from 7th round pick Hunter Wohler, who’s a converted collegiate safety from Wisconsin.
Instead, it was an undersized cornerback, Justin Walley, that the Colts surprisingly selected in the 3rd round, when many thought it would assuredly be a linebacker. Walley provides the Colts more flexibility in their secondary and another defensive back to deploy out there.
If nothing else, it gives the Colts more options in what was already a revamped secondary after the key free agent additions of both safety Cam Bynum and corner Charvarius Ward:
