The Indianapolis Colts are bracing for a challenging 2025 season, facing several high-profile quarterbacks, including Trevor Lawrence, CJ Stroud, and Kyler Murray.
Strengthening the Secondary
To counter these formidable offenses, Colts General Manager Chris Ballard has made significant moves to bolster the team’s secondary:
- Free Agent Signings:
- Cam Bynum
- Charvarius Ward
- Veteran Addition:
- Corey Ballentine
- Draft Pick:
- Justin Walley (top 100 pick)
Ballard is optimistic about the new defensive backfield, stating, "I think we’ve got some good pieces in place." However, he acknowledges that it is still early in the process of building a strong secondary.
Defensive Strategy
New defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo plans to implement designed pressures to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. His strategy relies heavily on the secondary, often utilizing DB-heavy personnel groupings to match the offenses’ personnel. This approach is particularly evident on third downs, where defensive backs are needed to cover receivers instead of linebackers covering tight ends.
Anarumo noted, "This approach may help improve our pass rush performance after ranking near the bottom of the league last season due to frequent attacks from opponents targeting our weak secondary via quick passes."
Aggressive Defense
Anarumo believes that by applying pressure through designed pressures and blitzes from linebackers or safeties, the team can compensate for any potential weaknesses in downfield coverage. He also thinks that his defense can be more aggressive without sacrificing too much against run-heavy teams like Houston or Tennessee.
Concerns About Long-Term Effectiveness
Despite the optimism, not everyone is convinced that this strategy will work long-term for the Colts’ pass rushers. Historically, they have struggled as edge defenders, often being asked to blitz and drop into coverage, which has hindered their ability to produce consistently. Notable players like Grover Stewart, who was one of three interior linemen selected as first-team All-Pro last season, face these challenges.
Conclusion
While it remains unclear whether Lou Anarumo’s plan will yield immediate results, there is reason to believe it could lead to better outcomes than what Colts fans experienced during previous seasons under Matt Eberflus. Eberflus’ defenses consistently ranked among the worst in the league, despite having talented players, including elite pass-rusher Shaquille Leonard, whose performance was significantly impacted by injuries.
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