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):
Some good insight from Colts DC Lou Anarumo on the revamped secondary.
Says they plan to deploy some lesser-used personnel groups (like dime packages) more often. Could be a staple.
“The days of putting LBs on tight ends is not ideal for the defense (anymore),” he said.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) May 7, 2025
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 cornerback Charvarius Ward—with returnees such as projected starter Jaylon Jones, as well as Samuel Womack III and former 2nd rounder JuJu Brents also in the mix:
Here’s my explanation: If you’re going to go DIME and bring in a 6th DB, you have to decide whether that DB is a Safety or a Corner. Most of the time it’s a 4th corner.
When Lou gets into Dime he typically does it from man alignments (size on size, speed on speed), he might not…
— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) May 7, 2025