The Indianapolis Colts are hiring Lou Anarumo to be their new defensive coordinator.
Previously, Anarumo was the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019-2024. He will now be tasked with turning a Colts’ defense around that has ranked in the bottom-third of the NFL in scoring the last three seasons.
Let’s take a look at four things to know about the Colts’ new defensive play-caller.
A background in the secondary
Before becoming an NFL defensive coordinator, Anarumo’s background is rooted in the secondary. This is, as general manger Chris Ballard said, a position group for the Colts that has to improve.
The Colts’ secondary in 2024 allowed 7.6 yards per pass attempt–the fifth-most in football–and showcasing both the efficiency and big play ability that opposing quarterbacks had against this unit.
Now, to state the obvious, Ballard adding to this position group in free agency or with an early round pick can certainly help. But part of the turnaround is going to have to come with improved play from the players already on the roster.
The ‘Mad Scientist’
During his time with the Bengals, Anarumo was affectionately referred to as the ‘Mad Scientist.’ This was in reference to his ability to be flexible as a defensive coordinator, drawing up a wide variety of game-plans based on the opponent along disguising those defensive looks as well.
Also a part of that equation was Anarumo’s ability to mold his scheme to the strengths and skill-sets of the defenders he had on his roster.
It sounds simple to make those week-to-week adjustments based on the opponent or to not ask a player to fill a certain role just because that’s what your defense does, but that isn’t always common practice around the NFL. Rigidity hurts a lot of teams, including the Colts under Gus Bradley.
A more aggressive defense
Anarumo’s defenses don’t rank at the top of the NFL in blitz rate like Wink Martindale’s did–another coach that the Colts interviewed for this role–but they are much more aggressive than Bradley’s were.
Under Bradley, the Colts typically ranked near the bottom of the NFL in blitz rate, but the Bengals in 2024 were 12th in that category. In 2023, they ranked 14th.
The name of the game is getting after the quarterback and in instances when the pass rush isn’t getting home, the play-caller may have to help manufacture some pressures. This past year, the Colts ranked 26th in sacks and 22nd in pressure rate as a defense.
Bengals had a top defense during their Super Bowl run
During the 2022 NFL season when the Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl and were on the cusp of winning it all, Anarumo had orchestrated one of the game’s top defenses that season.
Over the course of that year, the Bengals ranked fifth in scoring defense, which included them being particularly good against the run, finishing fifth in yards per carry allowed.
