Latest news with #Anarumo
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lou Anarumo on Charvarius Ward, Cam Bynum and Indianapolis Colts' new-look secondary
Lou Anarumo on Charvarius Ward, Cam Bynum and Indianapolis Colts' new-look secondary Lou Anarumo recently highlighted what the additions of Cam Bynum and Charvarius Ward can bring to the Cotls' new-look secondary. The additions of cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts' defense provide the secondary with proven high-level players as well as flexibility for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Ward is just one year removed from an All-Pro performance in 2023, where he allowed a completion rate of just 54% and came away with five interceptions and a whopping 17 pass breakups, per PFF. Ward is comfortable covering a variety of wide receiver skill sets and working on an island. Depending on the opponent and what the matchup dictates, Anarumo has said that he is comfortable with having Ward follow the opposing top wide receiver over the course of a game. "He's been a really good player," said Anarumo of Ward. "A really consistent corner in our league for a long time. He can matchup on the best receivers, he's got length, he guards bigger guys but he's quick enough to handle short, faster guys, and he's a good tackler. He's a full package, for sure." Bynum brings a ball-hawking presence to the back end of the Colts' defense. This includes tallying seven interceptions and 13 pass breakups over the last three seasons. Along with that production, his versatility allows for Anarumo to move him around the formation and disguise coverages, which is an important element of this defensive scheme. "Another guy that's got a bunch of different skill sets that can help us," Anarumo said of Bynum. "He started out as a corner, so he's got some coverage ability. He's always been able to take the ball away. He's been a consistent tackler. He's super smart. He's played in a few systems, so he has a good feel for a little bit of everything, just in terms of not one particular defense." In addition to what Ward and Bynum bring on the field, both bring winning experience to a Colts team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2020. Bynum has playoff experience from his time in Minnesota, while Ward has appeared in two Super Bowls over his career, winning one of them when he was with Kansas City. With Bynum and Ward now in the mix, along with having Kenny Moore, Nick Cross, and Jaylon Jones all returning, the Colts have some valuable experience now in their secondary after what had been a relatively inexperienced group in past seasons. Having that experienced presence could prove to be vital, especially in a defense where the ability to adjust on the fly is a key factor in how Anarumo operates. "It's great," Anarumo said of the experience on the secondary. "They've seen the fastballs, they've seen the curveballs, it's not like they're going to be starstruck when they get out there. Things are going to change throughout games, and we're going to have to adjust as the game goes along. You always have good plans that you think are going to work well, and then all of a sudden, there's something that you have to adjust to. Having guys like that, veteran guys, just makes it that much easier."
Indianapolis Star
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
How Colts rookie Justin Walley can become the player Lou Anarumo has been asking for
INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Walley knew he was a wildcard in this year's NFL Draft. A cornerback from the Big Ten Conference with 42 career starts who could run a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds typically goes high. But one who would work out in a cast and measured less than 5-foot-11 might not. He figured he could go anywhere between the second and sixth rounds. Most teams need cornerbacks, especially one who can play inside or outside. But the Colts were not the most obvious fit -- not with a Pro Bowler in Kenny Moore II manning the nickel, with Jaylon Jones as the breakout seventh-round pick at outside cornerback, with All-Pro Charvarius Ward here to man the other outside spot and with more obvious starting needs elsewhere. So, the fact that they took Walley at No. 80 overall in the third round told him something. "It means a lot," Walley said. "We have a lot of guys in the room who have a lot of experience. A lot of good players in the room. To still decide to take me in the third round is a blessing. To have the mind to know they think that much of me will help me out a lot." But what was not the most obvious fit did turn out to be perhaps the most natural. Walley's family erupted with him at the news. Soon, he was viewing a text from a cousin named Donte Moncrief, who was also drafted by the Colts in the third round back in 2014 and caught 152 passes and 18 touchdowns while playing primarily with Andrew Luck. Members of his family just broke out the Colts gear they used to wear during Moncrief's games. And time has since shown him glimpses into why Indianapolis drafted this cornerback who didn't seem to fit its pressing needs or what it typically drafts at the position. Whereas the Colts spent last season hoping and praying they wouldn't run out of playable cornerbacks, the approach has flipped on its head under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. "It's been a matchup league," Anarumo said. "Certainly, if the offense puts out a certain personnel group, you want to be able to match up with what they're doing. Especially on third down. The days, to me, of putting linebackers on tight ends is not ideal for the defense. "So, you always want to get a bigger, longer athlete that maybe can run a little bit DB mindset. So more DBs out there in pure passing situations I think is something that we've always tried to do and will continue to do.' GO DEEPER: Tyler Warren, trench warfare and some curveballs: How Colts' 2025 draft class came to be. The Walley selection, combined with the choice to not draft a linebacker with any of their eight picks, highlights this shift in mentality. Whereas former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley mixed base and nickel defenses and played cornerbacks to a physical archetype to either press on the outside or live in the slot for heavy doses of Cover-3, Anarumo has a more diverse and less stringent system. It's the same system he rode to two AFC Championship Game appearances, where his group stymied Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen by mixing pre- and post-snap pictures based on what this high number of diverse skill sets could do. Anarumo became available this offseason after he lost some of the players who made that secondary hum such as All-Pro safety Jessie Bates and cornerbacks Mike Hilton and Chidobe Awuzie, and his Bengals defense fell apart even with NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson. For the Colts, signing Ward and Camryn Bynum to premium free agent deals were the first steps in finding solutions here. Drafting Walley was the next. "Really it's the ability to play man and the ability to tackle," assistant general manager Ed Dodds said. "You're going to see more man defense, and (Walley) can do that. We played a lot more Cover-3 before; those guys had people underneath them helping them. You're just going to see a lot more man defense. "We may line up with four corners, we may line up at three – a lot more multiple as far as personnel groups.' Still, outlining where exactly Walley will play as a rookie is challenging. Ward and Moore have positions locked down, and Jones has solidified himself as a durable No. 2 option. Walley offers an inverted skill set to Jones, so it's possible he could see reps in certain matchups on the outside. But he'll also compete with 2023 second-round pick JuJu Brents for the No. 3 outside role. That's where the dime packages offer some options, as does the chance to back up Moore in the slot. It'll be a learning year nonetheless. And that's where learning from Moore made this a fit that made more sense than it initially appeared. "Kenny is one of the guys I grew up watching. I modeled my game after him," Walley said. "There aren't too many guys under 5-10 in the league, and he's one who is sticking. If you're sticking in the league for a long time, you do something right. Then you watch his tape, and he's doing a lot of things right. So I'm excited to pick his brain and see what he knows and see if he can teach me a couple things. "Hopefully he doesn't get too tired of me."
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Colts DC Lou Anarumo highlights Charvarius Ward's fit with defense
Colts DC Lou Anarumo highlights Charvarius Ward's fit with defense Indianapolis Colts' defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo recently described what Charvarius Ward adds to the defense and his fit within the scheme. Indianapolis Colts' defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo recently described what Charvarius Ward adds to the defense and his fit within the scheme. "You got a corner that's been a proven guy throughout his career," Anarumo said. "Tall, can really run, he's got length, great arm length. Excels in press coverage, we want to be tight in coverage as we defend people this year. He has done a great job of that in his career and also taking the ball away." Anarumo would also dissect some plays from Ward last season, and along with the description above, he also noted Ward's playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, along with his vision and awareness, which puts him in a position to make plays on the ball. You can find the full breakdown from Anarumo here. Over his career, Ward has totaled 10 interceptions and 70 pass deflections. He also brings a winning background to the Colts' defense, having won a Super Bowl with Kansas City in 2019 and having appeared in another in 2023 with San Francisco. Ward was an All-Pro during the 2023 season, where he allowed a completion rate of only 54% and had a whopping five interceptions and 17 pass breakups, according to PFF. Ward's ability to be left on an island, play press coverage, and operate from a variety of alignments is going to be quite valuable when it comes to getting the most out of Anarumo's scheme.
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Which Colts' free agent signing was named a 'favorite' move by PFF?
Which Colts' free agent signing was named a 'favorite' move by PFF? Following the first wave of NFL free agency, what was Pro Football Focus' favorite free agent move for the Indianapolis Colts? Following the first wave of NFL free agency, what was Pro Football Focus' favorite free agent move for the Indianapolis Colts? Unlike last offseason, there are actual options to consider this year for the Colts after GM Chris Ballard made two splash signings on the first day of the NFL's legal tampering period, signing Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum. But when it comes to what Mason Cameron of PFF thought, he thought the Ward signing was the Colts' best move. "Ward profiles well in new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's zone scheme and should boost this coverage unit while playing alongside Kenny Moore and new signing Camryn Bynum," wrote Cameron. Ward is just one year removed from being an All Pro, but going beyond the production and accolades, Ward should be a really good fit for Lou Anarumo's scheme. In this more aggressive system under Anarumo, Ward's ability to be left on an island and play press coverage is going to be quite valuable when it comes to getting the most out of this scheme. In a defense where versatility, aggressiveness, and the ability to disguise coverages will all be more vital elements with Anarumo at the helm, Ward can fill the do-it-all role as needed. 'I can press, I can tackle, I can play off, I can travel with the best receivers,' Ward said. 'I feel like I can do it all as a corner. My game is versatile. I just feel like I'm a CB No. 1 – a great cornerback.' GM Chris Ballard said after the 2024 season that the play in the secondary had to improve. Since then, he has prioritized bolstering that unit, which includes signing Ward and Bynum, bringing in Corey Ballentine for experienced depth, and hiring Anarumo, whose coaching background is rooted in the defensive backfield, not to mention that his secondaries in Cincinnati were often productive.
USA Today
22-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Colts DE Laiatu Latu going through offseason pass rush drills
Watch as Indianapolis Colts' defensive end Laiatu Latu goes through some offseason pass rush drills in preparation for his second NFL season. Easy mover • @laiatu_latu NFL off-season Sac State edition — Coach Ed (@DlineCoachEd) February 14, 2025 Latu was the 15th overall pick in last year's draft by the Colts and the first defender taken off the board. He finished his rookie year with 38 pressures, according to PFF, which was the second-most on the Colts' defense, and he totaled four sacks. We also saw Latu improve as a run defender as the season progressed. When it comes to being a productive pass rusher, consistently winning your one-on-ones is crucial. Although Latu's numbers on the surface won't leap off the page, he did rank 27th out of all defensive ends last season in pass rush win rate, which can be a good indicator of long-term success. Oftentimes in a player's second NFL season we seem them make the biggest jump. For one, they have a full offseason to work on their craft rather than going through the pre-draft process. In addition to that, there is growth that often occurs from the just the added comfort that comes with having a season under your belt and knowing how to go about your days and adjusting to the play speed. A Year 2 leap for Latu will be important for the Colts' defensive front, especially if Dayo Odeyingbo signs elsewhere in free agency. As the Colts leading pressure getter last season, that's a lot of production that will have to be replaced. Among the topics covered during new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's introductory press conference last month was Latu, who Anarumo said he was a big fan of coming out of the draft. Anarumo has spent the last several seasons working with Cincinnati pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.
