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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Colts' DC Lou Anarumo reveals plan at linebacker for 2025 season
The linebacker position is one where there are a number of questions for the Indianapolis Colts entering the 2025 season. Who will be starting next to Zaire Franklin? How does the depth chart shake out? How many linebackers do the Colts roster, and who makes the team? The assumption for much of the offseason was that Jaylon Carlies would start next to Franklin this season. But, from the sounds of it, Lou Anarumo will deploy more of a by-committee approach when it comes to who is lining up next to Franklin. "We've got a great group there," Lou Anarumo said of the linebacker position. "I'm excited about all of them. I'm excited about the way they run around--Cam, Double-A, obviously Z just working back into it. JC once he gets back. We like to play a lot of players, and we will. So we'll see how things all shakes out but I'm very excited about that group." One of the hallmarks of Anarumo's defense is his flexibility to adjust his defensive scheme based on who the opponent is. So, perhaps depending on what the matchup dictates, will determine who sees the most playing time next to Franklin in a given week. Last season in Cincinnati, the Bengals' third linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, still saw over 500 defensive snaps in Anarumo's defense, according to PFF. While it was assumed that Jaylon Carlies would be starting next to Franklin this season, he has been working through injuries. Austin Ajiake and Cameron McGrone have seen their share of opportunities this summer, as has Joe Bachie. Bachie, in particular, has steadily made plays this summer, which included coming away with an interception in the preseason opener against Baltimore. Having played the last few seasons in Cincinnati under Anarumo, he's hit the ground running in this new Colts' defensive scheme. "I just think Joe knows it so well," Anarumo said of his defense. "He can help, as you mentioned, everybody. Settles everybody down. If there's a particular check, he already knows it. He's been there, he's done that in games. So I just think he helps that whole room, for sure. And then when he's out there, I think things are settled down a little bit as the other guys continue to learn it." Also potentially factoring into this equation could be safety Hunter Wohler, who could see box snaps during more obvious passing situations to bring an added coverage element to the linebacker spot. Segun Olubi could be on the outside looking in right now when it comes to making the team. Franklin, Carlies, McGrone, Ajiake, and Bachie already account for five roster spots. Olubi played 21 defensive snaps last season and was a core special teams contributor with nearly 400 snaps across five of the six different phases. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts roster: Lou Anarumo reveals plan at linebacker for 2025 season
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
6 Indianapolis Colts defenders to watch during training camp
Training camp is almost here for the Indianapolis Colts. The rookies will report on July 21st, the veterans on July 22nd, and the first practice will take place on the 23rd. There are always numerous storylines to watch for as camp unfolds, many centered around positional battles. But for now, we will focus our attention on specific players. After highlighting one player at each of the offensive position groups to watch during Colts' training camp, let's now do the same on the defensive side of the football. Defensive end: Laiatu Latu The recipe for Latu to make a Year 2 leap certainly exists. He finished the 2024 season ranked 27th among defensive ends in PFF's pass rush win rate metric, and oftentimes, where there is consistency, the production will follow. He's also now playing in a defensive scheme under Lou Anarumo that should benefit the defensive front with its more aggressive approach and varying alignments. So with that said, you'd like to see signs from Latu over the next several weeks that a big jump this season is on the way. Defensive tackle: Tim Smith Smith is in a position as a sixth-round pick to carve out a role and help right away. The playing time at defensive tackle behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart is up for grabs this summer, and as a run-first defender who has experience playing across multiple gaps, Smith is a good fit for Anarumo's defense and can provide help where it is needed. Linebacker: Jaylon Carlies Carlies is the presumed starter next to Zaire Franklin, and while he impressed as a rookie, showing that he is a sound tackler while also limiting pass catchers to only 6.0 yards per reception, he's still inexperienced as well, with just 242 career snaps on defense. So with that inexperience comes unknowns. As a former college safety, his coverage experience will be valuable in Anarumo's defense. Carlies missed the on-field portion of offseason programs, still recovering from shoulder surgery. Cornerback: Justin Walley Walley grabbed the attention of his teammates and coaches with his play during OTAs and minicamp. He brings excellent speed to the cornerback position, is versatile, and had good ball production in college. He's tailor-made for Anarumo's aggressive and disguise-heavy defense in the secondary and will be competing for playing time opposite of Charvarius Ward. Safety: Rodney Thomas and Hunter Wohler We know Cam Bynum and Nick Cross will be starting at safety, but who will secure that third spot on the depth chart? During Anarumo's time in Cincinnati, he used three safeties on the field relatively often. So whoever earns that spot on the depth chart could play a role defensively this season. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp: 6 players to watch on defense during practices
USA Today
12-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What is Indianapolis Colts biggest remaining need with training camp near?
With training camp almost here, what is the biggest remaining need that the Indianapolis Colts still have? With training camp almost here, and the roster-building of the offseason largely behind us, what is the biggest remaining need that the Indianapolis Colts could still look to fill? Josh Edwards of CBS Sports recently answered this question, and not surprisingly, he selected the linebacker position for the Colts. "Zaire Franklin led the league in tackles last season," wrote Edwards. "In the other starting spot, Jaylon Carlies, who did some good things as a rookie, returns, but little is known about the options around him. If Carlies does not progress or Franklin were to suffer an injury, then performance could go downhill quickly." The Colts are very bullish on second-year linebacker Jaylon Carlies. Last season, when on the field, Carlies proved to be a sound tackler and, as a former college safety, did well at limiting pass-catchers, holding them to just 6.0 yards per catch, per PFF. However, the big unknown here is the inexperience on the depth chart beyond Zaire Franklin. Entering the 2025 season, Carlies' 242 career defensive snaps make him the second-most experienced linebacker on the Colts roster. Helping this unit out should be Lou Anarumo's defensive scheme, where there will be greater reliance on the defensive backs, which can help shoulder the coverage responsibilities, allowing the linebackers to play closer to the line of scrimmage more often. What other positions could the Colts add to? There are two other positions where the Colts could justify making an addition. One is at safety. While we know Nick Cross and Cam Bynum will be the starters, the depth behind those two is fairly inexperienced as well. Although Rodney Thomas has played over 1,700 snaps, he was on the field for fewer than 100 in 2024, and no other players have any NFL experience. An addition here could be particularly valuable given that we are expected to see a lot more three-safety looks under Anarumo. The other position where a move could potentially be made is along the interior offensive line. This doesn't mean that Tanor Bortolini or Matt Goncalves won't start, but having an added veteran presence behind two relatively inexperienced players could be valuable. Do the Colts have enough salary cap space to make a signing? Yes, they do. According to Over the Cap, the Colts have $20.139 million in available cap space, which ranks as the 19th most. While there are still some other cap expenses coming down the road, like assembling the practice squad and making sure there are in-season reserves, it's not as if any addition at this time of the year is going to break the salary cap bank either.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Could Colts injury woes push Bengals into a Germaine Pratt trade?
The Cincinnati Bengals remain highly unlikely to find a trade partner for Germaine Pratt. Pratt, after all, has an $8 million cap hit attached to his trade request from earlier this offseason. Tack on his age, what he put on film last year and how obvious it seems that he won't be back and it feels more like he's headed toward being cut. Advertisement Still, what if a team like the Indianapolis Colts gets desperate? Those Colts now have former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in the same role. But this goes beyond that simple connection. RELATED: Shemar Stewart's contract beef with Bengals revealed in report Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin had ankle surgery and could miss everything up until training camp, if not into it. Jaylon Carlies, another linebacker, continues to work his way back from shoulder surgery, too. Despite these factors and losses in free agency, the Colts didn't draft a linebacker until the seventh round this year. Advertisement So, perhaps this situation lends itself to helping a Pratt trade happen. Perhaps it escalates if Franklin isn't full-go soon or other injuries occur. It would help if the Bengals would be willing to modify any sort of deal to get Pratt out the door. But knowing them, it's probably unlikely they would give up cash in the process. After drafting Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, though, it still feels like the Pratt bridge has burned and collapsed, opening the door for ideas like this. RELATED: Bengals takeaways and thoughts on Jermaine Burton, contract drama This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Could Colts injury woes push Bengals into a Germaine Pratt trade?
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Colts' OTAs: The big question at linebacker
The Indianapolis Colts will begin Phase III of the offseason programs on May 28th, which means the start of voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Rather than only doing individual drills as the Colts have been doing, they will now be permitted to do 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 team drills, although no live contact is allowed. Advertisement So with this important part of the offseason schedule about to begin, I wanted to highlight one big question facing each position group. Up next are the linebackers. Below you can find our previous position previews. Do the Indianapolis Colts have enough depth at linebacker? This was a position where throughout the offseason, I kept waiting for an addition to be made. That didn't mean I was expecting a high-profile addition, but I thought there would be some competition brought in for Jaylon Carlies. However, the only outside additions included signing Joe Bechie after the draft, who has mostly been a special teams player, signing UDFA Solomon DeShields, and perhaps drafting Hunter Wohler, although he is listed on the team site as a defensive back. Advertisement Carlies put together a very solid rookie season as the Colts' third linebacker in their 4-3 scheme at that time, along with making two starts. He was a very reliable tackler and limited YAC in the passing game. As a former college safety, he can add some needed coverage abilities to the position. With that said, Carlies has 242 career defensive snaps. Assuming he can step into a full-time starting role seamlessly comes with some risk. Also, behind him and Zaire Franklin on the depth chart, there is very little defensive experience. 'It's a position we've been pretty good drafting and developing. I give our coaches and scouts a lot of credit for that," GM Chris Ballard said via the Indy Star. "Don't forget now, E.J. Speed, it wasn't like he came on right away. No, it took him a little time. Zaire Franklin did not come on right away. Great special team player but eventually became a linebacker that was a good player." In Lou Anarumo's scheme, we are going to see more blitzing from the linebackers, not to mention there will be more disguising of coverages at the second and third levels. In this defense, there will be a greater reliance on the defensive backs than the linebackers. Advertisement But even so, the Colts are going to enter the 2025 season with question marks at this position--until shown otherwise--given the lack of experience around Franklin. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts' OTAs: Is there enough linebacker depth beyond Zaire Franklin?
