A needed change for the Indianapolis Colts’ defense has been on display early on in training camp.
A needed change for the Indianapolis Colts’ defense has been on display early on in training camp: the defensive backs are making a lot of plays on the football.
Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan wrote in his Day 2 training camp notebook that the Colts‘ defense has been “active” when it comes to contesting catches with “several pass breakups.”
The Colts’ pass defense last season generated 16 interceptions, which was tied for the fifth-most in the NFL. To state the obvious, interceptions are great. However, when it comes to consistency in coverage, pass breakups are a big part of that equation.
In that regard, the Colts finished with 57 last season, and that ranked 29th. Indianapolis also gave up the second-highest completion rate to opposing quarterbacks of any team as well.
To remedy this, GM Chris Ballard brought in Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum, two players with strong ball production in their careers. But not to be overlooked, either, is the addition of Lou Anarumo, who brings a more aggressive and disguise-heavy approach to the Colts’ secondary.
“We’re facing a lot of tight coverage out there,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said via Colts.com. “At receiver, they’re pressing up, they’re running tightly with our receivers, which makes the quarterbacks really have to deliver the ball exactly where they want to, because a lot of times that DB is right in position to make a play if you don’t throw the ball accurately. It’s been really good from that standpoint.”
The stickier coverage on the back end can, in turn, provide the Colts’ pass rush with a boost. All it takes is an extra split second or any hesitation from the quarterback for the pass rush to get home.