The Indianapolis Colts are hoping a fresh start on defense helps everyone involved.
New defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo travels a state over after six seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals DC. Following a down season in Cincy, the 58-year-old can once again prove he’s one of the top defensive minds. His arrival also provides a new lease for Colts players who struggled through the 2024 season.
“Sometimes a fresh start with a coach, for players, is a good thing,” he said Thursday, via The Associated Press. “I know how we’ll carry ourselves as coaches and we’ll ask these guys to be consistent as players. They’ve got to expect the same thing from us. My standard is I’m going to be a truth teller. It’s my job to say ‘Yes, you’re doing it right,’ or ‘No, you’re doing it wrong.'”
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Colts coach Shane Steichen kept Gus Bradley on the staff after being hired in 2023, but the defense never turned around. In three years, the Colts never ranked better than 24th in points allowed or 15th in yards. In 2024, Indy ranked 24th in rush yards allowed and 26th in passing yards.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner noted earlier this year that there were times it seemed that “ego” got in the way.
Anarumo believes he can help ward off those feelings moving forward.
“Good players, great players, want to be coached, they want to know the truth,” Anarumo said. “If they don’t, then there’s probably a little bit of an issue there, but the best ones I’ve ever been around say, ‘Coach me, coach me hard, tell me what you want.'”