Lou Anarumo - Defensive Coordinator, colts Event: Media Availability | Date: 2026-09-08 | Full transcript (primary source).
On September 8, 2026, Lou Anarumo addressed the media during a press conference for the Colts, discussing the team's defensive strategies and player evaluations as they prepare for the upcoming season. Anarumo highlighted the importance of containing opposing quarterbacks and shared insights on the progress of specific players during training camp.
Transcript
Anarumo: Yeah, I think it's gonna be a rotation of guys. As I've mentioned in the past, we'll probably see JC and Akim out there, potentially early with the combination of the rest of the guys ready to go in different jobs and different roles from the beginning.
Anarumo: Well, we still have a week of practice, so I want to make sure that we're still evaluating all the way up through till Friday, so we'll see how it goes. But JC's done a great job. Coach Betcher's done a great job to answer your question, getting him to advance where he's at and has made some plays in camp and practice, so really, really feel good in where he's trajectory is heading.
Anarumo: Everything. He's such a dynamic player. He's hurt us when I was with the Bengals a number of different ways, certainly with his legs, but he can really throw the football. People that say anything otherwise are incorrect. I mean, the guy is a great runner of the ball, but he's also an accurate passer and sees everything and he's hard to tackle. That's the thing. You can have him kind of dead to rights in the pocket and then he somehow gets out. That's just what he does. You can say it like every other defense plans. You wanna keep him in the pocket, contain him, but that's easier said than done. So eliminating his scramble yards is gonna be key. Keeping his overall explosive numbers both in the run game and in the pass came down. That's gonna be the key to success, but anybody that's probably headed to the Hall of Fame pretty quickly, there's a reason why and Lamar can hurt you both ways, both running and throwing.
Anarumo: Well, as you mentioned, I think Tyler does a great job for us obviously, but Mark Andrews has been there forever. In my mind, another potential first ballot guy who can just get open, especially in the red area, him and Lamar are very, very similar to Mahomes and Kelsey, I put those guys up in the same area where they may have a route called, but Mark may see space and so does Lamar and he throws it to him. Those guys work together that way and when the play develops, it may not be drawn up exactly the way the coaches want it, but it ends up as a touchdown because those two saw something during the play. That's different level stuff that happens with the opponent next week and it certainly is gonna happen with this weekend with Mark and Lamar. Those guys are on the same page that way. So it just adds the pressure of the inside pass game and the different routes that they can run and kind of get matched up on safeties and linebackers and stuff like that.
Anarumo: It seems that way. He's obviously takes great care of himself and that shows in how he plays and how he prepares. Such great respect for those guys. Even we played them when I was at the Bengals a bunch at Tennessee as well and it just seemed like we're playing them every year and he's the first thing you have to stop. If he gets going, it can become a long day.
Anarumo: I mean, I think week one always provides different challenges. You're not real sure what you're gonna get. Certainly when it's a new coordinator, first time play caller, he's been in the league a long time though. Knows a lot of football, been surrounded by a ton of great coaches in his career. So sure, I'm sure he'll be like we all were our first time calling a game, a little anxious but once the game gets going, I'm sure he'll be in his rhythm and calling plays the way he sees. But I just think it's no different than any other week one where you're kind of preparing for a lot of different things and see how the game plays out and then once they settle into okay, this is what their plan was, then hopefully we can decide on what if our plan going in was good or do we have to tweak it along the way.
Anarumo: Yeah, I think he's had really, really good work the last few weeks and Buck's up and running and can't wait to watch him out there on Sunday.
Anarumo: Well, it starts, I think to me, like any great player off the field, he's as good of a player is, as good as a man that Cam Bynum is. And he's always working to do different things in terms of off the field charity events and things, even in his home country, in the off season. Great family man is in here preparing like no other. So, he really puts pride into every single aspect of his life and it shows up that way. And it's no surprise to me that he was voted captain and he's done a fantastic job with the play calling. So I'm not worried about that one bit.
Anarumo: Well, I just think it shows up when the ball is out in space and how quick you can close to the ball. I think that that's gonna be something that you'll see, hopefully that our guys are balls checked down to a back and how fast do we respond, things like that. And it's gonna be a learning curve for these young guys, but I'm anxious like everybody to go out there and watch them play. It won't be because of a lack of effort from all of us, but certainly those guys have really put in the time of that group in particular. And all of our coaches have done a great job this training camp, preparing their groups and being ready to play. And I think that it will be on display on Sunday.
Anarumo: Yeah, well, I mean, he's had great practices. He doesn't, he's a guy that's a little bit older than his years would say. He doesn't flinch, he doesn't get rattled. He welcomes all of the different challenges that'll come his way, both playing inside and outside. So, you know, it's hard to get that guy's feathers ruffled. And I think that certainly at that position, you better be that way because it's not always going to go your way. So he has a next play mentality, which I love about him. He's smart, he's tough. And I'm not worried about Justin Volley.
Anarumo: All right, thanks everybody.