Bachie spent four seasons in Cincinnati with Anarumo.
‘He can help everybody’: Lou Anarumo talks Joe Bachie’s impact on Colts defense originally appeared on The Sporting News
New Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo brought Joe Bachie to Indianapolis for a reason.
As Indianapolis moves from Gus Bradley’s defense to Anarumo’s more exotic, complex scheme, the former Bengals defensive coordinator expects Bachie to aid in the transition.
“He can help everybody,” Anarumo said about Bachie, who he spent four seasons with in Cincinnati. “He settles everybody down if there’s a particular check. He knows it, he’s been here, he’s done that…when he’s out there things are settled down.”
Bachie, 27, signed with the Colts on May 7 after a solid stint with the Bengals, where he logged 46 total tackles and a pass defended.
Given his familiarity with Anarumo’s defense, there’s a certain expectation on him to help insert the new defense. That extra weight gives him an advantage in the competition for the second linebacker spot starting next to Zaire Franklin.
Anarumo said that spot is up for grabs, adding several players will get their shot.
“We like to play a lot of players,” Anarumo said. “We’ll see how that whole thing shakes out.”
The Colts updated unofficial depth chart lists Bachie as the backup MIKE linebacker behind Franklin, with Cam McGrone the starting backer on the weak side, followed by second-year Jaylon Carlies, Austin Ajiake and Segun Olubi.
Anarumo calls his linebackers a “great group” and is intrigued by what they can bring this season. Still, Bachie appears to have the right traits.
“He plays with great awareness, he’s got really good football IQ, so he’s kind of ahead of the play, ahead of the game. When you’re like that you’re able to make plays.”
Category: Football
