Crowded position groups are just one of the problems the Indianapolis Colts will need to solve during training camp, especially some key defense groups. While fewer players are battling for specific positions at linebacker and on the defensive line, it's a different situation at cornerback and safety.
At cornerback, six players will be battling for roster spots behind Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner, although Justin Walley, who is among those six players, is the likeliest to be a lock for the slot/nickel spot. That leaves Cam Taylor-Britt, Mekhi Blackmon, Cameron Mitchell, Johnathan Edwards, and Jaylon Jones all in the fight.
If that's not a crowded room, what is? The Colts' situation at safety is similar, but it's helped by a rookie expected to start alongside Cam Bynum. What the Colts do at safety will either resemble Lou Anarumo's plan from last season or go in a different direction. One of those directions will affect two players significantly.Â
Lou Anarumo's "good" problem at safety puts pressure on two specific Indianapolis Colts players
Anarumo has specific preferences when it comes to his defenses. At safety in particular, the veteran defensive coordinator demands high versatility from his safeties. Going back to his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Anarumo has always relied heavily on his safeties.
Some of his best years coordinating a defense came with Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell, who were both the perfect type of "Anarumo" players.
Since arriving in Indianapolis, Anarumo hasn't changed and still has a focus on his safeties. Last season, the Colts went with four. Whether Anarumo stays with that number for this season remains to be seen. In any case, the one good problem he'll have to solve is that he'll have no shortage of good to very good options.Â
Aside from Cam Bynum, there are no other locks at safety, unless you're part of the majority that believes AJ Haulcey will indeed start in Week 1 with Bynum. Haulcey is likely to start, and the Colts and Anarumo are fairly high on the rookie. At the very least, Haulcey is the favorite.Â
Anarumo's choices continue with second-year player Hunter Wohler, Juanyeh Thomas, and Jonathan Owens. Wohler is that versatile defender Anarumo likes so much, and he's a perfect hybrid player, but he's also coming off an injury last year.Â
The biggest position battle at safety will happen between the veterans, Owens and Thomas. If Bynum, Haulcey, and Wohler are the favorites to land the first three safety spots, and the Colts run it back with a four-player room, either Owens or Thomas is out, presumably.Â
Both players bring a lot of value to that position, and their experience would be an asset, especially with Haulcey now in the picture. Anarumo can't go wrong with either, in all fairness, should the Colts run it back with four safeties. It's a good problem for Anarumo to mull over the next few weeks while training camp progresses.Â
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