The first year of the Lou Anarumo experience was a mixed bag. The Indianapolis Colts were elite against the run but struggled mightily against the pass, largely because they couldn't put pressure on the quarterback.
Their pass-rushing unit went through a major overhaul in the offseason, with Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye leaving and Tyquan Lewis still unsigned. On paper, that should leave the door open for Jaylahn Tuimoloau to take a leap in year two, but that may not necessarily be the case.
The Colts also brought in a veteran pass rusher in Arden Key, who's already more than familiar with the AFC South after playing for the Tennessee Titans. And, as pointed out by ESPN's Ben Solak, Shane Steichen has a big decision to make about his pass-rushing unit.
JT Tuimoloau has to be better for the Indianapolis Colts
"Tuimoloau was far less impactful in limited action than the Colts would have hoped, so Key was signed to fill out the rotation. The starting job is in desperate need of a splash player, as the Colts will be relying heavily on their line to cover for what will be inexperienced linebacker and safety rooms," wrote Solak.
For most of the pre-draft process, Tuimoloau looked like a late-first-round pick. Getting him in the second round felt like a steal, which is also why it was so disappointing to see him take the field for just 215 defensive snaps.
He finished his rookie season with a grand total of 17 tackles (six solo), one tackle for loss, and one QB hit in 13 appearances, with an oblique injury costing him some time in December. Granted, he was stuck behind multiple veterans, and perhaps the team wanted to take things slowly with him, but given how much that unit struggled, failing to get on the field raised major concerns about his upside.
That said, he wouldn't be the first player to have struggled as a rookie. While he's never been known for his bend or athleticism, his ability to contain the run and man-handle slimmer tackles made him a must-watch at Ohio State. That potential is still there.
As for Key, he's not a superstar by any means, and the team will probably be better off having him rotate off the bench, but he's a productive plug-and-play guy. He's amassed 30.5 sacks as a fill-in starter, and he's also better than the average edge rusher against the run.
The Colts might be desperate to take a leap in pressuring the passer, which means they may not want to be patient with Tuimoloau. But all things considered, if he cannot beat Key and be the clear-cut starter opposite Laiatu Latu out of training camp, this team may have to start thinking about a backup plan and finding another headhunter before the trade deadline.
They already rolled the dice on George Gumbs Jr., but he's raw and is still learning the ropes of the position. Still, the fact that they used a draft pick on another pass rusher speaks volumes about how they truly feel about their former second-rounder.
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