Indianapolis Colts rookie linebacker CJ Allen is competing more for reps than originally thought, and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo explains why.
The Indianapolis Colts overhauled their linebacker corps this offseason, parting with veterans Zaire Franklin, Germaine Pratt, and Segun Olubi and topping the facelift with rookie second-round draft pick CJ Allen, fellow draftee Bryce Boettcher, and veteran free agent Akeem Davis-Gaither.
The Colts were ecstatic to get Allen, providing their immediate plans for him on draft night.
"We've liked CJ through the whole process," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said. "He stands for all the right stuff. He's an athletic, fast MIKE. He'll be a green-dot guy for us from the get-go."
As careful as Ballard is about anointing young players before they've established themselves, his excitement about Allen raised expectations.
Allen's rookie summer began with a little hiccup, as a groin injury suffered the week before training camp kept him out of the first two practices. However, he missed five more practices later with a hamstring injury, preventing him from competing in the Colts' joint practice and preseason matchup with the New England Patriots.
Allen returned for the final three practices of training camp last week, which included two joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons, before making his preseason debut on Saturday against Atlanta at Lucas Oil Stadium.
When Allen returned, coaches brought him along slowly rather than throwing him into the fire. Not only are the Colts not trying to overload him physically with reps or mentally with the green-dot duties (the player who communicates with coaches before plays through an in-helmet headset), but Allen isn't running exclusively with the first-team defense as originally thought.
While Allen is still getting some reps with the top defense, he's also seen quite a few with the second unit.
“Well, I think it's hard. I think going into the game the other day, he only had 17 reps so far in training camp," Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo explained to reporters about Allen's limited role. "So yes, it's something that the more healthy he gets, the more reps he gets, he’s only going to get better. So, I think nobody wants to do it more. It means so much to him. And like I said, the more he gets himself ready and healthy, the more he'll play. And he'll be just fine.”
On Saturday against the Falcons, Allen and Boettcher alternated drives with veterans Austin Ajiake and Jaylon Carlies, who started the game. Even when Allen is healthy and caught up in the defense, rotations and substitutions will continue, though maybe not to the same degree.
“Yeah, I just think overall at that position, we're going to play a lot of guys at linebacker this year, at least to start the season, and CJ is going to be right in the thick of it," Anarumo said. "So, has his development been delayed? Sure. He just hasn’t been out there in order to take the reps. So, now that he's back and playing, his time will continue to increase.”
On Saturday, Allen saw 20 snaps on defense and was credited with three tackles. All three were "stops," which Pro Football Focus describes as "tackles that constitute a 'failure' for the offense."
So, what's the plan to get Allen up to speed and into the role the Colts originally envisioned for him? It's to continue providing reps and (hopefully) stay healthy.
“Well, I think anytime you're dealing with young players, I think if they can focus in maybe on a role, a job, and then once they master that, we can continue to move on and add some more on their plate," Anarumo said. "But I think it's smart from my seat to maybe not overload anybody when we've got some guys – multiple guys at the position that can do certain jobs.
"So, I think as the season goes on, maybe the amount of time that each guy plays maybe stays the same. Maybe it gets cut down because somebody stepped up, but I think it's smart on our end early to give some jobs and some roles and let the guys master those, and then we move on from there.”
The Colts conclude the preseason this Saturday at home against the Detroit Lions before the regular season begins on Sept. 13 against the Baltimore Ravens, also at Lucas Oil Stadium.
