Preparing for a new opponent is challenging enough in Week 1. Preparing for a defense led by Lou Anarumo can make the task even more complicated. The Baltimore Ravens will open the season Sunday against anIndianapolis Colts team whose defensive coordinator is one of the NFL's most respected coaching minds.
Anarumo built a reputation during his years with the Cincinnati Bengals for disguising intentions, creating confusion, and forcing quarterbacks to think twice after the snap.
As Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle studies Indianapolis this week, those same qualities remain at the forefront of his preparation. Every defensive coordinator has tendencies. Some rely heavily on pressure. Others prefer to sit back in coverage and force offenses
to be patient. According to Doyle, Anarumo is much harder to categorize.
Lou Anarumo's unpredictable nature has earned Declan Doyle's respect
Declan Doyle spoke with reporters on Wednesday. Baltimore's first-year offensive coordinator described the Colts defensive play-caller as someone who constantly keeps offenses guessing.
"I have a ton of respect for [Colts defensive coordinator] Lou [Anarumo] and the way he calls the game. He does a really good job of mixing it up on you. He's not a sitting duck by any means. He provides a lot of different challenges in protection — base down and third downs. He is one of those guys, like there are certain play-callers in the NFL that are a little bit more – you know what pitch they're hitting, and they play it really well. There are other guys that are kind of these agents of chaos that are going to throw a lot at you."
That unpredictability affects nearly every aspect of offensive preparation. Rather than repeatedly leaning on a small collection of favorite calls, Anarumo has developed a reputation for attacking offenses from multiple angles. Doyle offered perhaps the most memorable description of the Colts defensive leader when discussing how he approaches game day.
"He does a pretty good job of being that way and being able to kind of try to keep you off-balance and attack you. It's very similar to how we try to attack defenses. So, from that standpoint, I have a lot of respect for the way he does it."
A familiar challenge for the Ravens
Doyle's words paint a clear picture of the challenge awaiting Baltimore's offense. The good news for the Ravens is that they see a similar philosophy every day in practice. Doyle noted that Anarumo's approach mirrors many of the same principles Baltimore embraces defensively. The Ravens have long been known for disguising coverages, presenting different looks before the snap and forcing quarterbacks to identify pressure on the fly.
That familiarity doesn't eliminate the challenge, but it does provide a level of preparation few teams have. Week 1 will still require adjustments. The Ravens are debuting a new offense, while the Colts are looking to create confusion and capitalize on mistakes.Anarumo has expressed the challenges of defending Lamar Jackson. Doyle clearly respects what Anarumo brings to the table.
Doyle and the Ravens know what awaits. If the Ravens are going to leave Indianapolis with a victory, they may need to solve one of the league's most unpredictable defensive play-callers in the process.
The encouraging part for Baltimore is that Weaver's comments weren't rooted in concern. They were rooted in reality. Every new offense experiences moments of adjustment, regardless of talent. The Ravens believe they have the players, coaches, and quarterback to navigate those moments successfully. Beginning Sunday against Indianapolis, they'll finally get their first chance to see how quickly that process can happen when the results start counting.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Declan Doyle is preparing Ravens for Lou Anarumo's unpredictable defense
