The Indianapolis Colts had been eyeing rookie linebacker CJ Allen for a bigger role right away, but that part of the plan is already on hold.
Allen was brought in with the idea that he could step into the spot once held by longtime captain Zaire Franklin, who was traded to the Green Bay Packers. There was even a path for the rookie to become the defense’s green dot, the player relaying Lou Anarumo’s calls and keeping everyone lined up.
That job will go to Cam Bynum instead.
Bynum confirmed Thursday, just hours before Indianapolis opened its preseason against the New England Patriots, that he’ll handle the communication duties for Anarumo’s defense. Allen has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and that has played a part in the decision.
Speaking with reporters, as tweeted by The Athletic 's James Boyd, Bynum said, " If it’s a deep ball and I gotta run back to the huddle, that’s probably the most challenging thing (about being the green dot). But it’s a fun thing to be able to be looked at by (DC Lou Anarumo), for him to trust me, to be the green dot, to be the main mode of conversation coming from the sideline, and communication for the defense...I know I can do really well at it."
For Indianapolis, this is the cleaner choice. A rookie can have all the football instincts in the world and still need time to adjust to the NFL’s speed. Adding the responsibility of relaying the defense only makes that climb steeper, and Allen doesn’t need that extra layer right now.
Even if he had spent the full camp working without interruption, the issue would still be there, just not as sharply. More reps would have helped him get comfortable with what the Colts want defensively and with the pace of a strong Indianapolis offense across from him in practice. Instead, he simply hasn’t had enough work.
Anarumo has done this before. When he was with the Cincinnati Bengals, safety Vonn Bell handled the communication duties on his defense, so the setup is familiar to the coordinator. Bynum has enough experience to take on the role without it being a leap.
That doesn’t mean Allen is shut out of the job forever. An inside linebacker can make sense as the green dot because he sits in the middle of the field and sees the action unfold. And as Bynum noted, he also isn’t sprinting back from deep coverage to get everyone set.
For now, though, the Colts can let Allen focus on his own assignments instead of carrying the full weight of the defense’s communication. That should make his first season easier to manage and give him a better chance to settle in quickly.
The expectations for the second-round pick remain the same. Indianapolis and its fans still want him to become the player who can help them move on from Zaire Franklin, and they believe he has the athleticism and run-stuffing ability to do it. He just won’t be making the calls at the start.
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