Lou Anarumo has built a long coaching career on knowing what works and staying with it. That steadiness has helped him produce some championship-caliber defenses over the years, and it’s part of why the Indianapolis Colts coordinator has earned the reputation he has. But against Kyler Murray and the Vikings, the Colts may need a different version of Anarumo than the one they’ve usually gotten this season.
If Indianapolis wants a real shot at slowing Minnesota in Week 7, the answer looks obvious: bring pressure.
Murray’s season hasn’t exactly been dominant. Among 38 qualifying quarterbacks, he sits 26th in EPA per play.
Still, he has settled in as the weeks have gone on. Heading into Minnesota’s Week 6 bye, he was inside the league’s top half in EPA per play, success rate and completion rate, and he’s started to look more comfortable in Kevin O’Connell’s offense while getting his top targets more involved.
The problem for the Vikings is that Murray has a very clear weak spot, and it shows up when defenses send extra rushers. Against the blitz, he has been one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks.
That’s not a one-game quirk, either. In 2024, his last full season as a starter, he finished 38th out of 39 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per play versus six or more pass rushers.
That should be the Colts’ opening.
The catch is that Indianapolis has not exactly lived in the blitz this year. The Colts rank 30th in blitz rate at 21.5%, and the pass rush has struggled because of it. They own the league’s lowest pressure rate, which has left opposing quarterbacks too much comfort from clean pockets.
Anarumo may never turn into Brian Flores, whom the Colts offense will face this week, but this is the kind of matchup that calls for a break from habit. If he leans into the blitz enough to bother Murray, it could be the difference between rescuing the Colts’ season and watching them fall to 2-5.
In Other News...
Jonathan Taylor Knows What A 2-4 Colts Team Still Needs Most
With the Colts sitting at 2-4 and headed into a meeting with the Vikings, Jonathan Taylor is keeping the conversation where he wants it: on the field and on helping Indianapolis steady itself. The running back has been one of the teams bright spots early in the 2025 season, giving the offense a reliable centerpiece while the roster works to climb back into the mix.
Trade speculation can follow any productive player on a struggling team, but Taylor is not entertaining that noise as the season unfolds. He said his attention stays on winning with the Colts and doing right by the people around him, a stance that fits the urgency of a team trying to turn close attention into actual results. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Puts Colts In Tough Spot With Off-Field Trouble
Anthony Richardsons latest off-field issue has put the Colts in an uncomfortable place as they try to keep their focus on football. The quarterback was involved in a traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana, and the team said it is gathering more information after learning of the situation.
The legal process now hangs over the next stretch for Richardson and the organization, with a bench trial set for January 4, 2027. For a Colts team trying to build around its young quarterback, the incident adds another layer of uncertainty at a position where stability matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Get Encouraging Injury Shift Before Sundays Big Test
The injury picture around Sundays Colts-Vikings matchup brightened on Thursday, with both teams showing some encouraging movement in practice. Indianapolis had several players move up from Wednesdays report, a useful sign at this stage of the week as the Colts continue getting ready for a high-profile test.
Minnesota also checked a positive box, with every Vikings player dealing with an injury taking a full practice after being limited the day before. For the Colts, the bigger takeaway is the healthier direction the roster is trending as game day approaches, even if the final availability picture is still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]