The Colts have decided that Camryn Bynum will no longer serve as their primary play caller. This change came after a season-opening defeat against Baltimore revealed problems with communication, and the announcement was made Wednesday.
The free safety who wore the green dot — the helmet transmitter carrying the defensive call — during Sunday’s game will no longer hold that responsibility. The decision follows an admission by Bynum that the role was too demanding for a player who spends most of his time deep in coverage.
Bynum’s Admission
For much of training camp, Bynum carried the green dot. Anarumo selected him for the job when linebacker CJ Allen, the second-round pick chosen to be a starter, was ruled out as an every-down player early in camp.
The pace of a game day in the NFL caused issues. Baltimore’s offense moved quickly, adding still more strain on Bynum to keep up with the tempo. There were also side effects that nobody expected.
The distance Bynum plays from the line of scrimmage is too great for him to handle the responsibility on his own. He explained the strain in plain terms.
“There were a few scenarios where it’s a deep ball, I’m playing post safety and I’m running to the ball, it’s an incomplete pass and I’ve got to run back to the huddle,” Bynum said. “I’m not saying it’s not possible, but if the offense is on the ball quick and I’m coming back from afar, I’m running back to the huddle listening to the call and trying to get it back. … I think it’s really good for a linebacker to do it. I think it’ll help the defense play a lot better this week.”
The Role’s Limits
Anarumo believed that naming the free safety as the primary play-caller would not cause much trouble. With a defensive back’s instincts, Anarumo frequently offers advice to the safeties between plays, and he found it appealing to speak directly to Bynum.
The job itself revealed a weakness. Bynum serves as the main play caller for the secondary, and having to get the call to the front seven took away his chance to properly judge what the Ravens were attempting.
“Pre-snap, my biggest worry was making sure I get the call,” Bynum said. “Normally, my worry is I can hear the call, but I can see the offense leaving the huddle, but for me (to do it), my back is to the offense, and having to get the call to the guys, then run back 15 yards deep where I’m playing post or quarters or have the deep half. There’s reasons the linebackers normally have the job.”
The decision to give Bynum the responsibility proved to be a grave error, one that cost Indianapolis dearly on Sunday.
Davis-Gaither’s Track Record
Sunday’s game saw Isaiah Davis-Gaither play 94% of the defensive snaps, and he now looks set to remain the starter for the near term. The Colts initially sought a linebacker for the position, and Davis-Gaither stands as their top choice at this point in time.
Davis-Gaither knows the position well. He worked the green dot during his final season in Cincinnati, managing it through four or five games, and he has also run it in practice sessions.
“I did it four or five games my last year in Cincinnati, and of course, I’ve done it in practice,” Davis-Gaither said. “I’m comfortable with it.”
This veteran linebacker has a deep understanding of the defense, and he developed that knowledge during the first five seasons of his career, which were spent under Anarumo in Cincinnati.
The report stated that “When Anarumo begins his play call, Davis-Gaither almost always knows exactly what he’s calling, based on the down, distance and the team’s game plan that week,”.
“I could probably go up and give presentations on it,” Davis-Gaither said. “I know it pretty well. I don’t have to do a lot of studying of the playbook, I can lock in on offenses, be ahead of that and help teach guys.”
The Linebacker Situation
The question before the Colts concerns who should begin at linebacker. Davis-Gaither looks settled in the middle, yet the contest around him persists.
Allen has yet to play a down this season after sitting out the season opener. Two other linebackers who saw action on Sunday, Jaylon Carlies and Bryce Boettcher, are battling for the starting spot at weak-side linebacker.
Ajiake came back to practice following a hamstring injury, and even though he plays the middle, he has served as the team’s strong-side linebacker in three-linebacker sets over the past two seasons.
The situation is fluid, and Davis-Gaither’s role expands as a result.
The Home Crowd Factor
Just one year after earning his first shot at starting in Arizona, Davis-Gaither will be given a fresh opportunity to show that he deserves another full season as the starter.
Davis-Gaither expects to feel right at home when he steps onto the field at Arrowhead on Sunday.
The road setting itself works in his favor, since it provides an actual boost to defensive communication. That makes his green-dot debut all the more fitting, especially given how much harder it is to coordinate on the road.
“It’s definitely going to be easier than it was in a home game,” Davis-Gaither said. “Our crowd’s getting pumped up, trying to throw off their offense, so the communication should be a lot better. Guys getting to their checks and things like that should be a lot calmer, because it’s going to be quieter.”
The Colts need everything on defense to be calm this week.
What Changed
A linebacker now carries the green dot for the Colts, and the team’s choice followed a discernible order.
- Indianapolis drafted CJ Allen in the second round to be a starter
- Early in camp, it became clear Allen wouldn’t be ready to be an every-down starter right away
- Anarumo looked for answers, settling on Bynum after strong safety Vonn Bell wore the green dot for a while in Cincinnati
- Bynum wore the green dot for most of training camp but struggled with the speed of an NFL game day
- Baltimore’s offense rushed its tempo, straining Bynum’s ability to communicate with the front seven
- Davis-Gaither appears to be the best option at the moment, having played 94% of the defensive snaps Sunday
Wednesday brought the announcement, and since then the team has proceeded with Davis-Gaither in the position.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.