Why Eberflus succeeded as a DC in Indy

[gimmesix]

I've seen plenty of fans post about the defense's struggles under Eberflus, and rightly so. However, Eberflus was a successful defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, which is what landed him the head coaching job in Chicago.

Eberflus's scheme worked just fine in Indy because he had the players he needed to play it. The first year that he took over he had the Colts at 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and that's before he finished building his defense.

Here's a good article on how he accomplished it there:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indianapolis-colts-finally-built-a-defensive-monster/

Here's an excerpt from it:

“I’m really into pressure with four men and let the defense play,” Reich told SiriusXM at the time. “It’s a little bit of bend-but-don’t-break. It’s a unique coverage that not as many teams run, and the teams that run it don’t run it as well as the pure [Tampa 2] teams.”

Pressuring with four pass-rushers and playing well behind them is exactly what the Colts have done this year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are pressuring opposing quarterbacks on 24.0 percent of dropbacks, ranking 12th in the NFL. Yet they’re blitzing just 19.9 percent of the time, fourth-lowest in the league.

How'd he do that there? It started with trading for DeForest Buckner to be the team's 3-tech. It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line, and a top-notch corner in Xavier Howard understanding and playing well within the scheme.

This doesn't mean Eberflus should be excused for the defensive failings here. You've got to be able to adjust. But if we were going to hire him to be the DC, then we should have given him the players he needed to get the job done. Instead, we gave him cheap knockoffs of the players he needed.

 

[CWR]

I've seen plenty of fans post about the defense's struggles under Eberflus, and rightly so. However, Eberflus was a successful defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, which is what landed him the head coaching job in Chicago.

Eberflus's scheme worked just fine in Indy because he had the players he needed to play it. The first year that he took over he had the Colts at 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and that's before he finished building his defense.

Here's a good article on how he accomplished it there:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indianapolis-colts-finally-built-a-defensive-monster/

Here's an excerpt from it:

“I’m really into pressure with four men and let the defense play,” Reich told SiriusXM at the time. “It’s a little bit of bend-but-don’t-break. It’s a unique coverage that not as many teams run, and the teams that run it don’t run it as well as the pure [Tampa 2] teams.”

Pressuring with four pass-rushers and playing well behind them is exactly what the Colts have done this year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are pressuring opposing quarterbacks on 24.0 percent of dropbacks, ranking 12th in the NFL. Yet they’re blitzing just 19.9 percent of the time, fourth-lowest in the league.

How'd he do that there? It started with trading for DeForest Buckner to be the team's 3-tech. It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line, and a top-notch corner in Xavier Howard understanding and playing well within the scheme.

This doesn't mean Eberflus should be excused for the defensive failings here. You've got to be able to adjust. But if we were going to hire him to be the DC, then we should have given him the players he needed to get the job done. Instead, we gave him cheap knockoffs of the players he needed.

Theres a post on here having us 7th or 8th in pressures.

If we can get our dbs working together and stop the long stuff it would be a massive help.

My fear is still screens and being gutted in the middle of the field because the lbs are trash. Maybe if we play the young guys that changes.

 

[Majic]

I've seen plenty of fans post about the defense's struggles under Eberflus, and rightly so. However, Eberflus was a successful defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, which is what landed him the head coaching job in Chicago.

Eberflus's scheme worked just fine in Indy because he had the players he needed to play it. The first year that he took over he had the Colts at 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and that's before he finished building his defense.

Here's a good article on how he accomplished it there:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indianapolis-colts-finally-built-a-defensive-monster/

Here's an excerpt from it:

“I’m really into pressure with four men and let the defense play,” Reich told SiriusXM at the time. “It’s a little bit of bend-but-don’t-break. It’s a unique coverage that not as many teams run, and the teams that run it don’t run it as well as the pure [Tampa 2] teams.”

Pressuring with four pass-rushers and playing well behind them is exactly what the Colts have done this year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are pressuring opposing quarterbacks on 24.0 percent of dropbacks, ranking 12th in the NFL. Yet they’re blitzing just 19.9 percent of the time, fourth-lowest in the league.

How'd he do that there? It started with trading for DeForest Buckner to be the team's 3-tech. It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line, and a top-notch corner in Xavier Howard understanding and playing well within the scheme.

This doesn't mean Eberflus should be excused for the defensive failings here. You've got to be able to adjust. But if we were going to hire him to be the DC, then we should have given him the players he needed to get the job done. Instead, we gave him cheap knockoffs of the players he needed.

Only 10th or 11th?

It's an average scheme at best. We need a scheme that is more innovative. Not something like this.

 

[thunderpimp91]

Only 10th or 11th?

It's an average scheme at best. We need a scheme that is more innovative. Not something like this.

This is a major reason I struggle to give Eberflus benefit of the doubt after a slow start. Yeah he hasn't exactly had the 2000 Ravens to work with talent wise, but his big achievement is that in 4 years at Colts DC he had two solid years flirting with top 10 units by yards allowed.

Colts defensive rankings by season W/ Eberflus:

2021 - 16th
2020 - 8th
2019 - 16th
2018 - 11th

W/ Chicago

2024 - 27th
2023 - 12th
2022 - 29th

No real signs of progression over time at either of his last two stops either.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Don't take a job with a team that has almost none of the DBs you need for a zone scheme. It's his fault

 

[Hawkeye0202]

It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line

This is where I stop reading coz Eberflus either knew or should have known Sanborn and Murray were NOT top-notch. That's on him ....100%

I think our CBs are fine .......it's the LBers killing us

 

[charron]

A good Middle linebacker makes a world of difference.

 

[Kumala808]

He had players. We have bargain buys at lb and wrong players at safety

 

[DCreppinBoysfan]

Don't take a job with a team that has almost none of the DBs you need for a zone scheme. It's his fault

It’s the gm fault too. Don’t absolve him of any blame. He knew what type of players this defense was made up of. It’s like having Deion and asking to play in a cover 2 scheme to like Ronde Barber. Its stupidity.

It’s akin to asking a Shaq to play for D’Antoni

 

[Kwyn]

I've seen plenty of fans post about the defense's struggles under Eberflus, and rightly so. However, Eberflus was a successful defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, which is what landed him the head coaching job in Chicago.

Eberflus's scheme worked just fine in Indy because he had the players he needed to play it. The first year that he took over he had the Colts at 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and that's before he finished building his defense.

Here's a good article on how he accomplished it there:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indianapolis-colts-finally-built-a-defensive-monster/

Here's an excerpt from it:

“I’m really into pressure with four men and let the defense play,” Reich told SiriusXM at the time. “It’s a little bit of bend-but-don’t-break. It’s a unique coverage that not as many teams run, and the teams that run it don’t run it as well as the pure [Tampa 2] teams.”

Pressuring with four pass-rushers and playing well behind them is exactly what the Colts have done this year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are pressuring opposing quarterbacks on 24.0 percent of dropbacks, ranking 12th in the NFL. Yet they’re blitzing just 19.9 percent of the time, fourth-lowest in the league.

How'd he do that there? It started with trading for DeForest Buckner to be the team's 3-tech. It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line, and a top-notch corner in Xavier Howard understanding and playing well within the scheme.

This doesn't mean Eberflus should be excused for the defensive failings here. You've got to be able to adjust. But if we were going to hire him to be the DC, then we should have given him the players he needed to get the job done. Instead, we gave him cheap knockoffs of the players he needed.

Yeah, imagine if we had an elite edge and weren’t tied for fourth worst in sacks (5).

 

[RonWashington]

I see screen pass on TV I get a sick feeling as I see the RB has nothing but daylight in front of him . The LB play this year is atrocious . McClay the scouts the owner his son pay attention with this draft capital in 26 get a bonafide sideline to sideline LB in one of the top 3 rounds not the bargain basement .

 

[Cowboyny]

I've seen plenty of fans post about the defense's struggles under Eberflus, and rightly so. However, Eberflus was a successful defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, which is what landed him the head coaching job in Chicago.

Eberflus's scheme worked just fine in Indy because he had the players he needed to play it. The first year that he took over he had the Colts at 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and that's before he finished building his defense.

Here's a good article on how he accomplished it there:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indianapolis-colts-finally-built-a-defensive-monster/

Here's an excerpt from it:

“I’m really into pressure with four men and let the defense play,” Reich told SiriusXM at the time. “It’s a little bit of bend-but-don’t-break. It’s a unique coverage that not as many teams run, and the teams that run it don’t run it as well as the pure [Tampa 2] teams.”

Pressuring with four pass-rushers and playing well behind them is exactly what the Colts have done this year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are pressuring opposing quarterbacks on 24.0 percent of dropbacks, ranking 12th in the NFL. Yet they’re blitzing just 19.9 percent of the time, fourth-lowest in the league.

How'd he do that there? It started with trading for DeForest Buckner to be the team's 3-tech. It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line, and a top-notch corner in Xavier Howard understanding and playing well within the scheme.

This doesn't mean Eberflus should be excused for the defensive failings here. You've got to be able to adjust. But if we were going to hire him to be the DC, then we should have given him the players he needed to get the job done. Instead, we gave him cheap knockoffs of the players he needed.

He did ok the parsons trade and had a hand who to bring in this offseason. What is maddening, he is a former lb coach where that is the teams weakest positional group. He also thought sanborn can hold up as a starter, which is soley on him

 

[speedkilz88]

Only 10th or 11th?

It's an average scheme at best. We need a scheme that is more innovative. Not something like this.

That is actually extremely good and that was the first season.

 

[speedkilz88]

I've seen plenty of fans post about the defense's struggles under Eberflus, and rightly so. However, Eberflus was a successful defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, which is what landed him the head coaching job in Chicago.

Eberflus's scheme worked just fine in Indy because he had the players he needed to play it. The first year that he took over he had the Colts at 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and that's before he finished building his defense.

Here's a good article on how he accomplished it there:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indianapolis-colts-finally-built-a-defensive-monster/

Here's an excerpt from it:

“I’m really into pressure with four men and let the defense play,” Reich told SiriusXM at the time. “It’s a little bit of bend-but-don’t-break. It’s a unique coverage that not as many teams run, and the teams that run it don’t run it as well as the pure [Tampa 2] teams.”

Pressuring with four pass-rushers and playing well behind them is exactly what the Colts have done this year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are pressuring opposing quarterbacks on 24.0 percent of dropbacks, ranking 12th in the NFL. Yet they’re blitzing just 19.9 percent of the time, fourth-lowest in the league.

How'd he do that there? It started with trading for DeForest Buckner to be the team's 3-tech. It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line, and a top-notch corner in Xavier Howard understanding and playing well within the scheme.

This doesn't mean Eberflus should be excused for the defensive failings here. You've got to be able to adjust. But if we were going to hire him to be the DC, then we should have given him the players he needed to get the job done. Instead, we gave him cheap knockoffs of the players he needed.

Xavier Howard is a long time Miami CB and became a Colt in 2025.

This was his defense's 1st year (Al Woods was the NT and got hurt early)

DE	93	SHEARD, JABAAL U/NE	97	Muhammad, Al-Quadin W/NO	52	Banogu, Ben 19/2
UT	96	Autry, Denico U/Oak	94	Lewis, Tyquan 18/2	91	Coley, Trevon P/Bal
NT	92	HUNT, MARGUS U/Cin	90	Stewart, Grover 17/4
DE	99	HOUSTON, JUSTIN CC/KC	76	Davis, Carl SF19
SLB	49	Adams, Matthew 18/7	44	Franklin, Zaire 18/7
MLB	50	Walker, Anthony 17/5	58	Okereke, Bobby 19/3
WLB	53	Leonard, Darius 18/2	45	Speed, EJ 19/5
LCB	35	Desir, Pierre W/Sea	34	Ya-Sin, Rock 19/2	39	Tell III, Marvell 19/5
SS	26	Geathers, Clayton 15/4	37	Willis, Khari 19/4
FS	29	Hooker, Malik 17/1	30	Odum, George CF18	42	Milligan, Rolan SF18
RCB	23	Moore II, Kenny W/NE	31	Wilson, Quincy 17/2	47	Taylor, Shakial CF19
NB	34	Ya-Sin, Rock 19/2

 

[exciter]

I've seen plenty of fans post about the defense's struggles under Eberflus, and rightly so. However, Eberflus was a successful defensive coordinator in Indianapolis, which is what landed him the head coaching job in Chicago.

Eberflus's scheme worked just fine in Indy because he had the players he needed to play it. The first year that he took over he had the Colts at 10th in scoring defense and 11th in total defense, and that's before he finished building his defense.

Here's a good article on how he accomplished it there:

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-indianapolis-colts-finally-built-a-defensive-monster/

Here's an excerpt from it:

“I’m really into pressure with four men and let the defense play,” Reich told SiriusXM at the time. “It’s a little bit of bend-but-don’t-break. It’s a unique coverage that not as many teams run, and the teams that run it don’t run it as well as the pure [Tampa 2] teams.”

Pressuring with four pass-rushers and playing well behind them is exactly what the Colts have done this year. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Colts are pressuring opposing quarterbacks on 24.0 percent of dropbacks, ranking 12th in the NFL. Yet they’re blitzing just 19.9 percent of the time, fourth-lowest in the league.

How'd he do that there? It started with trading for DeForest Buckner to be the team's 3-tech. It included having a top-notch linebacker in Darius Leonard making plays behind that line, and a top-notch corner in Xavier Howard understanding and playing well within the scheme.

This doesn't mean Eberflus should be excused for the defensive failings here. You've got to be able to adjust. But if we were going to hire him to be the DC, then we should have given him the players he needed to get the job done. Instead, we gave him cheap knockoffs of the players he needed.

Eberflus took over the Indy DC position in 2018. The trade for Buckner didn’t occur until 2020.
The end of the years starters in 2018 were..
Jabaal Sheard, Al Woods, Denico Autry and Margus Hunt.
2019…
Justin Houston, Grover Stewart, Autry, Sheard!

 

[speedkilz88]

Ourlads' site is being flukey. Now it shows the correct lineup. Al Woods wasn't hurt. I think this is an inferior lineup to the Cowboys.

Defense
DE	93	Sheard, Jabaal U/NE	57	Turay, Kemoko 18/2
NT	99	WOODS, AL CC/Ten	90	Stewart, Grover 17/4
DT	96	Autry, Denico U/Oak	91	Ridgeway, Hassan 16/4
DE	92	HUNT, MARGUS U/Cin	97	Muhammad, Al-Quadin W/NO	94	Lewis, Tyquan 18/2
SLB	49	Adams, Matthew 18/7	44	Franklin, Zaire 18/7
MLB	50	Walker, Anthony 17/5	55	Moore, Skai CF18
WLB	53	Leonard, Darius 18/2	52	Goode, Najee U/Phi
LCB	27	Hairston, Nate 17/5	35	Desir, Pierre W/Sea
SS	26	Geathers, Clayton 15/4	34	MITCHELL, MIKE SF18
FS	29	Hooker, Malik 17/1	30	Odum, George CF18	36	Moore, Corey W/Hou
RCB	23	Moore, Kenny W/NE	31	Wilson, Quincy 17/2	28	Milton, Chris CF16

 

[CATCH17]

I don’t like coaches that can’t adjust to the players they have.

You start drafting worse players too for scheme fit.

 

[speedkilz88]

I don’t like coaches that can’t adjust to the players they have.

You start drafting worse players too for scheme fit.

I think he's shown the ability to adjust in the past. I have no idea why it isn't working now. I also don't understand why he's running 90% zone when in the past he mixed it up quite a bit.

 

[jblaze2004]

Another example of why he was a weird hire. But losing a player like Parson's will hinder any defense but 1 we have drafted and signed MAN cover corners and we had a defensive line who could only really get consistent pressure with one player (Micah Parsons). We see the defense getting gashed and continue to give up big plays and we make zero adjustments. We just continue to run what he wants to run no matter the players. We just stick them in zone and hope for the best. Sanborn is way too slow to be a coverage linebacker btw. He is decent in the run game but in the pass game he is a liability.

 

[Flamma]

Theres a post on here having us 7th or 8th in pressures.

If we can get our dbs working together and stop the long stuff it would be a massive help.

My fear is still screens and being gutted in the middle of the field because the lbs are trash. Maybe if we play the young guys that changes.

That may be the case. The problem is, QBs are getting the ball out quick against us. It's not taking the WRs long at all to get open.

I also find it interesting that he's into getting pressure using 4, and we trade our best pass rusher.

During the press conference after we traded Parsons, didn't they talk about scheming pressure now that Micah is gone? What did they mean by that?