Over the years, in his time in both Cincinnati with the Bengals and now the Colts, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has been one of Patrick Mahomes very few bugaboos in the NFL. Mahomes always has trouble dealing with the scheme that Anarumo deploys against him, largely due to the fact that it's always a little different, and Anarumo tailors it to each specific game.
The Chiefs' three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback will be tasked with facing Anarumo once again, but this time he finally has a running game to help take the pressure off. Which is something that the Colts' defense will have to game plan around.
While I do expect another heavy workload for Kenneth Walker III and a bushel of touches for rookie back Emmett Johnson, it would be nice for the passing offense to begin to find its footing after a quiet day at the office versus the Denver Broncos in Week 1.
And for Mahomes, one weakness that Anarumo cannot scheme himself out of is the lackluster talent at Indy's linebacker position. For Andy Reid, perhaps hitting huge deep shots down the field is not yet in the cards for the offense, given the limited time Mahomes will be given in the pocket without left tackle Josh Simmons in the fold. But letting the QB slice the Colts up over the second level of the field is something Mahomes has always been elite at.
Mahomes may have an inside track on solving the puzzle that is Lou Anarumo's defense in Week 2, and it starts with his own superpower
According to NextGen Stats, on passes that Lamar Jackson attempted for 6-to-15 yards from the line of scrimmage, he completed 11-of-13 attempts, along with a touchdown. That doesn't even account for the yards after the catch the Ravens were able to accumulate after securing the football.
All due respect to Jackson as well, but Mahomes is the better pre-snap and post-snap processor, and simply one of the more gifted throwers of his era. He still has Travis Kelce at his disposal over the middle of the field, as well as Rashee Rice, who makes a living off of yards after the catch on slants, mesh routes, and short in-breakers.
Attacking the middle of the field through the air should also pair seamlessly with a running game that gets defenders on their toes and bite up close to the line, allowing for more space to roam in the second level.
The Colts' starting linebackers, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Bryce Boettcher, both failed to record a single pass break-up in Week 1 and, even worse, each of them allowed a 100% completion percentage when in coverage. Sure, they are fine tacklers when they read the play well, but they have trouble moving in space.
Despite Kelce's old age, and perhaps a not fully healthy Rashee Rice, I would expect two players of their caliber to find themselves open quite often not far from where Mahomes is looking. And I have no doubt that while the knee still might limit Mahomes either mentally or physically when on the move, he can still plant his feet, create a strong base, and fire the ball from the pocket with the best of them.
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