Anthony Richardson starts: It's Shane Steichen's call
https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...l/70166820007/
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INDIANAPOLIS — From the sounds of it, Colts owner Jim Irsay is in lockstep with new head coach Shane Steichen on the best way to develop the team’s new franchise quarterback.
Anthony Richardson has to play.
Maybe right away.
While there are a lot of draft analysts and experts who have spent the draft process saying that Richardson needed time to sit behind an experienced starter and develop, Irsay believes a rookie should play as soon as he’s ready.
“I think it’s important,” Irsay said. “You get better by playing. Training camp, and preseason games, and being in the quarterback room, that’s all great, but you get better by playing, and it’s something that’s really important, because again, his development has so much to do with the franchise’s future.”
Irsay said he’d leave the decision up to Steichen, who didn’t rule out the possibility of Richardson playing right away after the pick was made Thursday night.
“It’s going to be Shane’s call, if (Richardson’s) ready to start the opening game,” Irsay said. “These guys gotta play to get better. Everyone knows that.
A rookie quarterback starting the season opener is not the norm in the NFL. Only 10 of the 29 quarterbacks taken in the first round over the past decade ended up taking the field as the season-opening starter.
But Irsay’s history with first-round quarterbacks is different.
Peyton Manning played right away, struggling through his rookie season in Indianapolis. Andrew Luck took the Colts back to the playoffs.
Richardson isn’t as polished a prospect as the two Indianapolis legends were. The No. 4 pick started just 13 games at Florida, and general manager Chris Ballard made it clear Thursday night that the Colts chose Richardson because of his incredible potential.
“We like what he can be,” Ballard said.
Irsay understands. As excited as he is about the possibilities Richardson brings, Irsay knows developing the new Colts quarterback is going to take patience.
“With Anthony, it’s definitely more of a gamble at (No. 4) than (No. 1) than Peyton was,” Irsay said. “They all had some things we had to talk about, in terms of concerns, and I really felt Anthony was the guy. A big part of it was, Shane and I had a long talk about ‘What does it take to develop a pure passer?’”
Steichen took Irsay through the work he’d done on Richardson, outlining the plays he’d seen on tape that suggested Richardson could improve his accuracy and efficiency in the passing game.
The presence of Steichen is also one of the reasons Irsay and the Colts believe that Richardson might be able to play faster than everybody else expects. Steichen rose through the coaching ranks quickly because of his ability to work with young quarterbacks, highlighting their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses while they develop.
If Richardson plays right away as a rookie, the Colts likely will not ask him to carry the offense alone.
“You hope so, that Shane’s going to create an offense, simplify things,” Irsay said. “Jonathan Taylor coming back is a huge plus, because of the double threat of their speed. Both of them are unprecedented players at their position, in terms of size, speed, what they can do.”
Richardson’s rushing ability could help him get on the field faster. Because of his ability to pick up yards with his legs, the Colts can design an offense around that, the way Steichen designed the Eagles offense for Jalen Hurts in his first full year as a starter in 2021.
“We’re hoping to create the perfect storm with him, and Jonathan Taylor, and that offensive line,” Irsay said.
Irsay also believes that Richardson has the right mental makeup to deal with the pressure of playing right away as the No. 4 pick. Manning had it; the best player in Colts history struggled through a 3-13 season as a rookie, the kind of season that could shake almost anybody’s confidence.
Richardson, who won’t turn 21 until next month, has already been through disappointment like that, failing to produce the results most people expected at Florida, in part because of the roster and the coaching staff around him.
“You can just see, in his eyes, when you look in his eye, what kind of man he is,” Irsay said. “He’s up to the task, mature beyond his years.”
Richardson is going to have to be.
Irsay understands that. As excited as he is about Richardson’s potential, the Colts owner preached patience to the Indianapolis fan base.
“I have to imagine, if he plays the whole season, it’s going to be tough,” Irsay said. “It’s going to be more difficult than easy.”
But Irsay believes that throwing Richardson into the fire is the right thing to do.
Richardson’s lack of experience was the biggest knock on his draft stock. The only way to correct that is to give him the game experience he lacks, and the Colts are willing to go through some lumps early to help Richardson reach his ceiling.
“Him developing into an outstanding quarterback in this league is going to determine where we go, how far we go and how long we go,” Irsay said. “Everything’s going to be based around that. That’s going to be the primary reason for starting him opening day, is you get better by playing.”
As quickly as possible.
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