ESPN's Dan Orlovsky says naming Anthony Richardson as Colts starting QB is the right

[JAFF]

Well, now I feel better

Time will tell if naming Colts rookie Anthony Richardson the starting quarterback is the right decision, but the fourth overall draft pick already has a fan in ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky.

This week while making an appearance on "NFL Live," Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback, believed naming Richardson as the starter was the right now. Orlovsky said he doesn't believe the Colts will be contenders this year, so it would be a good idea to get Richardson experience now.

"Let's get him on the field because the only way for him to gain experience is to actually play," Orlovsky said. "Do not be San Francisco and Trey Lance. That's part of this conversation. No. 2, figure out what he is, what he's good at, what he struggles with, what do we have to get around him for the future. That is going to be another part of that."


Orlovsky wondered how often the Colts would have Richardson run the ball. The analyst brought up fellow quarterbacks Josh Allen of the Bills, Lamar Jackson of the Ravens and Jalen Hurts of the Eagles as examples of how often they ran in their first full season as a starter.


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Jackson had the most carries at 176, while Hurts logged 139 rushing attempts and Allen 109.

"So how many times are they going to utilize him as a runner?" Orlovsky asked. "I would think it falls somewhere along the Jalen Hurts model knowing that Shane Steichen's there. Having that is going to expedite his learning curve. The biggest challenge is how mentally is he ready for those tough moments and those struggle moments and how much are his teammates ready to kind of carry him along that journey."