Where is AR on the depth chart?
 

I was reading something by Stephen Holder over on ESPN, and he said this:

“Then came a very interesting development: Even while Steichen was stating publicly that Richardson's vision would prevent him from returning to the field in 2025, Richardson rejoined the scout-team offense and was making notable plays in practice.

According to multiple sources, Richardson performed impressively during those late-season practice opportunities, leading the scout-team offense on touchdown drives against the Colts' starting defense. Some of the throws he made were characterized as elite, according to teammates, showing little indication that his eye injury was a limiting factor.”

I know that a lot of people like Riley Leonard, but AR has a much higher ceiling. Assuming that he’s still around in camp, and if the progress he’s shown isn’t an illusion, Richardson should win any positional battle with Riley.

That’s not to say that Anthony has a long term future here, but Richardson brings freakish skill to the table.

I would assume QB2 at the moment. Probably has a chance to win the backup job back from Riley Leonard.

Holder was just on the radio detailing that Steichen has such a firm belief in his system that it is basically go out and do what he says to do and it will succeed. Said Leonard is clearly viewed as a guy that can play that role whereas AR is not.

Basically said what most of us on here have concluded, Steichen doesn't see him as his type of QB.

So Stiechen believes it is him and his system that wins games even though he hasn't ever won anything. Can't modify your system to take advantage of whomever you put on the field? I actually like coaches who can be flexible, beginning to dislike Steichen. If this is true then they didn't take a raw QB and try to develop HIS skills and make him into the best version of himself he could be; they tried to mold him into the version of QB Steichen has in his head whether it fit the man or not. It obviously didn't. They had zero business drafting AR.

I'm thinking DJ will not quite be ready when the season begins, and that AR will get the nod.

I am 100% with you on this. That is why I was so heated about the Philip thing. It certainly appears to me that Steichen is too prone to his own hubris obfuscating reality. With AR, I think he was willing to "try" to do it a different way at the outset- he was doing to great things on the ground and in improv passing, but once the injuries happened he was probably like "nope, all I need is a guy who just executes exactly what I tell him to do". And, given what we saw to start the year last year, there's some merit to that. Conversely, we also witnessed a diabolical collapse where that very simple "go execute what I say" approach, was not sufficient to win games.

I’m not sure that Steichen had many options after Jones went down. Riley Leonard was a rookie with a banged up knee, and Richardson was sidelined with his latest injury.

By the time week 14 rolls around, there are no easy solutions left when looking for a Quarterback. Names like Sam Ehlinger, Taylor Heinecke, Trevor Simien, Ryan Tannehill, and Herndon Hooker were all objects of speculation.

Slim pickings.

Part of the problem is that, week 14 is too late in the year for a coach to contemplate changing offensive schemes…in other words, he’s jiggered. The Colts turned to Rivers simply because he knew the system.

As far as criticism that Steichen is some doctrinaire martinet, inflexible and insistent that a QB fit into his system rather than designing a system tailored to his unique skills…

Since being promoted to Quarterbacks Coach, through jobs as Offensive Coordinator, then Head Coach, Steichen has successfully coached Philip Rivers, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Anthony Richardson, and Daniel Jones. Five Quarterbacks, five different skill sets.

Besides, what are we saying about Steichen’s desire at the position? He wants someone smart, who knows how to study and prepare. Someone who’s an accurate passer with good anticipation and who’s adept at mastering and executing an Offense. Someone with enough mobility to operate in a new age in which a Quarterback can no longer set up five yards deep in the pocket and do his best imitation of a statue. A leader.

My guess is that if you were to ask 31 other head coaches, all of them are looking for the same things.

I suppose that you might argue that, with Richardson, he tried to drive the proverbial round peg into a square hole. I never saw much evidence of that, and injuries, historically poor accuracy, and a casual attitude towards preparation pretty much conspired against getting any real sense of AR’s ability and how well he was working within the scheme.

I agree Steichen had no other options once AR broke his orbital bone. I have no first person knowledge but from what I glean from reading and listening Steichen almost seems to have written AR off. I don't get that.