Tag: Anthony Richardson

Colts QB Anthony Richardson among best when pressured in Week 11

Adding to Colts QB Anthony Richardson’s impressive play was that he was among the best in Week 11 at dealing with pressure from the defense.

In addition to Anthony Richardson’s overall stellar performance on Sunday in the Indianapolis Colts’ Week 11 win over the Jets, he was very good when under pressure.

According to Pro Football Focus, Richardson was under pressure on 43.8 percent of his dropbacks, which was the fourth-highest rate in Week 11. However, on his 12 pass attempts when under duress, Richardson would complete nine of those passes for 145 yards. That’s a hefty average of 12.1 yards per attempt.

Completion percentage-wise when under pressure, Richardson ranked fourth this week among quarterbacks. His 145 yards ranked third, and his 12.1 yards per attempt was sixth-best.

Prior to this game, Richardson had struggled when facing pressure. His completion rate was at just 35 percent, the lowest of any quarterback in the NFL. Richardson also averaged just 6.8 yards per attempt with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

So what contributed to Richardson’s stark turnaround when facing pressure?

Richardson’s ability to extend plays is obviously important, but as Dusty Evely wrote about in his latest edition of the ‘Colts Passing Chronicles,’ I think we can look at some the factors that led to Richardson’s overall improved play.

Evely notes that Richardson’s play within the timing of the offense was much better this week. This starts with more rhythmic footwork, helping him, one, have a solid base to throw from, but also helps him go through his progressions and the sequencing of the play with proper timing.

Then, generally speaking, there was also just a greater command and control of the offense, which when pressure hits, allows Richardson to get rid of the ball quickly, knowing where to go and where his outlets options in the passing game are going to be located.

So you add all of that up, and when pressure hits, there is no hesitation–the ball just came out and on target.

This performance when under duress is just another example of what made Richardson’s performance on Sunday so impressive. He didn’t just fill the stat sheet, but in critical moments, whether that be under pressure, in the red zone, or when trailing in the fourth quarter, Richardson was excellent.

Anthony Richardson makes a big splash in his return to the Colts lineup

Anthony Richardson makes a big splash in his return to the Colts lineup after being benched for Joe Flacco

The 4th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson made a serious comeback for the Colts this last weekend after previously being benched just three weeks ago. Richardson made a great first step in ensuring he remains the starter for the rest of the season with a big-time signature win over the New York Jets.

 

It goes without saying that Richardson looked much improved for the entirety of the contest against the New York Jets. With 20 completions on 30 attempts, netting 272 passing yards and a touchdown, Richardson was as efficient as he has been to this point in his career. Richardson, of course, also added to his stat line with his elite rushing abilities, posting 2 more touchdowns, including the game-winner in the 4th quarter.

This was a much-needed rebound for the young signal caller, who was the second first-round quarterback from his class, to experience a benching and then a swift resurgence. It’s likely Richardson will be the starter moving forward, and if he keeps his level of play equal to what he showed today, the Colts can be confident in their quarterback moving into the future.

WATCH: Colts QB Anthony Richardson scores on physical touchdown run

Watch as Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson scores on a physical touchdown run in the first half against the Jets.

The Indianapolis Colts will enter halftime against the New York Jets with a 13-7, with their lone touchdown coming on a physical run by quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Facing a 2nd-and-goal from the two-yard line, from under center, Richardson faked the handoff to Ashton Dulin who was in motion and then rolled to his left.

Richardson would then stiff arm the defensive end to get away from him, and then with Jonathan Taylor as the lead blocker taking away one of the Jets’ defensive backs, Richardson would run through the other for the score.

It’s been an efficient first half for Richardson, who has completed 8-of-12 passes for 103 yards, with the offense generating three explosive plays through the air.

It’s been tough sledding on the ground, however, with Indianapolis averaging just 2.9 yards per carry as a team.

A major positive has been the emphasis from Shane Steichen on the run game, with the Colts carrying the ball 22 times in the first half, but more specifically, he is getting Richardson involved in that aspect as well.

This is the type of gameplan I’m assuming many thought they would see from the Colts this season with Richardson under center, but that hasn’t always been the case through the first half of the year.

Anthony Richardson back as Colts starter, Pat McAfee apologizes

After riding the bench for a couple of weeks, Anthony Richardson has been named the starting quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts for the rest of the season.

Former Florida Gators quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], who was selected fourth overall in the 2023 draft, is once again the starter for the Indianapolis Colts.

Richardson was benched after removing himself from a Week 8 matchup against the Houston Texans because he “was tired.” Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has started the past two games for Indianapolis in his stead.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen and his staff believed that the second-year pro needed to take “greater command of his off-the-field- preparation and attention to detail,” according to ESPN, and those changes have apparently been made over two short weeks.

“He’s going to start this week,” Steichen said. “He will start the rest of the season. And we will go from there.”

Richardson has taken a “deeper dive” into himself while on the bench and expressed gratitude for the time he has had to reflect.

“As a competitor, you never want to be on the sideline when you think there’s an opportunity to go out and help the team,” he said. “But sitting on the sideline just allowed me to just look and see certain things I could correct about myself, certain things that the team needed help with and I’m just forever grateful for the opportunity. I’m glad that Shane felt like I’m the guy again. I’m just forever grateful and I’m just thankful.”

Pat McAfee apologizes to Anthony Richardson

Following the benching, Richardson became the subject of much ire from fans and media types, including ESPN’s Pat McAfee—a former Colt.

“I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson,” McAfee wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday. “The QB is your franchise. The message it sends is loud and influential.”

However, McAfee changed his tune on Monday and issued an apology to Richardson.

“AR, I apologize for being so loud about you tapping out,” McAfee said. “It’s not good to have that happen for your team, but now I’m starting to think, did anybody-has anybody told AR how he’s supposed to be?… He’s got nobody telling him how to operate in that building.”

McAfee then directed his anger toward the coaching staff and front office in Indy, calling attention to the culture that’s developed over recent years. Drafting talented players is not enough to turn a franchise around, especially when many of the same people who guided the team to a No. 4 pick remain in charge.

The general populous appears to be rallying behind Richardson, hoping he’s learned a lesson and is ready to lead the team.

Richardson will return to the starting lineup on Sunday when the Colts head to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, to face the New York Jets at 1 p.m. ET.

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Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson discusses return to starting lineup

On Wednesday, Anthony Richardson discussed his return to the Indianapolis Colts’ starting lineup after being benched two weeks ago.

Shane Steichen announced on Wednesday that Anthony Richardson would be back as the Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

“Man, there’s a lot of appreciation, but it’s more so more understanding now,” said Richardson of being the starting quarterback. “You understand the magnitude of everything. You understand the magnitude of the position. You understand the magnitude of the work that you have to put in just to make sure you’re right for the team.

“But I definitely appreciate it. I’m forever grateful and happy and excited to get going this week again, but I’m thankful.”

The messaging–at least outside of the building–behind the decision to bench Richardson two weeks ago in favor of Joe Flacco was that Flacco gave the Colts the best chance to win. That became hollow pretty quickly, however, with the Colts offense struggling mightily over these last two weeks.

We then learned on Wednesday from Steichen that where the Colts wanted to see Richardson make strides was in the day-to-day details that come with the preparation of being an NFL quarterback.

So what did Richardson work on specifically over these last two weeks?

“Just showing them that I could do my work day-in and day-out consistently,” Richardson said on Wednesday. “As a pro you feel like, okay, I’m doing my work, I’m getting it done. That’s enough, but it’s never enough, especially not for the vets. They feel like if they have to do the extra work, you have to do it too. So that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Throughout the last two weeks, Steichen has been clear in that the team had never lost faith in Richardson, but that they were going through a necessary process to help with his development.

There was never a timeline for Richardson’s return to the starting lineup, it was all dependent upon how quickly he responded to the challenge that was in front of him.

“I’m still new to this,” said Richardson of being an NFL quarterback. “I’m still learning information. But when it comes to being a professional, you feel like you’re doing a lot of things right, but when it comes to sacrifice, there are always more things to sacrifice – like time and stuff like that. So just being a pro and just learning more about that. I’m glad Shane gave me the opportunity to do so.”

However, even with the setback and Richardson forced to watch from the sidelines these last two weeks, the locker room continued to support him as if he was the starter.

“Man, since I got here the guys always supported me,” Richardson said of the team. “I wasn’t even worried about them losing faith in me and losing any support.

“I just feel like there were more things that I had to showcase to them and show them that I’m willing to do a lot of things for them. So, the guys always supported me throughout this whole process, and I definitely appreciate them.”

In six games this season, Richardson was completing a league-low 44 percent of his throws at 7.2 yards per attempt with four touchdown passes to seven interceptions.

Consistency, particularly on the short to intermediate throws is what was lacking, but with his arm talent, Richardson brought a big play element to the passing game, not to mention the boost his presence provides the run game.

Although at 4-6, the Colts still find themselves in the AFC playoff mix. With Richardson showcasing improved attention to detail off the field, the hope now is that will translate to his play on the field, and give the Indianapolis offense a much-needed boost.

“I appreciate it,” said Richardson of the support from the fanbase, “but the only thing I’m willing to prove now is just like, I’m willing to be the guy for this team. Anything they need from me, anything they ask of me, I’m going to try to do it the best way I can.

“Whether that’s leadership, note taking, meetings, play style – anything that they need from me, I’m willing to do that and showcase that for the team and for the fan base because we all are trying to win and that’s the goal.”

(All quotes via the Indy Star.)

Return of Anthony Richardson gives Colts’ rushing offense a boost

The return of Anthony Richardson at QB should give the Indianapolis Colts run game and Jonathan Taylor a boost.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Wednesday that Anthony Richardson will be the team’s starting quarterback moving forward.

While Jonathan Taylor is a top back and can be productive in really any environment, this recent development should provide a boost to the Colts’ running game.

As noted by Zach Hicks of Sports Illustrated’s Horseshoe Huddle, with Joe Flacco at quarterback this season, Taylor is averaging 4.4 yards per rush with an explosive run rate of 12 percent.

On the flip side, with Richardson under center, he is averaging 5.1 yards per carry with an explosive run rate of 17 percent.

While numbers can be misleading at times, this likely isn’t one of those instances. Defenses cannot defend Taylor nearly as aggressively when Richardson is under center because of his ability as a ball carrier. This also opens up more RPO opportunities for Shane Steichen to dial up.

In addition to the boost that Taylor looks to be getting with Richardson back on the field, defenses will now also have to account for designed quarterback runs–something that wasn’t in play with Flacco at quarterback–and, in general, be mindful of Richardson’s ability to extend plays and go off script, which on it’s own can lead to big plays, both on the ground and through the air.

A strong run game, in theory, can then have a positive trickle-down effect to the passing game. It helps keep the offense ahead of the sticks and out of predictable passing situations, forcing the defense to defend the entire field, creating space and potential one-on-one matchups to attack. A steady run game presence can also set up play-action opportunities as well.

This week, the Colts will be facing a Jets run defense that is allowing 4.3 yards per carry this season, which ranks 12th in the NFL through 10 weeks.

The Colts went back to Anthony Richardson because a slim chance is better than none

Grasping at straws doesn’t seem so bad when the alternative is nothing.

Joe Flacco’s unlikely career revival is over. It lasted approximately 11 months and 10 games.

Flacco’s emergence as the quarterback capable of taking the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs in 2023 made him Anthony Richardson’s mentor, then successor, for an Indianapolis Colts team built to win in 2024. He was one of few veteran free agents to join a nine-win roster mostly intact from the season prior. He was supposed to help push Richardson to a place of stability behind center and, barring that, provide the leverage needed to break a three-year playoff drought.

Neither of these things happened. Richardson was a mess, so head coach Shane Steichen gave the keys to his veteran quarterback hoping he could set the floor the young gunslinger failed to maintain. Instead, Flacco looked like the discarded veteran who lingered as a free agent into November last season. He lost each of his starts after his latest, non-injury-related promotion.

Now he’s been reverted to a backup role.

Richardson came back from a hip injury only to lose his starting job before Week 9. On one hand, it was justifiable; the Colts had a .500 record despite the league’s worst quarterback play. In the short term, Flacco provided the best opportunity for instant gratification.

In the long term, however, it was a risky play. Richardson was only 18 months removed from being the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Colts weren’t closing the books on his potential, but they were making a direct statement about it just 10 starts into his career. Out went a player whose game swung wildly between zero and 100, replaced by a veteran who at his best might top out at a 70.

Flacco didn’t top out. In two starts since replacing a healthy Richardson he’s thrown four interceptions and just two touchdown passes. He’s been responsible for -22.1 expected points added (EPA) in those losses, each of which came by 10 points or fewer.

No quarterback in the league has been more detrimental to his offense in that stretch — and Cooper Rush saw significant playing time the last two weeks.

via rbsdm.com and the author.

The Colts looked at that and realized there’s no floor to speak of. Flacco was the 32nd-most valuable quarterback in a field of 32. There’s nowhere to go but up.

Thus, the cannon-armed young quarterback who cannot stop running himself into trouble (or out of breath) will get the chance to raise a bar that cannot get much lower. Richardson is capable of great things. We know this because we’ve seen it, even in the midst of a season where he was benched for a 38-year-old journeyman.

Tantalizing deep throws aside — and he’s only completed nine in 30 attempts this season, per SIS — Richardson has been a mess. He’s been the version of Josh Allen we’d been warned about when the Buffalo Bills took a risk on another gigantic, rocket-armed scrambler with accuracy issues. Allen eventually rose above the concerns that followed him out of the University of Wyoming thanks to help from Stefon Diggs and an offense that played to his strengths.

Richardson has been unable to follow that path despite a deep core of playmakers around him. While there’s no All-Pro WR1 in the lineup, wideouts like Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell create a smorgasbord of targets who can get open across the field. He’s completed just 44.4 percent of his passes.

He’s been bad when blitzed (26.5 percent completion rate) and bad when there’s no pressure (48.1 percent). His on-target throw rate has fallen from 74 percent as a rookie (25th best among starting QBs) to 55 percent this season (more than eight points worse than any non-Colts quarterback). He’s a devastating runner but these scrambles and designed runs are the genesis of his recurring injury concerns as a pro.

The Colts future hinges on his improvement. He wasn’t going to get better on the bench. He might not on the field, either, but that’s almost besides the point. Indianapolis had nothing to lose by tossing Richardson into the fray. Either he develops and becomes the franchise quarterback the team needed (at least for one more season) or he’s awful and the Colts are stuck with the league’s worst passer, which is… right where Flacco left them.

Indianapolis remains in the playoff hunt, even if its chances aren’t great. The more important factor is figuring out what Richardson can be on a weekly basis for an offense that shouldn’t be as unpleasant to watch as it is. The Colts’ quarterback clock just restarted; they’ve got eight more weeks to figure it out.

Colts make quarterback decision for rest of 2024 season

The Colts are going back to quarterback Anthony Richardson. The Broncos will host Indy in Week 15.

The Indianapolis Colts are going back to quarterback Anthony Richardson for the rest of the 2024 NFL season, coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday.

This marks a reversal from just two days ago when Steichen said Joe Flacco would start against the New York Jets in Week 11. Indianapolis has decided to instead start Richardson for the remainder of the season.

“We’ve made it very clear to him that he’s our quarterback going forward,” Steichen said before the Colts practiced on Wednesday.

Richardson, 22, went 3-3 as a starter to begin the year. He completed 44.4% of his passes for 958 yards with four touchdowns against seven interceptions. Richardson also rushed 41 times for 242 yards and a touchdown.

Flacco, 39, went 1-3 as a starter over the last four weeks. The veteran completed 66.5% of his passes for 1,167 yards with nine touchdowns against five interceptions.

Indy’s decision could impact the Denver Broncos (5-5) as the Colts (4-6) are competing for a wild card spot in the AFC playoffs. Denver will host Indianapolis at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 15 on Dec. 15.

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Colts should already regret benching Anthony Richardson after Joe Flacco threw 2 picks in first 8 plays

The Colts benched Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco, who looks washed up.

The Indianapolis Colts benched second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson early because they didn’t want to alienate their locker room. They also did it because they had faith that 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco would give their offense a high floor of performance.

Uh, about that.

Just one week after Flacco averaged 6.6 yards per pass attempt in a Sunday night loss against the Minnesota Vikings, he threw a pick-six on the Colts’ first offensive play from scrimmage to the Buffalo Bills’ Taron Johnson. Then, to follow that up, he threw an interception to Buffalo defensive tackle Austin Johnson on the Colts’ eighth play.

That’s right. Two disastrous picks in the first eight plays as the guy who was supposed to be the steady, calm veteran over the “inexperienced” and “chaotic” young guy.

How poetic:

By no means do I think Richardson would be faring better — however, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell seems to disagree. Still, it’s hard to argue against getting him more valuable reps while watching an almost 40-year-old Flacco flail about and fail in the most comical possible fashion.

Congratulations, Colts. You reap what you sow. You better hope Richardson’s confidence isn’t ruined when he inevitably takes over again.

Kevin O’Connell shared glowing words of encouragement with Anthony Richardson after Colts QB’s recent benching

Kevin O’Connell is still one of Anthony Richardson’s biggest fans.

One of the toughest things to overcome as a struggling NFL quarterback is how you grapple with your confidence. If you’re someone like the Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson, who recently got benched, it’s very easy to dwell on your failures and think you won’t be able to make it in the league if someone’s “giving up” on you this early.

But Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t going to let Richardson fall by the wayside. He can still see his talent and moxie and doesn’t want him to get down on himself.

In a new video from Inside the NFL/NFL Films, O’Connell is recorded sharing some strong words of encouragement for Richardson after the Vikings beat the Colts last Sunday night. For someone like O’Connell, who isn’t remotely obligated to be this candid with an opposing player, it’s a great show of grace and understanding of the bigger picture:

It’s probably hard right now, but Richardson need not keep his head down. He will likely get another opportunity sooner rather than later to start, hopefully, to reach his immense potential in the NFL. And he can rest easy knowing that coaches like O’Connell everywhere will be in his corner.