Following the Indianapolis Colts game on Sunday night with the Vikings, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell had some encouraging words for Anthony Richardson at midfield.
“Hey, do me a favor and remember something,” said O’Connell, “you’re a bad dude. And you’re gonna play a long time. I still believe in you. I know these guys do. Shane (Steichen), too. Man, this organization loves you. Go to work.”
This was the first game for Richardson and the Colts since the team made the decision to bench him in favor of Joe Flacco, who as head coach Shane Steichen put it, gives Indianapolis the best chance to win.
While both on the ground and through the air, Richardson brought big play ability to the Colts’ offense, as an inexperienced player who needs reps, his play was also very up and down, which included a league-low completion rate of just 44 percent and four touchdowns to seven interceptions.
The Colts have made it clear that they are not giving up on Richardson and believe that him taking a step back will benefit him. There is also–at least for the time being–a strong commitment to Flacco being the starter for the remainder of the year.
However, this decision again puts the Colts at the quarterback crossroads. Next offseason Flacco will be 40 years old and if he starts the remainder of the season, Richardson–who needs reps–will head into his third NFL season with still just 10 starts.
Recent history suggests that this plan that the Colts have isn’t going to end favorably for them.
On an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show back in September, O’Connell, a former NFL quarterback himself and not referencing any specific situation, offered his general insights into the development of young quarterbacks.
“I just think as a whole, there’s not enough emphasis put on the organization’s role in the development of the position, meaning I believe that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations,” O’Connell said.