popeye
Footballguy
That and the Pittman fumble were things the team couldn't overcome.
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QB Anthony Richardson, IND (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
That and the Pittman fumble were things the team couldn't overcome.
Dizzy
Footballguy
Agreed. As long as AR doesn't have to do anything other than hand the ball off... he's fine.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
yeah, that's part of the whole offense imploding part.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
No, you're wrong. When the Colts had the momentum AR was part of that running game. When things are going good for Richardson he is part of the running game and the passing game opens up because of it.
Dizzy
Footballguy
Not what I saw yesterday. Quite simply, he looks like a QB that plays in the pocket like he's afraid to get hit. He panics... and the ball comes out like a Roman Candle. Where it comes down? Nobody knows.
His short to intermediate accuracy is possibly the worst I’ve ever seen.
Stoneworker
Footballguy
It's not the "for profit" NFL's fault that Richardson chose to leave college early
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
I remember years ago, someone published a piece around college starts and the amount you needed to make to increase your chances of success at the NFL level. I think it was at least 30.
Part of the rationale IMO is that you are forced to make adjustments YoY to how defenses are playing you. DC's have an entire offseason to devour film, root out tendencies/tells and build gameplans to make you go to the next tool in your toolbag so to speak. IMO, it's one of the reasons Carson Beck has struggled this season. Even Josh Allen at Wyoming struggled in his 2nd year of starting...but he went thru the experience.
But in college, Richardson was really never forced to adjust to the adjustments and that's a critical skill for an NFL QB and he just looks so misplaced now.
Part of the rationale IMO is that you are forced to make adjustments YoY to how defenses are playing you. DC's have an entire offseason to devour film, root out tendencies/tells and build gameplans to make you go to the next tool in your toolbag so to speak. IMO, it's one of the reasons Carson Beck has struggled this season. Even Josh Allen at Wyoming struggled in his 2nd year of starting...but he went thru the experience.
But in college, Richardson was really never forced to adjust to the adjustments and that's a critical skill for an NFL QB and he just looks so misplaced now.
zamboni
Footballguy
Agree with most of the above. Based on the number of starts he’s had, he’a still like a junior in college. Problem is, he’s being forced to adjust on the fly at the highest level.
He’s obviously shown some wow moments both fantasy-wise and real life-wise (let’s not dismiss his game winning efforts this year), but until he gets more time under his belt, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs.
What baffles me the most is the continued inaccuracy at the short and intermediate levels. I would have thought that was a big focus of his last offseason, but perhaps not as he was rehabbing and learning how to slide/avoid hits. Maybe that will be his focus this offseason or maybe he just doesn’t have that skill in his tool belt.
The bottom line is that he’s going to have to improve his accuracy/decision making because team brass won’t allow him to lose games next year. If so, he may quickly become a career backup.
He’s obviously shown some wow moments both fantasy-wise and real life-wise (let’s not dismiss his game winning efforts this year), but until he gets more time under his belt, there are going to be a lot of ups and downs.
What baffles me the most is the continued inaccuracy at the short and intermediate levels. I would have thought that was a big focus of his last offseason, but perhaps not as he was rehabbing and learning how to slide/avoid hits. Maybe that will be his focus this offseason or maybe he just doesn’t have that skill in his tool belt.
The bottom line is that he’s going to have to improve his accuracy/decision making because team brass won’t allow him to lose games next year. If so, he may quickly become a career backup.
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
You don't think Josh Allen was a project?
I'd say Steve McNair also falls into this category.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Randall Cunningham?
FreeBaGeL
Footballguy
It's Josh Allen, by far.
These guys have an insanely low hit rate. But Josh Allen is recent so people are chasing it.
Dizzy
Footballguy
No, not at all. Josh Allen had almost 30 starts in 3 years at Wyoming. The only questions about his accuracy were from those that never visited Laramie, WY in fall/winter. Its a hurricane every day there. I don't remember the questions about whether he could play the position with him.
To me, AR was drafted WHOLLY base upon size/speed... and some genius GM thought, "well, anyone can be taught the quarterbacky stuff"
Dizzy
Footballguy
3ys at UNLV and 34 starts. He was a QB, clearly.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
I based that purely on how raw Cunningham was, and UNLV wasn't exactly, nor are they now, a football factory.
Dizzy
Footballguy
Air McNair played a ton of college ball at QB. Maybe 4 yrs worth.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
I can see a hundred yards rushing for both AR and Taylor in this one. I can also see the Colts defense having a great game. Perhaps even a pick six.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
I was able to watch most of his game for the 1st time all season last week and I was horrified. Guy can barely throw and his speed is vastly overrated. I had no other choices with injuries in SF but with Pennix getting the nod Im seriosuly considering benching Arich for a rookie playing his 1st game....its that bad.
jm192
Footballguy
I guess it's fair to call Allen a "project." But Allen had substantially more college experience.
Allen was completing nearly 59% of his passes and had more TD's than INT's as a Sophomore.
I'll grant you: Richardson missed most of year 1 due to an injury. He's been in and out of the lineup due to injury and benching this year.
Still: 47% completions. 7 TD's to 11 INT's. That's Richardson. I don't look at that and think "It's fine, he's a project." I look at it and think he's so far from being an average passer. I'm sure the Colts ride it out one more year. And his rushing upside makes him usable for fantasy some weeks. He just doesn't pass the ball well enough to consistently be good for fantasy.
I'd wait until he looks really good this summer and sell while you can.
Allen was completing nearly 59% of his passes and had more TD's than INT's as a Sophomore.
I'll grant you: Richardson missed most of year 1 due to an injury. He's been in and out of the lineup due to injury and benching this year.
Still: 47% completions. 7 TD's to 11 INT's. That's Richardson. I don't look at that and think "It's fine, he's a project." I look at it and think he's so far from being an average passer. I'm sure the Colts ride it out one more year. And his rushing upside makes him usable for fantasy some weeks. He just doesn't pass the ball well enough to consistently be good for fantasy.
I'd wait until he looks really good this summer and sell while you can.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
He would be a helluva good RB. Just sayin.
Not sure why teams don’t do what the Steelers did with Kordell Stewart and use these Uber talents all over the field.
Not sure why teams don’t do what the Steelers did with Kordell Stewart and use these Uber talents all over the field.
Dizzy
Footballguy
Really? Injured twice in first (only) two years.
He wouldn't make back-to-back starts as a RB.
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
RenegadeRoy
Footballguy
Man, this injury has me feeling not great. I was hoping yesterday was just a rest day but now... I have him in a SF league and my backup was Russ and someone already has Flacco. Wack.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Important for him to stay healthy and show some signs of growth going into next year. Hard to build a team around a guy who makes simple look hard at times.
zamboni
Footballguy
Agreed - I'm going to be looking to sell him in the offseason. Hoping he starts next weekend and has a good game to interest potential suitors.
Dizzy
Footballguy
Fully with you. To my eye, his mechanics and play in the pocket still seem so far away from being NFL ready. And then the availability issue is a major concern.
The Colts are going to be faced with giving him a second ($$$) contact while still having all the same questions they had when they drafted him.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Nobody wants him at this point. If we start seeing stories this offseason with him working with a QB guru it may provide some increase in value.
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
ARich has to compete for the starting job, terrific!
Who is he up against?
4th overall pick in the Draft, I wrote one word "Bust" on the night of the Draft, not much has changed
Still don't understand why the front office is drawing a mythical line in the sand, you knew he was a project at best
Who is Richardson actually going to compete with? Would the Colts draft a QB in the 2nd-3rd round this year?
Who is he up against?
4th overall pick in the Draft, I wrote one word "Bust" on the night of the Draft, not much has changed
Still don't understand why the front office is drawing a mythical line in the sand, you knew he was a project at best
Who is Richardson actually going to compete with? Would the Colts draft a QB in the 2nd-3rd round this year?
I'd be a little surprised to see Indy draft a QB, I think Ballard/Steichen are on the hot seat, especially in maybe the NFL's weakest division.
Lots of vets available. Cousins, Rodgers, Wilson, Fields, even Jimmy G could make sense. A trade for Carr wouldn't be crazy. I don't see how Indy could go into the season with Richardson as the starter. He's been as bad a passer as any starter in the NFL. Completion percentage under 50 in 2024 is pathetic. They don't have to dump him or anything like that, but its clear he's further off than they ever thought he was. I think every single one of those vets I named (even Jimmy G) would be a better starter in 2025.
I'd bet against a huge financial investment so that probably rules out Stafford/Darnold. Me personally, I think Cousins would be my pick, especially if he's taking the 2024 Russ type deal, where he makes near the minimum because Atlanta is paying him. Rodgers playing indoors would be interesting, if Stafford stays in LA, I think he'd be on the table.
ETA: I think Indy certainly looks to aim higher than Flacco, and I don't think they'd have much interest in just bringing back Minshew (likely to be cut by LV) either.
(HULK)
(Smash)
I don't get everyone writing him off. Kid is still 22, and literally 3 days older than Cam Ward, and younger than Sanders.
He was always a project. He could still turn into a stud. Writing him off right now seems like an odd choice for the Colts, they knew he was a project when they drafted him. He is, indisputably, the most physically gifted QB in the league. But he's still inexperienced. More inexperienced than a lot of guys coming into this draft.
He took a step forward mid-season this year. With a healthy offseason to train, they should see if he can take another step forward. Sure, bring in "competition" for him, but it should be someone like Mariotta, someone he can beat out. Enough to keep the fire lit under his rear by that mid-season benching lit and burning.
Punting on him at this stage seems idiotic for the Colts.
He was always a project. He could still turn into a stud. Writing him off right now seems like an odd choice for the Colts, they knew he was a project when they drafted him. He is, indisputably, the most physically gifted QB in the league. But he's still inexperienced. More inexperienced than a lot of guys coming into this draft.
He took a step forward mid-season this year. With a healthy offseason to train, they should see if he can take another step forward. Sure, bring in "competition" for him, but it should be someone like Mariotta, someone he can beat out. Enough to keep the fire lit under his rear by that mid-season benching lit and burning.
Punting on him at this stage seems idiotic for the Colts.
smbkrypt24
Footballguy
I haven't seen anything with the Colts writing him off. It is the whole bring in competition speech. The GM and coach may very well be gone after this year if things don't turn around or look promising. AR is a big part of that equation.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
I agree with you but when coach and GM are on hot seat they tend to want a vet. As an AR owner ive gone from concerned to mild panic lol - was only counting on him a a SF 3rd QB at this point and not even sure I can do that anymore.
Did he? He had a nice game against the Jets in week 11 when he came back, but then he went right back to being extremely inaccurate (3 straight games not topping 50% completions) and more INT's than TDs. He was more effective as a rusher after coming back, but his step forward, was more from horrible to just bad.
The thing is the competition will likely be higher than Mariota just because the supply is bigger than the demand. Although honestly, Mariota is probably better too. Its REALLY hard to complete under 50% of passes, and REALLY hard to have a passer rating in the 60s. His completion percentage was 10% lower than any other QB who had started at least 3 games, and that was Spencer Rattler. His passer rating was 9 points lower than any other QB (again Rattler) and that's not even getting into his 9 fumbles, which on a per play basis only Cooper Rush and Spencer Rattler fumbled more.
ETA: The only guys since 2000 who had lower completion percentages are Akili Smith, Mike McMahon, Tim Tebow, Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell.
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Lehigh98
Footballguy
This is just a ploy to motivate Tatum Bell.
(HULK)
(Smash)
That completion % is indeed really low, but there was a lot of drops too.
Is there a stat that tracks on-target throws vs off-target? I feel like I have a tough time judging how much of that was him. From the games I saw after the benching (which was only like 2 because I'm not in their tv market) it seemed like he was on target at a decent rate.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
The bottom line
He has to improve his accuracy....period....and stay healthy......period2. Also, early in 2024 Steichen didn't seem to know how to use AR. He stood in the pocket more and trying to make him a pocket passer was dumb. Later on he started to scheme him more in the run / pass option and he had his best games in that scheme. Steichen really disappointed me with his play calling and that's the trait I thought he was supposed to be good at. Man, was I disappointed with that. AR gets one more chance with the Colts as a franchise QB and if he can improve his short area accuracy and if Steichen schemes him at least 70% of the time in the run / pass option, AR could surprise. Otherwise, it was a wasted pick. As a Colts fan, this what I truly think of AR and a big part of this is Steichen too.
He has to improve his accuracy....period....and stay healthy......period2. Also, early in 2024 Steichen didn't seem to know how to use AR. He stood in the pocket more and trying to make him a pocket passer was dumb. Later on he started to scheme him more in the run / pass option and he had his best games in that scheme. Steichen really disappointed me with his play calling and that's the trait I thought he was supposed to be good at. Man, was I disappointed with that. AR gets one more chance with the Colts as a franchise QB and if he can improve his short area accuracy and if Steichen schemes him at least 70% of the time in the run / pass option, AR could surprise. Otherwise, it was a wasted pick. As a Colts fan, this what I truly think of AR and a big part of this is Steichen too.
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taylormeetstheismann
Footballguy
I wonder how well Richardson stacks up when you compare him strictly to other QBs that were 22 years old.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
Historically, there are very few NFL QBs that complete less than half of their throws (regardless of age). This will be a pretty big mountain for him to climb to greatly improve in that area.
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