Anthony Richardson Even Better than the Colts Thought?
The hierarchy of the Indianapolis Colts have preached patience with their 20-year old first-round draft choice, but it may be hard to contain the excitement around Anthony Richardson.
Early word from the Colts rookie-mini camp is that Richardson has impressed new head coach Shane Steichen and his staff. He could be in contention to start for the Colts sooner rather than later.
"Richardson’s not quite as raw as he’s sometimes been portrayed," wrote George Brenner of the Kokomo Tribune. "The Colts have been impressed by his pocket awareness in particular, and he showed off some of his high-level play-making ability even during the brief rookie mini-camp. The quarterback has impressed with his confidence, enthusiasm and engaging personality."
Standing 6'4 and 245 pounds with 4.4 speed, Richardson is blessed with attributes that make him one of the most imposing quarterbacks in the league right away.
That he is learning to trust his size and athleticism in the pocket, rather than tuck and run at the first opportunity, is good news for the Colts.
With just 13 starts in college with mixed results, early expectations for Richardson rightly need to be tempered. However, the prospect of having a Lamar Jackson-like runner who is two inches taller and 30 pounds heavier playing the Jalen Hurts role in Steichen's offense is nothing less than incredibly exciting for the Colts.
Richardson was recently named as having the fifth-best odds for winning offensive rookie of the year, but if he arrives as a quarterback ahead of schedule, no offensive player in this draft has his ceiling.
That he's "not quite as raw as he's sometimes portrayed," according to Brenner is music to the ears of Colts fans.
