Did the Colts get the win? Yes. Did they look good doing it? No. It was a tale of two halves for Anthony Richardson this week. The first half the entire offense was stagnant and dull. They could not get anything going, particularly through the air. The second half was a bit better; not much, but it was enough to get the win. They leaned on the ground game and allowed Tyler Goodson to shine after a rocky week from Trey Sermon last week. Anthony Richardson finished with another inconsistent performance through the air, completing 10/24 passes for 129 yards.
Richardson’s Extended Rookie Season
The most important stat to this fanbase from this week is that Richardson started and finished this game unscathed. He missed most of last season, and this season is essentially an extension of his rookie season. You won’t get an argument from me about missing last season and really sitting back and watching. It may have been what was best for him at the time. That time is over now. Mental reps are great to understand the game, but real game reps are what he needs now.
Every rep he misses going forward will just stunt his growth. With his growth comes the growth of this coaching staff as well. Steichen is known to be a quarterback guru, but his plate is full every week with game management and play calling. This is where the rest of the offensive staff will need to keep working on his development. Without reps, that staff cannot help him.
Keep Him Rolling......No Matter What
Let’s be honest, is this team a contender to win the Super Bowl? Or even the playoffs? I would say no to the Super Bowl, but this team can make the playoffs if they can figure their identity on offense. If this fanbase wants Flacco to start, you have an argument. However, with Flacco on a one-year deal and approaching 40 years old, he is obviously not part of the future of this franchise.
So, if you started Flacco all year, you are back to where you started again next season: the same arguments and the same complaining that he is not ready. At some point, you must find out what you have with your investment... and more importantly, what the return on that investment can be. Richardson is 22 years old and has less than half of a season of completed games. The fan base must continue to be patient and work through the growing pains. If this franchise can improve his passing ability, this team can be very dangerous for years to come. But again, that’s a big if.