Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson had a whirlwind rookie season, only able to play in four games. However, the team’s General Manager, Chris Ballard, made it clear during a Wednesday press conference that he has high expectations for the young signal-caller.
“To play winning football,” Ballard emphasized, “There’s going to be some rollercoaster moments. I won’t say all, but most quarterbacks, when they’re young, go through those moments. But learn from them, grow, and keep moving forward.”
Ballard expressed confidence in Richardson’s skillset, acknowledging that it had been a bit up and down. He praised the coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and Jim Bob Cooter, for their ability to tailor the offense to Richardson’s strengths.
Speaking of what Richardson needed most, Ballard highlighted the importance of experience. “The more he plays, the more he sees, the better it’s going to get,” Ballard stated. “I do think he will do a better job protecting himself. I do think that is one area that you will see.”
The General Manager emphasized the significance of Richardson’s understanding of the offense and his comfort level with certain plays. “You want the quarterback to have some belief in what he’s running and be a little more opinionated about it,” Ballard explained. “I think the more he plays, the more he’ll become vocal about that.”
Ballard also cautioned against overanalyzing every play, as young players naturally have ups and downs. “They look bad and they’ll look great. Like, that’s normal,” Ballard emphasized. “Unfortunately, Twitter today accentuates on the one negative. There might be 10 positives, but there’s the one negative that they’ll pull out and just needle at.”
In the limited time he had on the field last year, Richardson showed promise. He threw for 557 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, while also rushing for 136 yards and scoring four touchdowns.
As Richardson enters his second season, all eyes will be on how he progresses and develops under the guidance of the Colts’ coaching staff. With the support of Ballard and the team, Richardson has the potential to make a significant impact on the field in the upcoming season.
