The Colts are “going through a process” right now regarding recently demoted 2nd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson—whatever that means, leaving many fans increasingly skeptical about the organization’s future.
Despite poor play from his replacement, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen wouldn’t divulge why 2nd-year starting quarterback Anthony Richardson remains benched—only reiterating that the team is ‘going through a process’ (via The Athletic’s James Boyd):
I asked #Colts HC Shane Steichen about the vagueness surrounding QB Anthony Richardson:
“ … Not ever losing faith or trust in him. We’re going through a process right now and that’s where it’s at.”
What does that mean?
“Like I said, we’re going through a process. That’s it.” pic.twitter.com/9zgmrxSxou
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 11, 2024
Beyond NFL Network Ian Rapoport’s article from a few weeks ago, which alluded to his lack of “preparation and attention-to-deal” from an NFL starting quarterback, very little else has been leaked publicly about the real reasoning behind Richardson’s recent demotion—more so just increased speculation by national talking heads stemming from that initial report.
Perhaps being ‘too casual and lax’ with the Colts starting quarterback job reached a boiling over point when he infamously ‘tapped out’ during the 3rd quarter of Week 8’s narrow road loss to the Houston Texans—as he was benched immediately thereafter.
Whatever the real reasoning is, Richardson’s benching doesn’t appear to be performance-based, as Steichen indicated on Monday that he would’ve admittedly helped against the Buffalo Bills in short yardage situations compared to the nearly immobile Joe Flacco, but still didn’t see the field during an otherwise close game—without disclosing exactly why.
Initially, it was because Flacco provided “the best chance to win right now.”
That has since been debunked, as after consecutive starts (*and any hope of improved passing game accuracy and efficiency), Flacco has committed 6 total turnovers over that same span with putrid advanced offensive stats—looking every bit his old football age:
Joe Flacco’s Turnover EPA per 100 Snaps: -21.2
Anthony Richardson’s Turnover EPA per 100 Snaps: -17.7 https://t.co/SDv4MbHmwr pic.twitter.com/y72Qnphi20
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 10, 2024
The Colts have since pivoted a bit on, “the best chance to win right now,” to the “best chance to win now . . . because of his veteran leadership.”
The Colts are obviously wanting to hit the ‘reset button’ on Richardson by having him start from the beginning again—meaning there will be no cut corners regarding this attempted learning lesson, and he’ll have to actually earn the QB1 job again, whenever that may be.
They reportedly aren’t giving up on his future with the Colts, but being a benched former top quarterback first round pick significantly clouds—and even impedes, his possible track to reach franchise quarterback status with the Colts. It’s just hardly ever happened in the NFL historically—let along for a work-in-progress passer who admittedly needs the reps.
Despite once clinging to the final AFC wild card spot with Richardson, the Colts have fallen to the AFC’s #8 seed after two consecutive losses under the struggling veteran Flacco—and are now on the outside looking in.
While the Colts are very much still in the AFC playoff hunt, especially with a Week 15 road game against the AFC’s #7 seed, Denver Broncos, coming up on the docket, what’s the real reasoning for any confidence right now?
This team has shown some occasional flashes, but not enough to consistently win games against the good to better NFL teams these days. They’ve mostly beat up bad opponents.
They’re in the hunt because no one has separated themselves among the fellow ‘middle of the pack’ AFC teams, while the Colts are clearly trending downward these days among such still playoff hopeful competition (*which includes Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals).
If the benching was indeed to send a message to Richardson to take the QB1 job more seriously and put in the extra time, work, and preparations both on-and-off the field, then shouldn’t a two-game benching be adequate enough—especially if he’s reportedly already changed his behavior and actions in response to the recent demotion?
The Colts have been candidly vague publicly about the real rationale for Richardson’s benching and seemingly want the Horseshoe faithful to “trust them” on this one, again.
However, Colts fans trusted them on Carson Wentz.
We trusted them on Matt Ryan.
For the better part of a year and a half, patience was consistently preached that all Richardson needed was more experience and reps.
What exactly changed from a singular tap out?
Instead of a brief teaching moment, it’s seemingly become an indefinite banishment.
Starting a young quarterback only to yank him indefinitely the first sign of choppy waters?
Trust you?
Why should we, again?
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us.” -Stephen King
To be honest, this current front office regime has shown, “It knows quarterbacks,” to-date, as much as the average Colts fan knows how to adequately fly a spacecraft or perform brain surgery.
Since Andrew Luck retired, it’s seemingly a new proposed answer at starting quarterback almost every year for the Colts. Every year! He retired after 2018! That was six years ago!
You try to give them the benefit of the doubt, but at a certain point, results matter!
Richardson may not be a significant upgrade to Flacco right now, but his elite dual-threat mobility would at least open up running lanes for the Colts ground game, while also providing escapability in the pocket when the pass protection breaks down. I also feel like he would’ve committed less turnovers than Flacco did over his past two starts.
I mean honestly he’d be hard-pressed not to.
At the very least, the Colts would be providing Richardson critical game day reps, which is something that he desperately needed up until two weeks ago—but seemingly now won’t be obtained anytime soon due to an apparent “lack of preparation.”
The Colts organization would be able to better find out what they have with Richardson in order to see if he’s worth moving forward with heading into the 2025 campaign and possibly beyond—while not delaying his ‘clock’ another year by keeping him on the bench (when you still don’t really know what’s there and may be just delaying the inevitable of moving on without him and finding your real long-term answer at starting quarterback).
It makes more sense for the Colts to potentially progress towards something meaningful by developing a 22-year-old starting quarterback for the remainder of 2024, then a nearly 40-year-old veteran stopgap, who doesn’t appear to even be an immediate answer right now.
