Ballard has created competition. Will it create controversy as well?
Anthony Richardson has had a rough start to his NFL career. After missing almost his entire rookie campaign, he followed that up with an incredibly up and down second season. He continued to miss plenty of starts due to injuries and when he was on the field, he flashed some impressive traits while also struggling to move the ball consistently. That is precisely why Chris Ballrd sought to increase the competition level at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts and brought in Daniel Jones as that challenger. The competition should definitely rise, but it might also create controversy amongst players and fans if Jones proves to be formidable. Is there a chance we could see Jones as the starting quarterback in week one?
When selecting an image for this article, the first images, arranged by date, of Richardson were all out of uniform. That says a lot. He has spent way too much time watching from the sidelines and not enough time running the offense. That has stunted his growth immensely, and we saw how much last year when his completion percentage lingered in the cellar all year. The best ability is availability and that could be a major factor in whether Richardson can hold down the starting spot. Any bumps, bruises, or time away during training camp could be just enough for Jones to get his foot in the door and never relinquish the role. If he starts to impress in camp, expect the chatter to increase regarding who should be the starter.
I believe most people prefer Richardson to win out in the end, but if he isn’t the better player, that loyalty will quickly fade. He hasn’t been around long enough to warrant intense loyalty and fans around here are used to a new quarterback year after year. Jones didn’t shine in New York, but it doesn’t mean he can’t shine here. He has the ability and experience and can put that to good use during his second shot. We have seen plenty of quarterbacks fail in one location, usually with their first team, and rise from the ashes and claim success with another. That is no guarantee for Jones in Indianapolis but expect him to truly push Richardson for the starting role. Jones didn’t come here to be a backup. He came because he saw this as his best opportunity to play. After watching Minshew and Flacco get meaningful snaps, he isn’t far off on that thought.
The question of who will win the quarterback duel is still to be written. It is Anthony Richardson’s to lose as he appears to have the inside track, but his advantage is extremely minimal. Daniel Jones is going to come in hungry. If Richardson can’t match that hunger, it would not be out of the realm of possibility to see him riding the bench this year. That might make a lot of fans upset, but that was always the chance you take when you draft someone like Richardson. Swinging for the fence means sometimes you might strike out. Then again, Richardson could rise to the challenge and take his game to another level. Time will tell, but we could be in for a bumpy ride.
