Disclaimer: This is not a statement, as the title says, this is supposed to be an open debate between everyone, so feel free to leave your own opinion in the comments. This time of the year is boring for everyone (unless you are following the Pacers’ playoff run), so it seems like a fun idea to have a discussion around an interesting topic.

As mentioned in the disclaimer, and I feel compelled to clear this out so you guys don’t come after me in the comments, this is not a statement article. I am not asserting that this offense is not built for a “gunslinger” type quarterback like Anthony Richardson is at this point in his career, I am raising the question up for debate.

The sample size is small, and with too many confounding variables, so we cannot rely on the numbers here to help clear out this story. Jonathan Taylor held out the first four games of the 2023 season, so putting the blame for the running game struggles the Colts suffered there (25th in run success rate, 26th in rush EPA) on AR would not be fair at all. Using this last season is also hard because Joe Flacco is a much more similar quarterback passing wise to Richardson than Minshew was when he played for the Colts, so we do not have a counter-factual argument for last season. We can only base this argument on hypotheticals, which is why I will refrain from making absolute statements.

What is the point of the article then? It is to raise the question whether this offense is just not suited at all for Anthony Richardson to succeed, and would be better off if the Colts just gave the reins to a quarterback that fits the “game manager” mold, which is what they have in new backup Daniel Jones, and who knows, perhaps even Riley Leonard.

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First, let’s take a look at the way the Colts’ offense is built. The team spent a lot of resources building the running game, constructing a really good offensive line and paying star running back Jonathan Taylor a lot of money to be the workhorse back. I mean, this team’s motto used to be #RTDB (Run the damn ball!). Going through the wide receivers, the only true deep-threat the Colts have is Alec Pierce, who coincidentally had his best season by far as a pro playing with Anthony Richardson. Michael Pittman Jr., the team’s #1 receiver, is more of a short-intermediate, big bodied receiver, who runs mostly shorter routes. Anthony Richardson struggles mightily to hit throws under 15 yards consistently, being by far the most inaccurate quarterback throwing short passes in the entire NFL, even worse than most of the backups. Josh Downs is a special player that can do a bit of everything, so he fits well with any quarterback. New tight end Tyler Warren was drafted, paraphrasing Ballard’s words, “to help stretch the field and make opposing defenses worry about a guy on the inside that can take the top off”. Reading between the lines, “Our quarterback cannot hit a short throw to save his life, so we need a fast tight end that can get downfield and make contested catches, to at least have a chance”.

There is also the eye test, there is no denying that the Colts’ offense looked best in the past two seasons when Gardner Minshew was in at quarterback, and Minshew is perhaps the worst “game-manager” type of quarterback out there. The ceiling for that offense was low, but the floor was also really high. I also think that the Colts’ playmakers are much better now than they were back in 2023. Daniel Jones has the potential to be a much better option than Gardner Minshew was. He never had a decent offensive line in New York, and never had the weapons that the Colts have at their disposal. Jones is a much more accurate passer than Richardson, at least when throwing checkdowns and short passes. The question that Steichen now faces is if this Colts’ offense would be better off with Daniel Jones at quarterback. Perhaps he is also encouraged by the recent trend of “bust” quarterbacks flourishing under a second home. Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, and Jared Goff. Daniel Jones could easily be next in line there. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying Jones is the perfect quarterback, he has a lot of issues. There are plenty of reasons why he was waived by the Giants and then played scout team safety for the Vikings, but there is also potential.

I would love for Richardson to develop into the guy. I like his personality and think he is still young and needs proper time and coaching to reach his full potential. Perhaps what happened with Pierce when the Colts’ drafted AD Mitchell happens with Richardson, now facing more serious competition he puts his head down and works really hard, tuning his technique and finally improving his accuracy. But perhaps the Colts are just trying to mix water and oil, and no matter how hard they try to force the issue, it will never work. This will be an interesting season because after Jim Irsay passed away, his daughters took over. Steichen is in a do-or-die situation, as is general manager Chris Ballard, so when push comes to shove they might be forced to give up on the prospect of developing AR and focusing on the immediate term. Only time will tell.