Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images A familiar face is back and on the Miami Dolphins practice squad With an opening on the practice squad and the run game suffering on Monday Night Football (Get well soon, Alec Ingold!), the Miami Dolphins have re-signed tight end Hayden Rucci to the practice squad. Skylar Thompson and Hayden Rucci get the @MiamiDolphins on the board! : Stream #MIAvsTB on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/218QrTHSIf — NFL (@NFL) August 24, 2024 Rucci, who played collegiately at Wisconsin, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dolphins on May 10th, 2024. He would spend the offseason with Miami and even start the season on the practice squad before being released on October 23rd to make room for quarterback C.J. Beathard. Rucci finished the preseason with seven catches on eight targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. The Jacksonville Jaguars would later poach C.J. Beathard from the Dolphins’ practice squad. What can Hayden Rucci bring to the Miami Dolphins offense? First, let me start by saying this is a practice squad signing. Currently, we do not know how long Ingold may be out or if he’ll miss an extended period. That said, I think the reason for this signing is quite apparent. On Monday Night vs. the Rams, Miami’s run game returned to reality, rushing for 67 yards on 22 carries for a pedestrian 3 yards per carry. The run game struggled to get in a rhythm all night, and while both Durham Smythe and Julian Hill are adequate blockers, you saw a clear difference in Monday Night’s game when they tried to line up in Ingold’s absence. Gone but not forgotten, king. https://t.co/g9CTiBKmAo — Kyle Crabbs (@GrindingTheTape) November 13, 2024 I’m not sure how soon Rucci will hear his name called up to the 53-man roster — if at all — but for a player who showed promise in the summer, primarily from a blocking perspective — I’m entirely on board with the Dolphins bringing him back especially if Ingold’s long-term health is in question. What are your thoughts on Hayden Rucci’s signing? Did you like what you saw out of him in the preseason? Do you agree that Miami’s run game missed Alec Ingold on Monday? Let us know in the comments section below!
Dolphins sign tight end Hayden Rucci to practice squad
Lions K Jake Bates wins weekly honors for second time in 2024
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images Lions K Jake Bates has won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, bringing Detroit’s weekly honors total to six on the season. For the second time in just nine career games, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Bates was a no-brainer this week after making two huge kicks in the final 5:01 of Sunday night’s game against the Houston Texans. The first, a 58-yard boom, tied the game up 23-23. Almost exactly five minutes later, Bates booted the 52-yard game-winning kick to complete Detroit’s comeback victory, 26-23. JAKE. BATES. CALLED. GAME. #DETvsHOU | NBC pic.twitter.com/fSa4NBaZsP — Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 11, 2024 “We’re getting some pretty long kicks here,” coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “I don’t particularly like to do that all the time, but sometimes you need it when you get in a game like that. He’s answered the bell.” Bates also won the award back in Week 7 after he nailed a 44-yard game-winning kick against the Minnesota Vikings with 15 seconds remaining. For the season now, Bates has made all 14 of his field goal attempts, including 6-of-6 from 40 yards or longer. His only mistake has been one missed extra point among 33 attempts. The Lions have been weekly staples in the NFC Player of the Week honors. Here’s a full list of Lions players who have been honored this year: Week 3: P Jack Fox Week 4: QB Jared Goff Week 6: S Brian Branch Week 7: K Jake Bates Week 8: PR Kalif Raymond Week 10: K Jake Bates In addition to those awards, Aidan Hutchinson won NFC Defensive Player of the Month in September and Jared Goff was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October.
It’s time to sign Zack Baun to a contract extension
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images The Eagles suddenly have a stud linebacker. What a feeling! He was one of the first players targeted by the Eagles this off-season, signed on the first day of free agency. He had been a solid situational pass rusher as an edge/outside linebacker for the New Orleans Saints, specializing in blitzing the quarterback and causing problems in the backfield. No one could have expected what Zack Baun has given the Eagles this year. Transitioned to inside linebacker by new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Baun has put together an All-Pro caliber season and, after a sterling performance against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week. It is the first time an Eagles off-ball linebacker has won Defensive Player of the Week since Jeremiah Trotter in Week 7 of 2005, when Jim Johnson’s blitz-heavy scheme was ruling the roost. It’s also the first time the Eagles have had a defensive player at any position win since Brandon Graham in Week 14 of 2022 (Darius Slay, Graham and Haason Reddick won it three straight weeks in Weeks 2-4 of ‘22 as well). Baun piled up eight tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and registered a tackle for loss. Among linebackers, Baun’s 86.4 PFF grade ranks third only to Tennessee’s Jack Gibbens (88.4) and San Francisco’s Fred Warner (91.4). His 87 tackles are 11th most of any defensive player in the NFL. Baun signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal with the Birds and could become a free agent at the end of the season, unless GM Howie Roseman decides to sign him to a contract extension. Seemingly a no-brainer for both sides, inking Baun to a long-term deal to stay in Philadelphia makes too much sense not to happen. The Eagles have long struggled to figure out the linebacker position. They have not spent a first or second round pick on the position since San Diego State’s Matt McCoy at the tail end of the second round in 2005, and generally avoid signing linebackers to multi-year free agent contracts. Some comparable deals are the three-year, $31.3 million deal signed by Zaire Franklin with the Colts in March, the three-year, $37.5 million contract signed by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with the Browns during training camp and the three-year, $30 million contract Foyesade Oluokun inked with the Jaguars back in March. Osusu-Koramoah’s $12.5 million salary this year makes him the 6th-highest paid linebacker in football, Franklin’s $10.4 million in ‘24 makes him the 8th-highest paid, while Oluokun’s $10 million AAV is tied for 9th. So what makes sense for Baun? While this is his first season as a starting off-ball linebacker, that lack of experience hasn’t translated onto the field, where he has been a disruptive playmaker since Week 1. It wouldn’t be crazy to think he could get a price just over Owusu-Koramoah’s $12.5 million a season but under Patrick Queen’s $13.7 million contract (3 years, $41 million). The Eagles have never doled out a lot of money for linebackers, but it’s plain to everyone how instrumental Baun and third-round pick Nakobe Dean have been to Fangio’s suddenly stingy defense. Roseman cannot let Baun walk away in free agency like he has done with previous linebackers. This is a deal that needs to happen.
Are New York Giants’ investments at cornerback paying off?
Terry McLaurin of Washington catches a touchdown pass against Deonte Banks. | Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images Some are, and some have not as of yet One of my core roster building beliefs is that NFL teams can never have too many good coverage cornerbacks. Do the New York Giants have enough? GM Joe Schoen is trying, having devoted four draft picks — three of them premium Day 1 or Day 2 selections — to the position. Current roster: Deonte Banks, Cor’Dale Flott, Dru Phillips, Adoree’ Jackson, Tre Hawkins III, Art Green Players drafted since 2022: Cor’Dale Flott (Round 3, No. 81, 2022); Deonte Banks (Round 1, No. 24, 2023); Tre Hawkins (Round 6, No. 209, 2023); Dru Phillips (Round 3, No. 70, 2024) Biggest free agent signing: None … unless you count bringing back Adoree’ Jackson this season. Biggest losses: James Bradberry Schoen often talks about building for long-term sustainability rather than the short-term. His moves at cornerback, sometimes through necessity but most often through design, have reflected that. In his first offseason, Schoen was forced to cut ties with starting cornerback James Bradberry to begin digging his way out of a cap mess he inherited. Bradberry had a terrific 2022 season for the Philadelphia Eagles, but struggled last year and has spent this season on IR. Schoen signed veteran Fabian Moreau as a stop-gap cornerback in 2022. Even though Moreau played well, he was not retained. Schoen waited as long as possible this year before bringing back veteran Adoree’ Jackson to add depth, hoping his young cornerbacks would step up. Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty ImagesDru Phillips If you remember from ‘Hard Knocks’, Schoen and the Giants were interested in cornerbacks KoolAid McKinstry and Kamari Lassiter in the 2024 NFL Draft. Neither made it to the Giants’ pick at No. 47. McKinstry went to the New Orleans Saints at No. 41 and Lassiter to the Houston Texans at No. 42. Both have shown promise, showing that the Giants were right in their evaluations. The Giants “settled” for safety Tyler Nubin, who has played 99% of the team’s defensive snaps and appears to be a long-term answer at that position in Round 2. They took slot cornerback Dru Phillips, the second-youngest player on the roster behind wide receiver Malik Nabers, in Round 3. Phillips has been impressive enough that he recently showed up in Round 1 of a Yahoo Sports re-draft and was the 11th-ranked rookie by NFL.com in its midseason rookie rankings. So, you can argue that after missing out on a cornerback in Round 2 they found two long-term answers in their secondary. The Giants, incidentally, had three players in the top 25 of that ranking. Flott, in his third year, was a question mark as an outside cornerback heading into the season. He has played decently with four passes defensed and a 101.1 passer rating against. Despite being in his third season, the only Giants younger than the 23-year-old Flott are Nabers, Phillips and Jalin Hyatt. How many resources the Giants continue to need to put into cornerback in the next couple of offseasons depends largely on Banks. The former Maryland Terrapin showed promise last season, when he only occasionally had to match up with the No. 1 receiver on opposing teams. Even as a collegian Banks has never made enough plays on the ball, but the hope has been that would change with experience. Banks has struggled this season as the Giants have changed their defensive scheme and he has been asked to cover No. 1 receivers full time. The effort issues that led to Banks’ eventual benching for part of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, are a red flag and bear continued attention. “We’re not giving up on Tae,” GM Joe Schoen said during his bye week press conference. “He’s got the physical traits. He’s shown the ability to match the top receivers on other teams. And corner’s a tough position to play. You’re moving backwards and you’re going against some of the greatest athletes in the world that are moving forward. And there’s balls that are going to be caught on you. And he’s been in really good position on some of them. “So, we’re not going to give up on Tae. He works hard. He wants it. And I still believe he’s got a bright future.” The verdict This is a position the Giants need to continue pouring resources into. Jackson has given them little as a veteran backup, so improvement could be used there. Flott has done OK, but size is still an issue for the 175-pounder on the outside. An upgrade could be found there, which would turn Flott into a useful depth player in the slot and on the outside. How heavily the Giants need to invest in this position, though, comes down to whether Banks a) grows up and b) shows he isn’t overmatched against the league’s top receivers.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73721053/usa_today_24483239.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Eagles-Cowboys Film Review: Jalen Carter is flying under the radar")
Eagles-Cowboys Film Review: Jalen Carter is flying under the radar
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Well, it appears that this Philadelphia Eagles defense is awesome. This was another fantastic performance, but you have to put a huge asterix next to it because Cooper Rush and this Dallas Cowboys’ offense were absolutely awful. They were not competitive. How bad must Trey Lance be?! Anyway, despite the weak competition, I enjoyed this one a lot. Let’s get into why. (Previously: Eagles-Cowboys offensive film review) Defense I was very critical of C.J. Gardner-Johnson last week, so it’s only fair that I credit him this week. He bounced back and played really well. The first play of the game set the tone for the rest of the game. One thing I really like about this Eagles’ defense right now is the aggresiveness in the flat. They aren’t giving up easy yardage and they are trying to defend every single inch of the field. This is a big difference from previous iterations of this defense. Here’s another example. Cooper DeJean has turned this defense around. He’s the perfect modern day nickel cornerback as he looks like he could play cornerback, safety, or linebacker. He flies downhill with real intensity and aggression and blows up this play in the backfield. However, he does miss the tackle. Rallying to the football is one of the best traits of basically any good defense. Look at the hustle that Nolan Smith and Zack Baun show here to get to the receiver. How good is it to see 3 young athletes combining to make the play. I love this play! This play is going to be my ‘Concept of the Week’ this week, so I’m not going to get into the design of the play. I will, however, point out the absolute star that is Quinyon Mitchell. Defensive rookie of the year? Although it’s really hard for a defensive back to win it without any star plays, real analysts will recognise that he should absolutely be in the conversation. He is going to go up against Terry McLaurin a lot on Thursday night, and a big performance will increase his national profle. He’s been so good. There’s no obvious weaknesses with him and he seems to do everything well already. I don’t know what else to add about Zack Baun. He’s awesome every single week. The Eagles need to sign him as soon as possible because the price tag is increasing. I like to think that I am a realistic, rational sports fan, and I understand the business involved in sports. But I will be furious if Baun ends up on another team next year. The Eagles must pay this guy. I’ve been dreaming of a linebacker like this for years! I’ll get to Jalen Carter later because he’s also awesome, but it’s worth pointing out that he is frequently being double-teamed, and offensive linemen are struggling to get to the second level. This makes it much easier for both Baun and Nakobe Dean to excel. If you think back to the Falcons game, the Eagles were slanting Jalen Carter, which allowed the guards to get to Baun immediately. That isn’t happening right now. Carter doesn’t have the huge sack numbers that other defensive stars do, so he is going under the radar. However, he’s playing extremely well. He was fantastic against the run in this game. Whenever the Cowboys tried to block him with one man, they failed. He blew up multiple runs, and it looked easy for him at times. He’s a star. When the sack numbers start to reflect how good he is, people are going to talk about him a lot more. People often think Fanigo’s defense is easy on the outside cornerbacks, but that is not true. When they play standard quarters (quads/cover 4) coverage against a 3×1 set, the weak safety will always look out for crossing routes from the strong side (this is known as Trix). This means the weak side cornerback and linebacker will also end up one-on-one. In addition to this, there is a lot of room for safety and linebacker coverage. Quinyon Mitchell doesn’t seem to care, though. He covers this well, and I love how aggressive he is at the catch point. He plays the ball so well. This is an outstanding rep. Fangio teaches the gap-and-a-half technique, where the defensive tackle has his main gap but also keeps an eye on the gap next to his. He needs to use this because, with two deep safeties, he needs to ‘cheat’ a gap. Carter plays his perfectly here. Jordan Davis uses a different way of shutting down a gap by just shoving the tackle back into the A-gap! Davis hasn’t taken another jump yet and is pretty much just an early down run defender at this point, but he’s doing it well. He still has a valuable role, even if it’s limited. The route distribution in this game was excellent. I don’t care if you are playing Cooper Rush or Patrick Mahomes; you can still see how the route distribution looks from the All22. In the first month of the season, the Eagle’s route distribution from their single-high zone defense was awful. Remember when they just couldn’t cover a crossing route? These issues seem to be resolved now. Fangio’s defense is complicated and it can take time to perfect, but it feels like this current secondary are running it at at a very high level now. He obviously teaches it very well, to his players and his coaches! It must be very hard for opposing quarterbacks because every single coverage looks identical pre-snap. The Eagles ability to stop the run with a 4-man front is enabling them to line up with this split-safety look pre-snap every single time. The Bryce Huff stuff is interesting. I watched Fangio’s press conference this week and he was adamant that Huff isn’t playing as much because he is hurt. Fangio rarely lies in his press conferences so I am inclined to believe him. It
Zack Baun is NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Philadelphia’s inside linebacker is a total beast. Saquon Barkley is NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, according to an official league announcement. Baun was an absolute BEAST in the Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Dallas Cowboys. He logged a team-high eight total tackles (three solo), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one tackle for loss. We raved about Baun in this week’s edition of Winners-Losers-IDKs: The thought struck me on Sunday afternoon: is Zack Baun the best Eagles linebacker … ever?! I’m aware it sounds hyperbolic. And, look, I was born in 1991, my memory of watching the Eagles goes back to the early 2000s. But I feel like Baun is the best Eagles linebacker I’ve ever watched. He’s an absolute beast. Really, is there anything he can’t do? Baun has looked great in coverage. So much so that I nearly mistook him for a defensive back the way he gained depth to break up a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. He’s allowed just a 72.6 passer rating when targeted. Pro Football Focus has him graded as their second-best linebacker in coverage this season … only slightly behind FRED WARNER. Baun is dominant against against the run. He leads all NFL linebackers in defensive stops, which are tackles that constitute a failure for the offense. He has 40. Three players are tied for second with 36 … and they’ve all played one more game than Baun has. Safe to say the Eagles really nailed this free agent signing. Speaking during his Tuesday press conference, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Howie Roseman put Baun on his radar … but it was Fangio who foresaw a position change maximizing Baun’s strengths. Q: Zack Baun gives you a lot of credit for helping him become the player that he is this year. What is it that you saw in him that gave you the belief in him? VIC FANGIO: Y’know, I don’t know. When I evaluate players, there’s no check box, things you check off. You just watch the tape, watch the movement patterns, watch the player play. And Howie brought him up to me first, but he had a vision for him as a backup outside linebacker/special teams demon. After I watched him, I said ‘No, I think he’s an inside linebacker.’ Luckily, it hit. Baun is the first Eagles player to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week since Brandon Graham in Week 14 of the 2022 season. Baun is the first Eagles inside linebacker to win NFC Defensive Player of the Week since … Jeremiah Trotter Sr. all the way back in 2005. With the way he’s playing right now, it wouldn’t be surprising if Baun wins this award again before the season is over.
The most-improved NFL teams at every position group in 2024
PFF takes a look atthe most-improved teams at every position group, using the difference in PFF overall grade from 2023 to 2024.
Rams’ Good, Bad, and Ugly: How is this the cheapest defense?
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Magical defensive effort gets washed away with offensive disappearing act The Los Angeles Rams currently have $190.7 million invested in their offense this year which is the second-highest paid offense in the league, but that unit only put up 15 points on Monday Night Football in a deflating loss against the Miami Dolphins. Meanwhile the league’s cheapest defense did everything they could possible do to keep LA in the game. Defense = Good, Offense = Bad, Losing = Ugly. The Good Rams officially have a top-10 defense PICKED! Christian Rozeboom has it for the @RamsNFL! : #MIAvsLAR on ESPN/ABC : Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/ruREK3xAW7 — NFL (@NFL) November 12, 2024 Sean McVay’s offense once again wasted a magical performance by Chris Shula’s defense on Monday Night Football. The Rams had a total of 10 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, and two turnovers. Jared Verse was an absolute game wrecker once again and was credited with a forced fumble and a recovery while Christian Rozeboom (you read that right) had not one, not two, but three passes defended and an interception that could have easily been two. Omar Speights, the undrafted rookie from LSU, was the lead tackler with eight combined tackles and helped hold De’Von Achane to just 37 yards on 12 attempts. Even the secondary, who many believe to be LA’s weakest unit, didn’t allow a single 100-yard receiver and held Tyreek Hill to just 16 yards and Jaylen Waddle to 34. On paper, Monday’s game shouldn’t have even been close with the defensive efforts put on by one the league’s youngest defenses. If the Rams have a chance to make the playoffs it will be because Shula’s defense is far outperforming all expectations. Joshua Karty is the answer at kicker Joshua Karty : 5/6 FG’s (Career-high 55-yard FG at the end of the 1st half. Accounted for all of the team’s 15 points) pic.twitter.com/Wi6OmkXsRl — Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) November 12, 2024 It is hard not to talk about the kicker in a game where he was the only one scoring for the team… so here we are giving our respect to our rookie special teamer. Karty made five of his six field goal attempts with his only miss coming on a 57-yard attempt that he punched in easily from 52 before a Beaux Limmer false start negated the try. He was good from 34, 55, 53, 22, and 31-yards out. The Bad Matthew Stafford was off Matt Stafford had Kyren Williams wide open and didn’t see him pic.twitter.com/XhJV8erpVF — Tedd Buddwell (@TedBuddy8) November 12, 2024 We will get to the offensive line in a second, but regardless Matthew Stafford looked lost on primetime. He finished the game with a decent stat line (293 yards on 46 attempts) but finished with a QBR of just 77.5 and missed on a number of opportunities in the redzone that could have put his team back into the game. It seems like anytime LA gets in the 10-20 yard range this season Stafford has a knack for throwing the ball into the back of the endzone where no one has a chance to make a play on it. His biggest miss on the night came in the fourth quarter at Miami’s 4-yard line where Kyren Williams came untouched and unguarded out of the backfield and should have been an easy dink-and-dunk touchdown but ended in an incomplete pass to Demarcus Robinson. Kyren Williams fumbles again KYREN WILLIAMS FUMBLES. THE DOLPHINS RECOVER AND TAKE OVER pic.twitter.com/uvuesWMrNz — NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) November 12, 2024 Is it an overreaction to fear that Kyren Williams in Cam Akers 2.0? Akers was becoming a star for LA before tearing his Achilles in the preseason of LA’s Super Bowl season but found a way to miraculously make it back on to the field by the playoffs. He very nearly single-handedly cost the Rams the Divisional round against Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers with two unforgettable fumbles. In just nine games Williams has already fumbled three times which matches the amount of fumbles he had in the entirety of 2023. Blake Corum may get some more opportunities if McVay cannot trust Williams to secure the ball which just feels like Deja-vu all over again. The Ugly Jonah Jackson pic.twitter.com/iKYlUqPDlr — Sosa Kremenjas (@QBsMVP) November 13, 2024 Apart from Rob Havenstein, the Rams offense had all of their weapons back from injury on the offensive line—what did that look like? Stafford was sacked four times, hit six times, the ball batted at the line twice, two horrific snaps, and seven tackles-for-loss. Meanwhile Limmer and Justin Dedich watched their quarterback get harassed after the duo allowed only one sack in three games as starters. Maybe it was rust, maybe it was cohesion, but whatever it was we will learn quickly about how McVay felt about it when the starting lineup is released ahead of their matchup against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Arthur Maulet breaks down why he’s not a Raven just yet
Arthur Maulet breaks down why he’s not a Raven just yet glenn erby Every player signed or drafted by Baltimore wants to play like a “Raven” or be designated one by fans and head coach John Harbaugh. It’s a title earned, and for Arthur Maulet, he’s not quite there yet in his mind, nor are his head coaches. While addressing the media on Tuesday, Maulet stated, “I’m not a Raven yet,” Last season, Maulet played in 14 games and logged 37 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception, and five passes defended. The 30-year-old Maulet will compete with Ar’Darius Washington for the slot cornerback role.
The Colts want fans to ‘trust the process’ regarding Anthony Richardson? Really?
Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images 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
