Anthony Richardson has quietly gone under the radar this off-season. After a short rookie outing, not many are expecting much from him and the Indianapolis Colts. In the minds of doubters, 2024 is set to be Richardson’s de facto rookie season.
However, there are several key reasons why Richardson can take the NFL by storm in his second year.
Anthony Richardson’s 2023 absence will lead to his 2024 salvation
The first big reason is the element of surprise. Last season, Richardson played in a handful of games. However, it is highly unlikely he was allowed to play at a speed and with the freedom of a veteran quarterback. Now, if managed correctly, he can make minds spin on the defensive side of the ball.
In other words, he could have set teams up with tape that could be actually be retrofitted into a trap. If teams prep to attack Richardson one way, he can attack the hole opened up in the defense with their change. Every defense has a hole in it, because there are not enough players allowed on the football field to cover every inch and angle of it. If Richardson and the Colts’ offense can identify how to manipulate defenses correctly and gear their offense to hit holes expected to be open, things can get crazy quickly.
The Colts stumbled into allowing Richardson the equivalent of nearly a full year with the playbook to get ready to play. In many situations, the extra time on the sideline has been proven to be a worthy investment. As such, despite forcing him to play in Week 1, they may have given their quarterback exactly what he needed.
Patrick Mahomes sat for most of his rookie season as a first-round pick. Now, Richardson has the chance to capitalize on the extra time in the oven.
Another solid Colts offensive line sets Anthony Richardson up for success
Additionally, the Colts are known for building amazing offensive lines. This was the case for much of the Andrew Luck era. Now, the team once again is set to have plenty of protection for Richardson. This will help him stay healthy and also give him more time to read defenses correctly to win with his arm. It also will help open running lanes for him.
Tackle Bernhard Raimann earned an 82.7 PFF grade last season. Guard Braden Smith earned an 83.3 PFF grade. Quenton Nelson earned a 70.8 PFF. Ryan Kelly earned a 77.2 PFF grade. Will Fries earned the lowest grade at 61.2, but most teams would call that score around average in their lineup.
Put simply, Richardson will be well-protected this season. When a quarterback is protected and relaxed, they can have fun playing the game. When they don’t, it can be brutally painful. Anthony Richardson is set up for the former scenario.
