What should we expect from the skill group Colts built around Anthony Richardson?

Ben Arthur

AFC South Reporter

What the Indianapolis Colts have done this offseason to build around Anthony Richardson hasn’t piqued national interest. Certainly not in the way their AFC South rivals have done for their quarterbacks. 

The Texans added Pro Bowlers Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon. The Titans invested in Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard and Tyler Boyd. The Jaguars added Gabe Davis in free agency and used their first-round pick on LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., who led the FBS in receiving touchdowns last season. 

The Colts didn’t spend big money on an external offensive skill player this offseason (or any at all, as a matter of fact). Didn’t use their top pick on one, either. 

And yet, the Colts have a strong foundation around Richardson. 

We won’t know for sure until football is played, of course. But one must start with the tandem of Richardson and star running back Jonathan Taylor, who played just two snaps together last season. 

The dual-threat Richardson flashed potential as Indianapolis’ franchise quarterback in the 173 snaps he played as a rookie. And after missing the first four games of 2023 on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and missing another three in December due to a thumb injury, Taylor had returned to his All-Pro form by the end of the season. 

NFL defenses haven’t yet experienced how a Richardson-Taylor backfield throws them into conflict. 

There’s a whole side to coach Shane Steichen’s playbook that we haven’t seen. 

“To get those guys reps in the offseason program and going into training camp and getting a feel for each other in the backfield is going to be critical to our success moving forward,” Steichen said last month. “I think the communication part is huge. Just them being in the backfield together, communicating that way, the ball-handling aspect of it is big. That’s part of their deal, right? They’re going to have a lot of ball handling stuff that we’ve gotta get wired up with…

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Publish date : 2024-05-23 15:49:20

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