INDIANAPOLIS – After watching his Indianapolis Colts underachieve and fail to make the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, Chris Ballard mentioned the need to add “stress’’ throughout the roster.
There was too much complacency and not enough positional competition.
“There has to be real stress within that locker room, an uncomfortability that if I don’t play well enough, my (butt) will not be on the field playing,’’ Ballard said in his post-2024 meeting with the media in early January.
He amped that up several notches Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Anthony Richardson, the Colts’ no-doubt starting quarterback since being selected with the 4th overall pick in the 2023 draft, faces open competition for his job in year 3.
It must be the “right guy’’ capable of creating “real competition,’’ Ballard insisted.
While that was the attention-grabbing bullet point of Ballard’s extensive meeting with the media, the underlying inference was undeniable.
It’s incumbent upon Richardson to earn the job he’s been paid handsomely to do – $33.9 million guaranteed with his early first-round entry – and that means maximizing his first real offseason to develop as a franchise quarterback.
As a rookie, Richardson dealt with the transition from the University of Florida where he started just 13 games to the NFL and the pressures of being the automatic face of a franchise that’s searched for one since Andrew Luck’s retirement before the 2019 season.
Last offseason, when his developmental arc should have surged upward, Richardson focused on rehabbing his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Now is the time.
From whenever he began working out in Florida with personal coach Tom Gomerly and others to April 21 when the Colts’ offseason workout begins to training camp in late July, Richardson must prepare to earn his next snap as the Colts’ starting quarterback.
The first step was sitting down with Richardson and being totally honest regarding the situation he’s had a hand in creating with the injuries and scattershot arm.
“We’ve had good conversations,’’ Ballard said. “Anthony has accepted all of it. He understands there needs to be some growth in his work.
“There’s no deferring or defensiveness. It’s like, ‘I know, I’ve got to go to work.’ He’s handled it well. The ability to self-evaluate is the only chance to really grow.
“Unfortunately, growth happens through some pain. It just does.’’
Ballard believes Richardson is surrounded by the right individuals, including agent Deiric Jackson, who’s honest with his client when it comes to how to grow personally and professionally.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder talked with Jackson, who told him Richardson understands the importance of this offseason and is realistic about the magnitude of year 3.
Having accepted the seriousness of the situation, it’s up to Richardson to seize the moment. His career and the direction of the franchise hang in the balance.
“Last offseason, Anthony spent a lot of time rehabbing,’’ Ballard said. “Now he can focus on just training, developing and getting better fundamentally which will be fun to watch.’’
No one questions Richardson’s threat as a runner. He’s a unique blend of size (6-5, 250), power and speed.
In 2024, Richardson’s 499 yards set a franchise record for rushing by a quarterback despite missing six games. He averaged 5.8 yards per attempt and piled up eight touchdowns.
“The threat of Anthony or any running quarterback creates another dimension you have to worry about defensively,’’ Ballard said.
The downside: the risk of injury.
Richardson has missed 17 of 34 regular-season games with a concussion, a sprained right shoulder, an oblique injury and back spasms. He was benched for two others last season for lacking the necessary preparation and attention to detail.
The Colts aren’t expected to dial back Richardson’s running. They knew what they were getting when they drafted him.
The issue with Richardson’s game has been accuracy. More to the point, the lack of it.
He’s completed 50.6% of his passes in 15 starts, the worst among quarterbacks with at least 348 attempts the past two seasons. His 47.7% last year is a franchise record low.
Ballard insisted Richardson’s “a natural thrower,’’ but one who must work on his footwork and other fundamentals.
“Making sure he gets his feet right, make sure he can layer throws,’’ he said. “All of that stuff needs work and I think he knows that. When he does it right, it’s a beautiful thing. Now it’s being able to do it down after down after down.’’
Shane Steichen agreed.
“Consistency is the biggest thing,’’ he said. “We’ve had those conversations . . . myself and him. Just being consistent.
“Building on the fundamentals and obviously just continue to work on his passing. Getting the completion percentage up will be big going forward for him.’’
Here’s some context: In nine of his 15 starts, Richardson has completed 50% or fewer of his passes. He was 11-of-28 (39.3%) against Detroit and 10-of-32 (31.3%) at Houston.
“I think it’s repetition,’’ Steichen said. “Repetitions and going over and over again is going to be big for him. The fundamental part of it.
“I think he has really quick feet. I think it’s just getting the repetitions with those guys to get the completion percentage up.’’
The Colts realized they were drafting a young, inexperienced quarterback at the top of the 2023 draft.
“We knew there were going to be some hiccups along the way,’’ Ballard said. “I know we all want a finished product right now.
“He’s just gotta be consistent. He’s a really good dude. He cares and I think he’ll put the work in.
“I know we all want Superman every week and every day, but his background when he came into the league and when we took him, it is what it is. We’ve got to work through that.’’
Anthony Richardson must work through that.
