Florida Gators in the NFL: Richardson Deserved Better from Colts

The Young QB Has Struggled, But Indy's Development Plan Failed Him

High potential. Enormous upside. Generational athlete. Raw. Developmental quarterback. Inconsistent fundamentals. Needs time. Needs the right coaching staff.

All of those things were written and said about Anthony Richardson during the draft process in 2023. All of those remain true today. But the Indianapolis Colts have benched Richardson, and that move will impact everything going forward. 

There is no denying the primary fact of this story - Richardson has struggled in the National Football League. There have been times this season when he’s played about as poorly as any first-round quarterback ever. Bad decisions have led to inexplicable interceptions and costly fumbles. He’s missed open receivers repeatedly - especially on short and intermediate throws. None of this however was unexpected. 

At the same time, Richardson has made breathtaking plays that are among the best by any quarterback this season. His touchdown throw in week one could be the throw of the season. Almost every one of his runs this season have showcased his elite combination of speed and power. As bad as his worst plays, his best plays are better than most quarterbacks in the league can ever pull off.

There were always going to be mistakes. The Colts knew this when they drafted him. They know this today. But they are pulling the plug now, likely because they felt like they had no choice after Richardson asked out of the game for one play and later explained it was because he was tired.

The reaction from players and coaches to a quarterback asking out of the game has been universal. Every one of them has said they’ve never seen a quarterback do that before. Most claimed it was unforgivable. Most said there was no way for Richardson to lead this team after it. 

There is no question Richardson shouldn’t have asked out of the game. There is also no question he isn’t the first quarterback ever to come out of a game because he was out of breath - he’s just the first one that was honest - naive? - enough to admit it.

One of the rare defenses of Richardson from a current or former coach came from Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He defended the play and Richardson’s talent, pointing out that AR ho-hummed a 300-pound lineman off his back and sprinted 15 yards up the field on the play in question.

Richardson’s overall numbers were awful on Sunday, and they aren’t much better over the course of six games this season. But when you watch the film, you see that he has played better than the numbers suggest, including Sunday when he should have had at least two additional touchdown passes. 

One perfect throw was caught but the receiver didn’t even attempt to get both feet down (1:03). Another elite throw was an outright drop in the end zone by the backup running back. A third could-have-been touchdown was ruled just short of the goal line on review (23:30). Despite a lot of poor plays against Houston, Richardson was unlucky not to have four touchdown passes. That’s exactly the kind of game the Colts signed up for when they drafted AR.

The Colts are claiming the decision to bench Richardson for 39-year-old Joe Flacco was due to AR’s overall up-and-down play. But is up and down play in 10 total games over the past two seasons a large enough sample to judge? One of the comps for Richardson before the 2023 draft was Josh Allen - another generational athlete with a cannon for an arm, accuracy issues, and elite running ability. It’s fascinating to look at their numbers through their first 10 career starts.

Allen was as raw as Richardson with the same inconsistent mechanics. Buffalo drafted Allen knowing it was going to need to develop him and give him time. Imagine if the Bills had pulled the plug on him after 10 games? 

Another aspect of this story that doesn’t sit right has been the rush by former players and coaches to defend the benching by slandering Richardson’s character. Many of them are quoting anonymous sources who claim AR doesn’t work hard enough, isn’t committed to his own development, and might not have the mental capacity to play the position.

I’ve covered Richardson in person at his Pro Day in Gainesville in March of 2023, at the 2023 NFL Combine, at the 2023 NFL Draft, and at training camp this past August. He has been impressive in every interview we’ve done - charming, polite, calm, and well spoken. Everyone I’ve worked with who comes in contact with him comes away saying what an impressive guy he is. There were zero whispers about these “character concerns” before the past two days. The rush to pin some questionable traits on him now has been disgusting.

Richardson is still only 22 years old. He’s younger than every quarterback in the league except Drake Maye. AR has a combined 23 collegiate and professional starts. He’s not developed as a player, and he certainly isn’t developed as a leader. 

Again, mistakes were expected. Lots of them. Expecting him to command an offense and a locker room like a veteran player is ridiculous. You can miss me with that garbage.

The Colts have failed Richardson more than Richardson has failed the Colts. Rather than building an offense around his skills, they’ve turned him into a gunslinger. The Colts throw the ball more than they run it, despite having AR and All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor. There are rarely quick and easy throws to build confidence and get Richardson into a rhythm. The play-calling has seemed to purposefully sabotage him at times. When Richardson hurt his hip earlier this season, the very next play was a designed run. Richardson crumpled to the turf and left the game for good after taking another hit. His interception on Sunday came on an awful play call on third-and-long, a position that head coach Shane Steichen absolutely cannot put his young and struggling QB in. 

Some are already writing Richardson off as a bust. Many doing that point to Richardson’s lack of collegiate experience. This is a popular myth in NFL circles - quarterbacks with limited reps in college flame out at a higher rate than those with more experience. The data does not back this up, but it won’t stop so-called experts from citing it.

Over the past 15 years, Cam Newton had the fewest collegiate passing attempts by far by a QB drafted in the first round. He won Rookie of the Year, an MVP, led his team to the Super Bowl, and ended his career with the most rushing touchdowns by a QB in NFL history. Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, and C.J. Stroud all rank in the bottom third of collegiate attempts and have proven to be excellent pros. 

On the flip side, Kenny Pickett had the most college passing attempts for a first-rounder with Josh Rosen, Jake Locker, and Paxton Lynch near the top as well. None of them worked out.

That said, I’m incredibly concerned about Richardson’s future. Very few high-pick quarterbacks have been benched for poor play and rebounded to have good careers. The few that did - Drew Brees, Alex Smith, and Geno Smith - all had their best seasons with different teams. 

When I wrote about Richardson before the draft back in 2023, I was concerned about him landing in Indianapolis because of the erratic nature of the organization, cycling through coaches and quarterbacks often over the past few years. Now after the past few days, it feels like any chance of Richardson reaching his immense potential has to come with another team and not the Colts.

BEST PLAYER OF WEEK 8

I’m hesitant to say anything positive anymore because I have seemingly been a massive curse on the former Gators in the league. But at the risk of jinxing it, the tight end in Atlanta might just finally be back. 

Pitts posted the first two-TD game of his pro career on Sunday. He’s now fourth among all tight ends in yards and touchdowns in 2024. He leads all TEs with at least 15 receptions in yards per catch. 

Yes, Pitts was almost a laughingstock with his near fumble before crossing the goal line for his second score. It’s a close a call as I’ve ever seen, and Pitts is probably happy there was no pylon camera Sunday in Tampa. 

BEST PLAY OF WEEK 8

C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s 13th career interception was certainly lucky. This is why you practice the tip drill.

Of course, he wouldn’t be Ceedy Duce if he wasn’t jawing at someone, in this case probably just exchanging some friendly Florida-LSU love with Ja’Marr Chase.

TOP 10 WEEK 8 PERFORMANCES

1 - Kyle Pitts. TE, ATL
Week 8: 4 rec (5 targets), 91 yards, 2 TD, 30 snaps (48%) 

2 - Demarcus Robinson, WR, LAR

Week 8: 2 rec (3 targets), 35 yards, 2 TD, 61 snaps (85%)

D-Rob had to feel like he had a lock on player of the week after his two-touchdown performance on Thursday Night Football. But even though Pitts overtook him, Robinson’s second-career two-tuddy game was impressive. Week in and week out, he does all the dirty work for the Rams offense with his fierce blocking. It was nice to finally see him rewarded with some end zone looks. The first score was a great adjustment and catch; the second was an excellent route.

3 - Jawaan Taylor, RT, KC

Week 8: 72 snaps (100%)

Taylor has been as maligned as any offensive linemen in the NFL over the past two seasons. He led the league in penalties last year and was among the league leaders through the first month this season. But he’s played clean football over the last three weeks, culminating in a perfect game this past Sunday against one of the league’s best defensive players, Maxx Crosby. 

4 - C.J. Gardner-Johnson, DB, PHI

Week 8: INT, 1 tackle, 1 PD, 55 snaps (95%)

5 - Alex Anzalone, LB, DET

Week 8: 1 sack, 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB hit, 72 snaps (95%)

Anzalone notched his first sack of the season on Sunday, but more impressively, he made a key block on a punt return that broke the game wide open for the Lions. 

6 - Ricky Pearsall, WR, SF

Week 8: 4 rec (4 targets), 38 yards, 1 rush, 39 yards, 40 snaps (59%)

What a night for Pearsall. He had 77 total yards in his first career start, helping the 49ers to a big win over the Cowboys. I wrote about his incredible recovery last week. My friend Lindsey Thiry and her ESPN producers and editors put together an excellent piece with the first responders who helped save Pearsall’s life. 

7 - Van Jefferson, WR, PIT

Week 8: 4 rec (5 targets), 62 yards, 53 snaps (80%)

Since Russell Wilson took over at QB for Pittsburgh, Jefferson is balling. He scored last week, and this week, he made maybe the toughest catch of his professional career.

8 - Jonathan Greenard, EDGE, MIN

Week 8: 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD, 65 snaps (90%)

9 - Ventrell Miller, LB, JAX

Week 8: 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 41 snaps (59%), 9 ST snaps (27%)

10 - Gervon Dexter, Sr., DT, CHI

Week 8: 6 tackles, 1 QB hit, 54 snaps (73%), 7 ST snaps (27%)

THE REST OF THE FORMER GATORS

Jonathan Bullard, DL, MIN

Week 8: 3 tackles, 51 snaps (71%)

O’Cyrus Torrence, G, BUF

Week 8: 76 snaps (100%)

Fred Johnson, OT, PHI

Week 8: 61 snaps (100%)

Tommy Townsend, P, HOU

Week 8: 6 punts, 42.8 avg, 40.8 net

Dameon Pierce, RB, HOU

Week 8: 1 rush, 4 yards, 2 KR, 39.0 avg, 4 snaps (6%), 5 ST snaps (15%)

Pierce is averaging 40 yards per kick return on the year.

Dante Fowler, Jr., OLB, WAS

Week 8: 1 tackle, 28 snaps (44%)

Marcus Maye, S, MIA

Week 8: 1 tackle, 49 snaps (74%)

Brandon Powell, WR/PR, MIN

Week 8: 1 PR, 6.0 avg, 6 snaps (12%), 8 ST snaps (32%)

Evan McPherson, K, CIN

Week 8: 1/2 FG, Long 27, Miss 54, 2/2 XP

McPherson missed his fourth field goal of the season - three of those misses are from 50+ yards.

Eddy Piñeiro, K, CAR

Week 8: 2/2 XP

Marco Wilson, CB, NE

Week 8: 1 tackle, 23 snaps (37%), 4 ST snaps (15%)

Jeremiah Moon, OLB, PIT

Week 8: 1 tackle, 7 snaps (10%), 18 ST snaps (60%)

Anthony Richardson, QB, IND

Week 8: 10/32, 175 pass yards, TD, INT, 6 rush, 45 yards

Taven Bryan, DT, IND

Week 8: 24 snaps (34%), 10 ST snaps (30%)

T.J. Slaton, NT, GB

Week 8: 16 snaps (28%), 12 ST snaps (36%)

Amari Burney, LB, LV

Week 8: 20 ST snaps (83%)

Justin Shorter, TE, LV

Week 8: 2 snaps (3%), 12 ST snaps (50%)

Kaiir Elam, CB, BUF

Week 8: 4 ST snaps (17%)

Kyle Trask, QB, TB

Week 8: Did Not Play

INACTIVE

Brenton Cox, Jr., OLB, GB

Zach Carter, DT, LV

C.J. Henderson, CB, PIT

PRACTICE SQUAD

La’Mical Perine, RB, PIT

Malik Davis, RB, DAL

Justin Shorter, TE, LV

Kingsley Eguakun, C, DET

Richard Gouraige, OT, BUF

David Sharpe, OT, HOU

Kadarius Toney, WR, CLE

Trey Dean III, S, CLE

INJURED RESERVE

Trent Brown, RT, CIN

Stone Forsythe, OT, SEA