Anthony Richardson's elusiveness has the Colts near the top of the league in a certain stat

The Indianapolis Colts offensive line play this season has been like night and day from last year's awful season.  While the group is certainly playing better, Anthony Richardson's mobility is already helping the group minimize how often their QB is hit.  Richardson's ability to sense pressure and move both inside and outside the pocket has […]

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) and fellow members of the Colts offensive line look to the score board after a play ended in the Los Angeles Rams' favor during the first half of the game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Indianapolis Colts offensive line play this season has been like night and day from last year's awful season. 

While the group is certainly playing better, Anthony Richardson's mobility is already helping the group minimize how often their QB is hit. 

https://twitter.com/brickwallblitz/status/1709264658803089512

Richardson's ability to sense pressure and move both inside and outside the pocket has been impressive so far through his first three games. Even when the offensive line allows pressure, he's been tremendous at avoiding it and extending the play. And that shows in their total QB hits this season being 17, which is tied for the 4th lowest in the NFL, tied with the San Francisco 49ers, who most view as the best offensive line in the NFL. After four weeks last season, the Colts had already allowed 33 QB hits, nearly double the team's 17 this season. The arrival of Richardson seems to have had a big impact on this. A great example of this is shown below. 

This, paired with the Colts offensive line grading out very well in pass protection so far this season, has been a significant development. Even more impressive for this stat is that the team has been without center Ryan Kelly for nearly three of the team's four games, along with Richardson missing almost two himself.