Colts reveal specific trait that made them go all-in on Anthony Richardson
The Indianapolis Colts surprised some with their first-round draft selection. It was a foregone conclusion that the team was going to take a quarterback. However, many draft pundits got the player wrong. Will Levis was the prospect being linked to the Colts the most leading up to the draft. From mock drafts to even Peyton […]
The Indianapolis Colts surprised some with their first-round draft selection. It was a foregone conclusion that the team was going to take a quarterback. However, many draft pundits got the player wrong.
Will Levis was the prospect being linked to the Colts the most leading up to the draft. From mock drafts to even Peyton Manning, all the talk centered around Levis. Indianapolis, however, preferred Anthony Richardson.
Richardson is a high-upside quarterback that has the potential of being a home run pick for the Colts. Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen explained their thinking of the pick after the first-round.
Indianapolis did its homework on all of the top signal caller prospects in the class. It was crucial for the Colts to come out of the first-round with a player that they are confident building the franchise around.
Ballard explained that the Colts believe Richardson fits in well with what they want to do in Indianapolis. The GM admitted that there was a lot of excitement in the room when making the selection.
"Excited," Ballard said in the Colts' presser. "You’ve seen the draft room. Got a little tense there at (pick) three, but we’re excited. Did a lot of work on Anthony (Richardson), spent a lot of time with him, you know, over the last month. I think he’s a good fit for us."
Head coach Shane Steichen is entering his first season at the helm. Landing a quarterback that fits his system was a priority. After turning on Richardson's tape, Steichen knew that the Florida passer was who he wanted.
"Yeah, obviously the tape was the first time I saw him" Steichen said in the presser. "Just his playmaking ability, what he brings from a playmaking ability, his physical skillset is impressive."
Specific trait has Colts all-in
Furthermore, it's clear that it's Richardson's poise that has the Colts excited about the future. Both Ballard and Steichen explained that they came away impressed with how Richardson handled adversity.
"I mean, when you watch him against the pressure in the pocket, just his movements in the pocket, feeling the rush, not seeing it, being able to get out of the pocket and create the explosive plays that he does is pretty dynamic," Steichen said.
Ballard understands how crucial it is for the Colts to have somebody that they believe in behind center. In Richardson, the Colts' general manager sees a player that is ready for the big moments.
"He’s young, but he’s very poised," added Ballard. "I think you see it when he plays. Like, when you look at his – he’s a very poised young man. Even though he hasn’t had a lot of starts, just the one thing that I kept going back and watching, all his pressures. Everybody that pressured him. That’s when you really saw his poise come to light."
The Indianapolis Colts did not just address the quarterback position. Rather, the Colts added to the quarterback position with an exciting player at a premium draft selection. The future looks to be bright for Richardson and the Colts.
