1 hour ago 2

Would getting Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson involved be a mistake?

I’m not going to claim to be the only one who has given this some thought regarding this year’s Indianapolis Colts.

While the offense has hummed to the tune of not having punted through two games, we do still have more FGs than TDs. Personally, I think we would show a better rate, but four plays in the end zone that could have been called PI, went as incompletions that killed drives. On the other hand, if you are not given your opponents as much as possible to think about from week to week, you are not maximizing your offense. Shouldn’t you be able to find a little bit of something to do for a guy that is 6’5”, 250 lbs. that runs a 4.43 forty yard dash, with a 40” vertical jump?

There are at least three things to consider.

Would it even be effective? I mean, it is not like Jones has been ineffective on the sneak. What situations that we have had to this point, might AR have given us more of an advantage than what play and personnel we used? We have not ran the Wildcat to this point, is that the only package we would use him for? From what I have seen over two games, I think you only gain an advantage if you have both Jones and Richardson on the field together, rather than replacing Jones with Richardson.
Would AR and his agent even entertain seeing him used as anything but a QB? He will be up for picking up his 5th year option next year and I would guess that he’d get more money as a QB, than a gadget guy. If he is truly a team first guy and want’s to show the world that he wants to win, he could show he was willing to do anything to get on the field. I see him used as the 49ers used Deebo Samuel. A big horse in the backfield or a guy that can use his speed on a route.
Would it be best for the team? We may need him as a backup QB, so what happens if we get him hurt in his new role? If Jones is the guy, do we lessen AR’s trade value with a lesser role? Seeing Jones operate at a high level, has to lessen the likelihood that he plays his way out of the job. Richardson current role of “out of sight, out of mind”, might be what is best for the team dynamic.

If it is me, I use him as a way to make opponent’s spend some practice time preparing for him, but I don’t think I let him take a snap. We have a guy for that.