Stampede Blue
Since the pads have come on, both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are beginning to find a groove within the Colts’ offense.
Westfield, IN — The weather isn’t the only thing heating up at Grand Park Sports Campus. Both quarterbacks have stacked strong showings to kick off the full-padded practices and can attribute their consistency to a run-heavy script over the past two days.
The starting defense manned by defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is by no means making it easy on them either. A respectable defense at the very least, they’ve tried to win each team session just as much as the offense has. Prior to Monday’s practice, the defense had dominated the offense through three practices.
As of recent, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones have found some footing within the offense and are finally getting their licks back, notably doing so at an efficient rate. With my focus being on the offense, here are my notes from the second padded practice (and sixth altogether):
Following yesterday’s run-heavy day, which resulted in both Colts quarterbacks having efficient days through the air, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones responded with another such showing. Neither quarterback threw an interception during team periods today, and both remained consistent overall.
Starting with the first Goal Line team period of training camp thus far, Anthony Richardson led the starters to paydirt two separate times after starting the period with two playcalls that more or less used rookie tight end Tyler Warren as a decoy — a shovel pass for minimal gain after it looked like it was intended for Warren, and then motioning him for the lead block on the play after. The two touchdowns in question were both in stride to Michael Pittman Jr. and Mo Alie-Cox. His next 11-on-11 period near midfield saw his first miscommunication with Warren, though it also provided us with the first Warren carry from the fullback position. Richardson finished that period strong, completing both of his pass attempts on quick-hitters to Michael Pittman Jr.
Richardson then took this momentum and ran with it during his only 7-on-7 session with the starters. He went 5-6 through the air during this period, where he honed in the short game for all of his completions; the lone incompletion was a true 50-50 ball to Alec Pierce downfield that was broken up by Samuel Womack III.
His last two 11-on-11 sessions were a night-and-day difference. Richardson followed this 7-on-7 period with a perfect showing with the starters, rushing for a touchdown and going 3-3 through the air, capping the session with a patient find (great OL play) to Josh Downs on a deep in-breaker in the back of the end zone for the score. Finally, there was the rocky conclusion to an otherwise stellar day for the third-year quarterback. Richardson’s day ended on a low note alongside the second team during their last 7-on-7 session. His biggest mistake personally was fumbling perhaps for the first time all camp on the...
