Colts HC Shane Steichen compares Anthony Richardson to Steph Curry when asked about his mobility

Anthony Richardson‘s surgically-repaired shoulder was feeling fine as the Colts kicked off training camp this week. And given that he missed most of last year because of injuries, might coach Shane Steichen keep his young quarterback in the pocket more?

Why subject a quarterback to an extra hit by hard-charging defender?

Steichen shook his head no when he spoke with reporters on Thursday after Colts practice.

“People ask this, too, a lot,” Steichen said. “It’s just like ‘Hey, are you gonna limit the run game?’ And I kind of think, like, shoot, are you gonna limit Steph Curry from shooting three-pointers? Well, that’s one of Anthony’s strengths. So, we’re not gonna get away from that. That’s what he does well.”

#Colts HC Shane Steichen:

“People ask this, too … ‘Hey, are you gonna limit the run game?’ And I kind of think like, ‘Shoot, are you gonna limit Steph Curry from shooting 3-pointers. Well, that’s one of Anthony (Richardson’s) strengths. We’re not gonna get away from that” pic.twitter.com/CmvJu6gxuR

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) July 25, 2024

Richardson, the former Florida Gator, likens his running ability to a super power. He could be the most athletic quarterback in the NFL. And at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds, he’s built like those edge rushers who try to sack him. So there are very good reasons for Richardson running the ball on called rushes or improvised scrambles.

But here’s the con. Richardson played only four games last season. He suffered a concussion in week two of the season. Then in week five, he suffered a grade three AC joint sprain. Colts doctors said he needed surgery for his shoulder to heal properly.

Richardson put together one brilliant game that could foreshadow what can come this fall. Against the Rams last September, the Colts quarterback threw two touchdowns and ran for another to help his team erase a 23-point deficit. Indy lost in overtime to the Rams, but everyone felt optimistic.

In Richardson’s four games, he rushed 25 times for 136 yards. He averaged a first down about every three runs.

“My legs [have] always been one of my super powers,” Richardson told reporters. “So, trying to take that away from me, I don’t think that’s a good thing for this offense. It’s just more so me playing a little bit smarter, and learning how to take care of myself and my teammates. Knowing when to make the right play and knowing when to try to get the extra few yards. Don’t take my legs away, but being more smart.”

#Colts QB Anthony Richardson on HC Shane Steichen trusting him to make the right reads as a runner:

“My legs always been one of my superpowers. So, trying to take that away from me, I don’t think that’s a good thing for this offense.”

Adds that Jonathan Taylor will help, too. pic.twitter.com/Hs3n85n0pA

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) July 25, 2024

The presence of Richardson can only help Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, and vice versa. Taylor missed the first month of the season. He and Richardson played in only one game together. But Taylor said he could see all the good things that could happen because of the quarterback.

“I think it’s going to be really fun,” Taylor told reporters. “[T]here were very few snaps (last fall), but we are praying for a full 17 weeks full of snaps this year.”

“So, that’s why it’s so exciting because it’s almost like there’s a whole new element now,” Taylor said. “You’re not just worrying about what I’m doing. It’s like, ‘You better worry about this guy because if not, he’s going to kill you.’”