Joe Flacco Should Be The Colts Starting Quarterback
Few things are puzzling without being surprising. Shane Steichen's comments via Kevin Bowen on 107.5 The Fan are both things though. In reference to Anthony Richardson, Steichen said, "He is our starting quarterback."
“We are trying to win football games,” he continued. “That’s the bottom line. We are trying to win football games. Obviously, when Anthony is out there, he makes a lot of big plays for us. That’s where it’s at.”
The comments can't come as a surprise to anyone who understands the sport, but more importantly, the business of the NFL. The Colts took Richardson with the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was touted as a player with unbelievable athleticism, but exceptionally raw as a quarterback. Blessed with a big arm, punishing size, and elite speed, he lacked accuracy and the ability to read plays.
In 12 games for the Florida Gators in 2022, Richardson only completed 54.7% of his passes. His team went 6-7 (3-5 in the SEC) as he led the 57th-ranked offense in college football. Impressive measurements and a spectacular combine later, the Colts basically drafted Joe Milton with a top-5 pick.
Richardson completed just 59.5% of his passes as a rookie, and so far this season, he is completing 50.6%. He went from 144 yards per game to 163.5 yards per game in the air. An oblique injury that sidelined him for Sunday's contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars was a blessing in disguise. 39-year-old Joe Flacco got the start, put on a clinic, and showed Richardson how quarterback is supposed to be played in the NFL.
Flacco completed 33 of 44 passes against the Jags (75% completion) for 359 yards and 3 touchdowns without throwing an interception. Last season for the Browns, the former Super Bowl MVP went 4-1 in five starts, averaging 323.2 yards per game. Despite being retired to start in 2023, Flacco showed he still has gas in the tank.
Steichen is toeing the company line with his comments. He has to say he's sticking with the Colt's long-term future in mind. One can't help but wonder after Sunday though, if the Colts want to win games this year, Flacco will be the starter going forward. If the team's goal is to get a top 5 pick in the 2025 draft, they should stick with Richardson.