NGT- The Colts and their QB Richardson

[MightyGiants]

When it comes to developing NFL QBs I think there are three factors to consider

1) How NFL ready and how just QB ready is a prospect-  I will admit these are somewhat separate.  In Richardson's case, he was raw and needed development using college standards.  There is also the difference in the game and things like calling the plays in the huddle and taking the snap under center that may need to be learned

2) How equipped is the team to develop a prospect-  You want a prospect to enjoy quality coaching stability, reasonably good protections, and receivers that help make the job (and hence development) easier.  We didn't learn to ride a bike by continually getting on the bike and immediately falling.  Whoever taught us helped us learn to ride some distance before a fall (plus, often there is the use of training wheels).  I think the Colts are pretty solid in this aspect, although indecision at QB has me wondering.

3) Expectations-  As has been mentioned, where a QB was drafted can make it easier or more difficult for a drafted QB.  No matter the QB and how mentally strong they are, there is no doubt they feel the weight of expectations. 

[MightyGiants]

Completion percentage is 70 or less. Which is the product of accuracy and other factors. It's difficult to determine decision making without in-depth film study. I agree with overall consistency when it's clear if a QB had a good game or a bad game. However, in some cases, should it take six years to figure that out?

True, measuring consistency can be challenging. Although the book on Richardson came out, it was he was an elite quarterback with athletic skills. That was offset by making a throw only a handful of men on the planet could make, followed by the next play in which he missed his receiver by more than 5 yards.

[bamagiantfan]

1st round picks cant be developmental players IMHO.  That's what the 5th round is for.

It can be a little earlier, but I agree with you in principle. Malik Willis was a 3rd Round selection. Green Bay is starting to see the rewards of having some patience and a long term plan for the QB position while Tennessee is trying to exercise some patience now that Levis is their QB. It is easy for us to talk about, but if you are the coach under the Tennessee headset, you don't get paid to be patient. It didn't take long for Shanahan to decide Trey Lance wasn't going to be the guy and turn to the last pick in the draft as the starter. It feels like The Coach at Indy got some direction from above regarding Richardson.

It is hard to call plays for a guy who has only completed more than 50% of his passes once in 6 games. Steichen is probably going to,
1. tell Richardson to do the work and get his a$$ in shape
2. have Richardson take some accountability by addressing the team, perhaps even apologize for his immaturity,  and tell his teammates how things will be different.
3. dumb down the game plan to allow Richardson to complete more passes, rely his legs to get him out of bad plays, and gain some confidence. He has weapons.

Some of those have probably already happened.