A scarcity of offensive manufacturing via the Colts’ first two preseason video games with backup quarterbacks Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard splitting the snaps, Indianapolis is probably going to have a look at the minute particulars within the movie to assist select a QB2 within the coming weeks.
With out query, Richardson’s first half of Aug. 13’s sport towards the Patriots – a 22-yard scramble, a number of darts for first downs and a late-half drive from the workforce’s personal 8-yard-line to place the Colts in lengthy subject purpose vary in simply 24 seconds – make up the majority of his spotlight reel. However his two main misses – one off the fingers of a leaping Coleman Owen for an interception – mixed with an inexcusable fumble on the finish of a 10-yard scramble have supplied the complete Richardson expertise. Collectively, it paints the image of a participant whose strengths are deserving of his fourth-overall choice greater than three years in the past, however who in the end cannot be relied upon to take care of that stage over the course of a complete sport – and even a complete half.
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He additionally did little to again up the promise of that efficiency Saturday towards the Falcons, whereas operating with the third workforce within the second half, ending a meager 3-for-9 passing for twenty-four yards with three rushes for 15 yards and two sacks.
In his personal two halves of labor, Leonard – 10-for-21 for 89 yards and a nasty interception towards the Patriots with the third workforce and 7-for-14 for 62 yards with the second workforce Saturday towards Atlanta – has accomplished nothing to raise him in a contest coach Shane Steichen mentioned final week he plans to run via the tip of the preseason.
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“It is about determination making, timing, accuracy, capability to kind of run the offense, run the huddle, talk effectively together with his teammates,” Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter mentioned of the method of evaluating the 2 quarterbacks. “Shoot, simply main the workforce down for factors. We’re trying to drive down and rating a couple of extra factors than we did this earlier preseason sport.”
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Saturday, in a sport the Colts misplaced 34-6, Leonard led the workforce to a pair of first-half subject objectives, whereas Richardson’s offense went scoreless. The week prior, Richardson drove the Colts contained in the Patriots’ 35-yard-line 4 occasions however got here away with simply seven factors whereas Leonard’s drives contributed six factors by way of a pair of lengthy subject objectives.
“We’re evaluating each single snap and what went into the play name, the choice, the place did the throw go or possibly even the run learn,” Cooter continued. “All the choices these guys make – every part they do – that is quarterbacking on the NFL stage. We’re evaluating it and kind of evaluating how effectively they do it and likewise how constantly they do it effectively, which is actually necessary.”
Each quarterbacks have often been pressured to be on the transfer over Indianapolis’ two preseason video games in response to shaky offensive line safety. That, mixed with a lingering stage of internal uncertainty and sluggish processing, hindered Leonard’s efficiency in Sport 1. The second-year quarterback’s greatest flaw all through coaching camp is an lack of ability to acknowledge and course of the play creating in entrance of him after which making the split-second determination with confidence.
Leonard mentioned Saturday he felt he’d made some vital strides over final week that confirmed in sport tape, even when the uncooked stats did not look higher.
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“Clearly (Saturday’s efficiency) to not my commonplace. A pair throws I would like again,” he mentioned postgame. “However I feel my total play, I feel I noticed it very effectively. Form of knew what was occurring and the place to place the ball.
“I look again, and the occasions I’ve quite a lot of remorse is after I do not know what I am doing on the market. I do not know who’s the place and may’t discover them, however a pair missed throws right here and there – that is one thing I do know I can repair. There is a huge distinction on this league from ‘not having the ability to’ and ‘you may; you simply do not execute.’ And I do know I can execute at a excessive stage. I really feel like I’ve proven that earlier than. Simply did not occur at this time, so I’ve simply obtained to seek out that.”
Richardson characterised his personal preseason play fairly succinctly: “I feel alright. Shifting the ball a little bit bit. Simply attempting to handle it, go on the market and put up some factors and put the workforce in a very good place. I feel it is alright to date.”
The problem, after all, in evaluating the pair is the imperfect comparability when their on-field teammates for these reps, in addition to the opponent – operating the second workforce offense towards and second-team protection versus a third-team offense towards a third-team protection. Cooter mentioned the teaching employees and entrance workplace, in the end, is wanting in these conditions for whose pure quarterbacking capability can rise above the chaos of these transferring items and that imperfect comparability.
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“The job is to exit and play effectively,” the Colts offensive coordinator mentioned. “So we consider every participant primarily based on what we anticipate them to do, or what they’ll do to assist their workforce, and we’ll consider the state of affairs they’re put in. Generally, one thing occurs fast within the pocket – shoot, that may be with the primary offensive line or the third offensive lin. That is each NFL preseason sport.
“You are going to discover points that quarterbacks must navigate, and that is a part of soccer, so we consider the state of affairs that they are in.”
Understanding that then, the battle for Leonard and Richardson is to not try to be a superhero in a preseason sport and do greater than the state of affairs requires – or greater than what it could enable for, as a result of Steichen, Cooter and basic supervisor Chris Ballard in the end will not let a single dart over the center or a back-shoulder landing throw determine a complete depth chart spot battle. Too many occasions or forcing a sq. peg right into a spherical gap, although will present a scarcity of comprehension.
“And I feel that is one thing that is fairly troublesome, as a result of if you’re in a quarterback competitors, the competitor in you simply tells you, ‘Hey, let’s win it proper now. Let’s make this cool play. It is going to be laborious to win the job in the event you play a boring sport,'” Leonard mentioned. “However that is simply the utterly flawed means to have a look at it.
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“I haven’t got to show something to anybody. I am one in all 11 that is within the offense on the market, so taking that out of my thoughts and simply specializing in, ‘How can I assist this workforce play? And doing my job this play.’ That is all it is going to take for our workforce to be simply wonderful. We have got loads of good guys, good ability, good offensive line round me, so it is fairly egocentric if I am going into it pondering, ‘What can I do to enhance my standing on this workforce?'”
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cowl the Colts all season. Get extra protection on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider publication.
This text initially appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Colts will determine backup QB battle between Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard
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