Shane Steichen with high praise for Colts' QB Anthony Richardson after latest practice

USA Today

2 days ago

Shane Steichen offered some high praise for Colts' QB Anthony Richardson following the team's latest training camp practice.
Following the Indianapolis Colts' latest training camp practice, which took place under the lights at Grand Park, head coach Shane Steichen had some high praise for quarterback Anthony Richardson and his play right now.
'Everything's cleaner right now,' Steichen said, via Colts.com. 'He's playing at a high level, he's making good decisions with the football, taking the completions when needed, so it's been really good to see.'
After stacking two strong showings during Monday and Tuesday's practices, Richardson continued to build upon that play on Thursday with another efficient performance.
According to the Indy Star's Joel Erickson, Richardson was 14-of-19 passing on Thursday evening. Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan would write in his takeaways article that Richardson was also able to generate the most chunk plays that he's had in a practice up to this point.
The primary focus for Richardson this offseason has been on the short to intermediate throws--an area where he has to become more accurate after completing just 47% of his passes last season.
To accomplish this, Richardson focused on his mechanics, specifically his footwork, which for a quarterback, is often the foundation for accuracy and where proper mechanics begin.
"I think footwork is key," offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. "When your feet are right, your timing is right, you're in rhythm, the ball comes out a little bit more rhythmically. The feet lead the whole thing.
"So when you're feet are off you might be ready to throw when the receiver's not ready and now your body is a little bit one direction or the other, you don't quite throw the ball as well as you should."
Along with emphasizing his footwork, Richardson has also altered his diet, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. This means fewer sweets and making sure he is hydrated. Richardson is now down 10 pounds compared to last season.
The offseason work for Richardson is turning into results on the practice field. He's more comfortable and more confident in what he's being asked to do.
"I think his comfort level within the offense is rising and rising and rising," Cooter said of Richardson's play. "Every year, every rep, every game week, or every offseason phase, he's getting more and more comfortable. That allows you to play a little bit faster at quarterback, which can let your feet play better.
"Can let your feet time up better and then the nuts and bolts of things is the offseason work he's putting in to make his throws, to work his footwork, to work his upperbody, all that stuff is an on going push at the quarterback position to be accurate really, really consistently to be able to throw a bunch of different balls...Anthony's doing a nice job right now."