Latest news with #Richardson
Indianapolis Star
23 minutes ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Colts starting to see offseason work payoff for Anthony Richardson but he says, 'I have to do more'
WESTFIELD, Ind. -- Anthony Richardson Sr. dropped back under duress, with the pocket closing in on either side. He wanted to step up but found a wall of bodies on the second day of padded practices. So he peered into the sun and heaved the ball away. But unlike the moonshot that has so far defined his career, that 65-yard bomb to Alec Pierce against the Texans, this one came in much different packaging. It escaped his hand with the look of a wounded duck, except this animal had a flight path, too. It wobbled up and down rather than float, down the field from where Anthony Gould wrestled with a cornerback for outside leverage, before landing in a spot inside where the cornerback couldn't reach but where Gould could turn to his back shoulder and reel it in. On the sidelines, Shane Steichen exploded in enthusiasm over what he saw. This was Richardson feeling a groove in his sixth practice of his first true NFL quarterback competition, which is against Daniel Jones. He's in the middle of the best two-practice stretch he's had since his rookie season, following up Monday's 6-of-6 performance with an 9-of-14 day that pulled his completion percentage for the stretch to 75%. Those are major improvements on the first four practices, when he sat below 50% and had yet to flash a good deep ball. It's just been two days, but now his unappealing passes are creating chunk gains and showing something his coaches have been begging for out of him: more quarterback instincts. It's pulled his camp-long numbers up to 54% completions with five touchdown passes and one interception. "You can see that Anthony's sort of offseason work is paying off," offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. GO DEEPER: Chasing Tim Tebow, idolizing Tom Brady, fighting fires: Making of Colts QB Anthony Richardson Richardson spent this offseason drilling down on footwork and ball placement on short and intermediate routes specifically. That was a work in progress early in camp, but what has been consistently smoother has been his ability to layer the ball and lead a receiver moving east-west outside the numbers. Those two areas had plagued him dating back to his throwing session at the NFL Scouting Combine, which offered a window into the 54.7% completion rate that served as a red flag from his career at Florida. After his completion rate dropped from 59.5% in just four games as a rookie to 47.7% in 11 games in his second year, that flag became as red as ever entering this offseason. To fix the results, Richardson needed a different process. He had to answer one of the flags even more red than his accuracy, for in addition to durability concerns, questions popped up consistently last season about his seriousness, focus and work habits to be a franchise quarterback. That's what this summer became all about. "All the greats, they always do more. They do more than what other people are expecting them to do," Richardson said. "After last season, I felt like I needed to do more not only for the team, but for myself. "If I want to so called be a great and I want to be in the Hall of Fame one day, I have to do more." It's too early to draw conclusions, but the bright spots are better than the fire alarms that haunted his second season. "I think his comfort level within the offense is rising and rising and rising every year, every rep, every game week or offseason phase or any of that stuff. He's getting more and more and more comfortable," Cooter said. "That allows you to play a little bit faster at quarterback, which can let your feet play better, let your feet time up better, and then the nuts and bolts of the thing is just the offseason sort of work he's putting in to make his throws, to work his footwork, to work his upper body (and) all of that stuff. "It's an ongoing sort of push at the quarterback position to be accurate really, really consistently, and to be able to throw a bunch of different balls." He let his deep ball get rusty in order to drill down on the boring. That surgically repaired right shoulder showed last season the distances it's capable of, starting with that 65-yard touchdown pass against the Texans. Richardson did have a setback with the shoulder during the offseason program that shut him down until sometime during the summer break, so he still has to prove the strength and durability are where it will need to be for a 17-game season. So far, this camp has been all about introducing something new. "I feel like I got more control over the ball," Richardson said. "... I feel like I have been slightly more consistent when it comes to my footwork, but it's just me thinking about my reps that I've been doing during the offseason and just thinking about mental cues for myself. Just thinking about my base helping me deliver the ball and get the ball to the guys. "That's really what I've been focused on – making sure I'm moving smooth in the pocket so I can get the playmakers the ball. So, that's all I'm trying to do." It's easy to build strong vibes this time of year when games can't be won or lost and the battle for a starting role is too early to draw any actual conclusions. Steichen plans to take until the first week of the season if needed to decide between Richardson and Jones. He'll use joint practices and preseason games as bigger tells than these scripted practices against teammates, and he's emphasized that the most consistent player will ultimately win the job. The pressure is on Richardson like it never has been before, entering a third season that will eventually bring a decision on his fifth-year option and could decide the fates of many within the organization. He's living in that, baking in it, and seeing what kind of man emerges through the process. "This organization believed in me enough to draft me (as a) top-five pick. So I don't think there's any more pressure," Richardson said. "It's just me working hard and proving them right and letting them know that they chose the right guy."
Forbes
an hour ago
- Sport
- Forbes
How to Use the Late Round QB Strategy in 2025 Fantasy Football
FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY - JULY 28: Justin Fields #7 of the New York Jets practices during training ... More camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on July 28, 2025 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by) Each year, one of the most popular draft strategies is the late-round quarterback strategy. Below, we'll be explaining how you should use this strategy to win your 2025 fantasy football league. To give examples of player ADP, we'll be using FantasyPros. With that said, let's dive right into the article. How To Use The Late Round QB Strategy in 2025 Fantasy Football With the late-round quarterback strategy, the earliest you should be trying to draft a quarterback is in round nine. Round eight is typically the absolute cutoff, but the reason it's round nine this year is because of one player. Justin Fields. If you're looking to build a late-round quarterback roster, you desperately want Fields. Right now, Fields is going as the QB10, but there's a clear drop off in his overall rank. Bo Nix at QB8 is 80th overall, then Kyler Murray at QB9 is 90.5. Fields at QB10 is a new tier at 112.5. You can find my full breakdown on Fields here, but he's one of the only players with an incredibly high floor and ceiling combination. In both years that Fields has played in at least 13 games, he's had 17 plus points per game. Despite only throwing for 2,242 yards in 2022, Fields had 19.7 PPG due to 1,143 rushing yards. Now that Fields is back to being a full-time starter, you should expect him to come close to scoring at least 17 PPG. If Fields can take that next step as a passer, he has true QB1 upside. Now the only expectation to this rule is Fields, who can serve as your only quarterback in most ESPN leagues. Other than that, you should be looking to pair two quarterbacks together. Not only should you simply draft two quarterbacks, but you also want to balance them out. One of them should have an extremely high ceiling, while the other has somewhat of a safe floor. The order you draft them in does not matter. When talking about your last pick, that really means all of the skill positions. Your kicker and then defense should always be your last two picks. This year, the quarterback that should be your last pick is the one with a ton of upside. For 2025 fantasy football, that's Anthony Richardson. At QB29 prices and an ADP of 182 overall, you can get Richardson in every single draft. The floor with Richardson is that he doesn't even start this year, and that's why you have to pair him with someone else. However, the rushing upside is insane. You can read my full breakdown on Richardson here. Richardson was the 4th overall pick in the NFL Draft, which should give him another opportunity to start over Daniel Jones and also showcase his unreal upside. Just like Fields, Richardson is an elite runner, posting 635 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in just 15 career games. EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 19: Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots drops back to pass ... More during an NFL football game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 19, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by) The quarterbacks you want to target are in this order. First draft Fields in round nine. If that's the case, you've successfully completed the late-round quarterback strategy this year and can use the picks after to further attack the other positions you're already strong at. If you can't draft Fields, here are a few possible pairings. Select Drake Maye at QB16 (126.5 ADP), C.J. Stroud at QB18 (129), or Michael Penix Jr at QB22 (157 ADP). Then pair these quarterbacks with Richardson in the last round of your draft. All three are guaranteed to hold a starting role this year, which gives them a fairly high floor. If you need to start any of these guys for a few weeks, it's not the end of the world. At the same time, these players are extremely talented and all have paths to becoming a top 12 quarterback this year. If you've enjoyed this article, make sure to follow my author profile for more 2025 fantasy football content!
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Colts' QB competition building momentum after training camp practice No. 6
Colts' QB's Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are building momentum after training camp practice No. 6. Building momentum, both Indianapolis Colts' quarterbacks, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, put together strong training camp performances once again on Tuesday. According to the Indy Star's Nate Atkins, it was another "really solid day" for Richardson. Overall, Richardson was 8-for-13 in the 11-on-11 periods. Atkins added that Richardson showcased "nice placement" on shorter throws outside the numbers. Richardson also "lofted a smark under-pressure deep ball" to Anthony Gould, who he threw open. The improved accuracy that Richardson seems to be showcasing in recent days was a priority for him this offseason, as he emphasized the short and intermediate routes in the passing game. "I just feel like I'm working," Richardson said via Locked on Colts. "Trying to be better than what I was yesterday and the day before. I'm just trying to do my job and bring my best foot forward for the team and do that every single play." Jones, meanwhile, "stacked another high quality day," wrote Jake Arthur of Horseshoe Huddle. Arthur added that Jones was 7-for-10 passing during the team's 11-on-11 periods. After relatively slow starts for both quarterbacks at the start of training camp, each seems to be finding their own rhythm in the last few practices. As Shane Steichen has mentioned, consistency will determine who is starting Week 1. "It's quite a few things," passing game coordinator Alex Tanney said. "It's command of the offense and the huddle. It's command of the line of scrimmage--if you have multiple plays called, getting us in and out of the right play. Moving guys pre-snap, snapping things at the right time, and then making good decisions with the football, and being the leader of the offense. It's all-encompassing. There's a lot of things that go into it."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Strong showing from Colts' Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones in padded practice
In the Colts' first padded practice on Monday, it was a strong showing by both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. Monday's training camp practice for the Indianapolis Colts was the first full day in pads for the team, and both quarterbacks, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, had strong showings. Nate Atkins of the Indy Star would post that Monday was the best day for the quarterbacks "by far." Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan would post in his camp takeaways article that Richardson was 6-for-6 in the team portion of practice, adding that he wasn't "too flashy" but was "solid, methodical, and on-target." As Richardson described recently, a priority for him this offseason has been on those short-to-intermediate routes. A key element to being more accurate on those passes is footwork, which Richardson also prioritized. Jones, meanwhile, according to Bowen's notebook, was 4-for-5 on his pass attempts. Bowen adds that he doesn't give either quarterback an advantage over the other at this time. Shane Steichen is looking for the most consistent player of the two. What that all entails was detailed by Colts' passing game coordinator Alex Tanney. "It's quite a few things," Tanney said via Locked on Colts. "It's command of the offense and the huddle. It's command of the line of scrimmage--if you have multiple plays called, getting us in and out of the right play. Moving guys pre-snap, snapping things at the right time, and then making good decisions with the football, and being the leader of the offense. It's all-encompassing. There's a lot of things that go into it."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Alzheimer's may be delayed through lifestyle changes, new studies show
Although her grandfather had dementia when he died, Kristin Richardson hadn't worried much about her brain until a lab test revealed that she was positive for APOE4, a gene that has been linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. That was seven and a half years ago. Richardson, now 51, remembers crying when she got the news. 'I was terrified,' she said. 'It's a horrible, horrible disease with no cure.' So Richardson, a business owner in Richmond, Virginia, decided to make whatever changes she could to reduce her risk of the disease. 'I do what I can to get enough sleep. I keep active. I try to eat well and maintain a healthy weight, and I'm always working my brain to learn new things,' she said. Two new studies being presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference meeting Monday in Toronto may give some hope to Richardson and others who carry a genetic risk for the disease. Both new studies build on previous evidence that diet, certain brain training exercises and physical activity can delay the loss of memory and slow the decline of other cognitive abilities. One study looked at the impact of walking on 2,985 Black and white older adults who were tested for APOE status and were followed for 10 years. Each year, the participants were questioned about the amount of walking they did, and at multiple points during the follow-up period, their cognitive status was evaluated with standardized exams. Overall, participants with the APOE4 gene mutation showed steeper declines in cognition compared with those with other forms of the gene that don't raise the risk of Alzheimer's. While walking appeared to have a protective effect on all the participants, it was strongest among those with APOE4. The risk of developing Alzheimer's among those with two copies of APOE4 is 12 times that of women with none and four times that of men with none, said the study's senior author, Cindy Barha, an assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of Calgary and Canada Research chair in neuroscience, brain health and exercise. That changed significantly if people walked. Overall, women benefited more. A 10% higher amount of self-reported walking was associated with a 4.7% increase in complex thinking performance over time in women and a 2.6% increase in men. Among APOE4 carriers, men appeared to benefit more. A 10% higher amount of self-reported walking was associated with an 8.5% increase in global cognitive performance over time in women and a 12% increase in men. That was a surprise to the researchers, who expected that women would continue to benefit more. Walking seems to keep brains healthier by pumping up levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that's known to support the health of brain cells, Barha said. Other proteins in the brain may be involved, as well. 'BDNF is like fertilizer for your brain that is naturally produced, especially when you are being physically active, such as when you are walking,' Barha said. 'It helps brain cells survive, grow and form stronger connections; this supports memory, learning and mood, especially in the hippocampus, which is the brain's memory center.' A limitation of the study is that it didn't track how fast or how frequently the participants walked. Dementia risk modified through lifestyle The second international study, led by researchers in Finland, found that a combination of lifestyle modifications could also benefit people with the APOE4 variation more than those with other mutations. The study included 2,469 participants from France, Japan and Finland who were randomly assigned to receive multi-focus lifestyle interventions or not. Among the participants were 709 APOE4 carriers. Included in the lifestyle modifications were: Cognitive training, either computer-based or with paper and pencil. Physical activity, including group-based physical group exercise sessions lasting 90 minutes and an exercise program supervised by physiotherapists at the gym. Dietary counseling. A preliminary analysis revealed that the benefit of the intervention was greater among the APOE4 carriers. Study co-author Jenni Lehtisalo, a research fellow at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, said the main takeaway is that the risk for dementia, even in people with genetic predisposition, can be modified through lifestyle. There was about a fourfold greater benefit in those who were positive for APOE4, said Lehtisalo, who is also a visiting researcher at the University of Eastern Finland. The hope is that future research will reveal whether there is a specific window of time during which the modifications are more effective, she said. Dr. Cynthia Boyd, a professor of medicine and director of the division of geriatric medicine and gerontology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said the studies show 'there is something concrete we can all do to decrease the risk of cognitive decline.' 'Walking and other lifestyle modifications can be protective for the brain,' said Boyd, who wasn't involved in the new research. Adam Brickman, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said that to optimize brain and cognitive health, it's a good idea for everyone, regardless of genetic risk, to engage in physical activity, maintain a good diet and monitor other risk factors linked to dementia. 'Sometimes initiating new healthy behaviors is difficult for people," Brickman said. "Knowledge of being at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease by virtue of having an APOE4 allele may help inspire or motivate lifestyle changes to mitigate that risk.' This article was originally published on
