INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.
INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.
INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.
INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.
INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.
INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.
INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.
INDIANAPOLIS — Again throughout Andrew Luck’s second season with the Colts in 2013, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
His days as a starter have been clearly over, with the Tennessee Titans transferring on from the previous Seattle Seahawks franchise quarterback and Tremendous Bowl XL starter.
What appeared like a run-of-the-mill transaction on the time truly paid large dividends for the Colts, who benefited from Hasselbeck protecting their younger starter level-headed and, when wanted, stepping in and filling his sizable footwear. Hasselbeck went on to play three seasons with Indianapolis, going 5-3 as a starter, however simply as necessary, serving as an additional pair of eyes and ears for Luck and the offensive coaches.
Now, the Colts’ present younger quarterback — Anthony Richardson — seems to have landed a Hasselbeck of his personal.
The Colts’ signing of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to a one-year contract on Wednesday is a possible nice pairing of a assured veteran and former Tremendous Bowl winner and a uncooked however tantalizing second-year quarterback who can develop beneath his teammate’s tutelage.
Richardson, who began simply 13 video games on the College of Florida and spent 13 video games on the sidelines whereas injured final season, continues to be more likely to endure some rookie ups and downs in his second season. Final 12 months’s fourth total decide is simply now starting to throw once more after sustaining a season-ending shoulder damage that minimize brief his promising early-season efficiency.
When the 21-year-old does encounter these inevitable setbacks that include being a younger quarterback — the premature interceptions, missed reads and extra — it is going to be comforting to know Richardson can be greeted on the sideline by Flacco, a 39-year-old who has been there, carried out that.
It is notable that Richardson has already proven a capability to be teachable.
“He acquired an opportunity to take a seat again, watch and be taught,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned of Richardson’s rookie season. “I had some good conferences with him all through the season, simply individually, me and him, sitting down speaking soccer.
“He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all 12 months.”
Past that, Flacco’s signing is necessary due to the obvious aspect of a backup quarterback’s job. Flacco demonstrated final season that he nonetheless has the power to make performs, authoring a playoff run with the Cleveland Browns, who had traditionally dangerous luck with quarterback accidents, and incomes Comeback Participant of the Yr honors.
Flacco got here off the proverbial sofa to go 4-1 as a starter down the stretch to assist Cleveland safe a wild-card spot. He earned some renewed credibility with the run and made himself a viable free agent choice this offseason.
Final season, the Colts confirmed the backup quarterback was a precedence by signing Gardner Minshew, a participant who had been a starter in earlier stops and knew Steichen’s offensive scheme. That Minshew was known as upon to begin 13 video games solely bolstered that philosophy.
After final season, normal supervisor Chris Ballard summed up Minshew’s contributions succinctly.
“Thank God we had him,” he mentioned.
With a lot of the franchise’s consideration dedicated to the success of Richardson, the truth is the backup quarterback will ideally be one thing of an afterthought on the sphere. The Colts wanted somebody who may succeed despite that.
“The backup position does not get lots of reps throughout the week,” Steichen mentioned. “They actually do not get any. They get the scout-team reps. So, you have to be able to go in if it’s a must to go in and carry out on just about no reps however know the sport plan.”
Flacco looks like a great participant for such a task. He has seen each protection and blitz conceivable. He additionally has thrived as a starter and when coming off the bench.
Like Hasselbeck was to Luck, Flacco may very well be the exactly what a younger and promising quarterback like Richardson wants.