10 Colts thoughts on Anthony Richardson in win over Dolphins

INDIANAPOLIS – Ten thoughts on the Colts' 16-10 win over the Dolphins and the week before, from Lucas Oil Stadium:

1. This was another tough game between some struggling teams, with the Colts dealing with a number of issues without Jonathan Taylor and with a rusty Anthony Richardson on offense, and the Dolphins trying to weather the run without Tua Tagovailoa to lead with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle the passing plays they like to run.

Some parts of it predictably went that way. Others were shocking, like Hill and Waddle, who contributed a total of two catches for 19 yards and the Dolphins still managed to move the ball.

There was a lot for us to analyze in this game, from Richardson's play to Joe Flacco's spot here to a slightly improved pass rush and shifts in the running back room. And it's a win that moves the Colts to 4-3 and makes them feel like they have a chance in the AFC.

2. Richardson was very skilled as a runner and very rough as a passer. I suppose that fits the profile of him currently being the youngest starting quarterback in the NFL and lacking consistent reps to develop much as a passer, but it was clearly visible.

From not pulling the trigger quickly enough to throw-offs and late escapes from routes to late decisions for explosive shots, he didn't give himself a chance on too many completions. The good news is that he didn't put the ball in danger, committing his only turnover on a bobbled snap on a zone read play.

But he finished 10 of 24 for 129 yards, and it looked about what that stat suggests, although I don't think this was a standout day for these stud receivers.

Over .500: The Colts do just enough to beat a bad Dolphins team

3. I liked that Richardson and Shane Steichen weren't afraid to use his ability as a rusher because that's all he had to offer, and it's also a part of his game that's legitimately good.

He saved a few dead pass plays with scrambles, gained tough yardage in the red zone on designed runs and finished the game with 14 carries for 56 yards, a crucial contribution since Taylor was unavailable.

4. My understanding of Richardson is that he could have played last week if it had been a playoff game. However, since that wasn't the case and his specific oblique injury limited his ability to run and throw deep, the Colts drafted Joe Flacco.

Of course, that's different than saying Flacco is the better option. What separates Richardson from his 39-year-old backup is his explosive athleticism. So if those are compromised, Richardson's deficiencies will instead come to the fore – the gaps in accuracy and the lack of experience and chemistry with these receivers.

5. Richardson's injury risk will remain high until he proves it isn't, which is why Flacco is here. But whenever Richardson is healthy enough to perform the basic functions of the job, he will play. The Colts have built everything up this season, right down to refusing to add experienced starters and giving Richardson the reps and accuracy development he didn't see in 13 starts at Florida or his four-start rookie season.

So we're going to see some difficult periods like this as he gets used to seeing the game, reacting to blitzes, throwing before he wants to, and threading tight needles without taking unnecessary risks. Quarterback development isn't necessarily a showpiece to keep an eye on. But the potential gain remains enormous.

6. This all begs the question: How much is Flacco worth to the Colts as a backup?

Enough to turn down, say, a third-round draft pick when they could get one in a trade?

I'm not sure they can since he's turning 40 and his contract is expiring and we're near the middle of the season and teams had a chance to sign him in the offseason but didn't. But that was before injuries occurred and changed those plans. The Browns, for example, just lost Deshaun Watson to a season-ending Achilles tendon injury, and we know where Flacco was named Comeback Player of the Year just last season.

Just some food for thought as the November 5th trade deadline approaches.

7. The Colts defense needs their pass rush to have a chance against most offenses, and to have that pass rush they need DeForest Buckner out there.

We always knew that the All-Pro who commands as many double teams as any interior player in the game was extremely valuable, but that only becomes more apparent when he's not out there. It's not just about losing the consistent sack production that has given him at least seven sacks in six straight seasons; Most important is the attention he draws from defensive ends like Laiatu Latu while collapsing the middle of the pocket to swallow scramble lanes.

That pass rush disappears when he's outside and the Colts play two nose tackles under center, especially because they were so hesitant to play Dayo Odeyingbo inside. That's how this team can go nine straight quarters without a sack, a streak that finally ended when Latu picked off Tyler Huntley in the first quarter.

8. The pass rush continued to be difficult against the Dolphins, but had some moments:

Latu chased Tyler Huntley for a sack, showcasing his ability to win and close in tight spaces.

Jaylon Carlies chased Huntley in a long battle for a sack.

Gus Bradley also blitzed Kenny Moore II in the third period, taking a scramble throw from Huntley.

The Colts finished the game with two sacks and five quarterback hits. It came against a struggling offensive line, but it's progress.

9. The Colts rotated among primary ball carriers after Taylor was sidelined, giving Tyler Goodson 14 carries to Trey Sermon's 7. That provided a bit more explosion in the backfield and also seemed to focus Sermon on setting holes and hitting instead of to use them I hope he got caught from behind.

But the actual consistency, volume and explosive abilities in this backfield all reside in No. 28's body. Regardless of who is at quarterback, the Colts' offense is a completely different animal when it comes to Taylor's pace, patience, yards Contact and explosiveness and the ability to either kill teams while sitting in a double-decker containment shell or retreating from it to try to deal with Taylor.

10. We should see Buckner back on the practice field next week based on Steichen's comments from Friday. Taylor should also return to training if his statement is true.

It will be interesting to see how much warm-up time both need to play after being away from football for more than three weeks. If they can allocate even limited roles, that would be a big advantage over the alternatives at both positions, although with his size Buckner will need more reinforcement after an even longer layoff than Taylor.

It's safe to say the Colts will need them to have a fighting chance against the Texans on the road. It's the start of the toughest stretch of their season, with Houston, Minnesota, Buffalo, the Jets and Detroit playing three on the road over the next five weeks. We will soon receive concrete answers, particularly about the state of this defense.

See you next week from Houston.

10 Colts thoughts on Anthony Richardson in win over Dolphins

ByVanessa

By Vanessa

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