Anthony Richardson is far from an elite passer. With that said, should the Indianapolis Colts use him more as a runner? Jon Spradley of Stampede Blue touched on this particular subject.
“The Indianapolis Colts knew what they were getting when they drafted Anthony Richardson; a dynamic, highly athletic player who needed some polish,” wrote Spradley. “Although we haven’t seen nearly the same level of play, mainly due to injuries, Richardson brings shades of Michael Vick. He is a quarterback first, but he is never going to wow you with his passing ability from the pocket. Just because Vick wasn’t a pure passer, it doesn’t mean he didn’t have what it took to be successful. The Colts are at a crossroads with Richardson: do they focus efforts into him being the best passer he can be, or do they pivot and lean into his ability to run wild on a defense?”
Without a doubt, Anthony Richardson is known for his ability to run. But should he focus more on developing as a passer?
Should the Indianapolis Colts Utilize Anthony Richardson More as a Runner?
Greatest Running Quarterbacks of All Time
Anthony Richardson can potentially be one of the greatest running quarterbacks of all time. If he ever becomes that, what legends will he join?
Well, you can’t have a “Greatest Rushing Quarterback” list without the name Michael Vick. The former Atlanta Falcons star is one of the most exciting players in NFL history. Back in 2006, Vick became the first quarterback to ever rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. He ran for 6,109 yards and 36 touchdowns during his career.
Speaking of 1,000-yard quarterbacks, Lamar Jackson has accomplished the feat twice: in 2019 and 2020. He nearly did it again in 2024, finishing with 915 rushing yards. Last season, the current Baltimore Ravens star surpassed Vick for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. Jackson now has a whopping 6,173 career rushing yards and 33 touchdowns.
Other notable rushers include Randall Cunningham, Fran Tarkenton, and Steve Young. And you can forget about guys like Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, and Josh Allen.
Does Anthony Richardson Running More Make Sense?
Sometimes when Richardson runs the ball, he’s one of the most fun players to watch in all of football. He’s extremely athletic, super fast, and difficult to tackle.
Yes, Richardson is capable of making big-time plays running the football. However, the Colts should not utilize him more as a runner. Ever since he was drafted fourth overall in 2023, he has had a ton of injuries. For some reason, he just can’t seem to stay healthy. Running the football more will just increase the chances of him getting hurt.
Richardson needs to focus more on his passing. Last season, he completed only 47.7% of his passes, which is not good at all. The Colts, of course, signed Daniel Jones earlier this offseason. He’ll compete with Richardson for the starting quarterback job. Maybe Anthony Richardson will win the job, find a way to improve his accuracy, and have a breakout 2025 season for the Colts.
Main Photo: Junfu Han – Imagn Images
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