Colts Camp Observations: Anthony Richardson Needs to Start

It is clear that Anthony Richardson needs to be the Colts' starting quarterback in week one.

The Indianapolis Colts season is right around the corner and there is plenty to be excited about with this team. Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson is as fun and as electric as advertised, and the other rookie additions are set to have massive roles in 2023.

I am not a local reporter for the Colts but I did make the long trip from my home in Virginia to catch a week of practice. This was my first time seeing these players in person this year, so I was able to have a fresh look at how the team operated in camp.

Here are FIVE key takeaways from me during this week of practice:

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Anthony Richardson Needs to Start

The Indianapolis Colts selected Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick in hopes that he could one day be the team's franchise quarterback. Richardson has been billed as a raw project of a player, but I was fairly impressed with the young quarterback's development in my week at camp.

He wasn't accurate on every throw and there is certainly still areas of improvement in his game, but the difference between him and Gardner Minshew is night and day. Richardson's mobility, arm strength, and aggression far outweigh any positives that Minshew could bring to the Colts' offense. 

On top of that, a common theme with Richardson in camp is that he steadily improves throughout the course of each day. A player like that needs live game reps in order to improve throughout the season. He is only going to get better in live action and the extra intangibles that he brings to the offense should be an immediate boost to the offense.

All in all, Anthony Richardson needs to be the week one starter for the Indianapolis Colts.

Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Alec Pierce Looks Primed for a Big Year Two

Second year wide receiver Alec Pierce put together a solid debut season in 2022, totaling 41 receptions for 593 yards and two touchdowns. The biggest question following the year was if the young player had the ability to take his game to the next step and establish himself as a legit number two option in the league. After watching a week of training camp, he looks primed and ready for a massive season.

Alec Pierce simply looks different this offseason. He looks leaner, faster, and more fluid than he ever did as a rookie. His route running and overall separation ability has been on full display during camp, and he has constantly left opposing cornerbacks in the dust on vertical shots. Even on the plays where he hasn't been targeted, Pierce has been flying down the field with relative ease in camp.

Pierce clearly looks like a player that is set to step up in a big way in 2023.

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Shaquille Leonard is (Mostly) Back

Arguably the biggest concern coming into training camp was the status of All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard. Leonard missed most of last season due to a back injury and he had to have two procedures on his nerves in order to clean it all up. This was a major surgery to have for a football player, and the offseason comments from coaches left a lot of Leonard's status up in the air for the future.

We are only a few weeks into training camp, but Leonard appears to be close to his old self. The veteran linebacker is participating in full team drills and even getting a little bit of action during live hitting sessions. Leonard even spoke to the media recently about how he feels like he has turned a corner and is close to being where he once was. There is still a little bit of rust to shake off for him, but Leonard finally appears to be ready to get back on the field for the Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts getting Shaquille Leonard back on the field can only be good for the future of this team.

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The Young Cornerbacks are FUN

The Colts made a concerted effort to embrace youth this season, and that move is most apparent in the cornerback room. Veteran Stephon Gilmore was traded to the Dallas Cowboys and replacing him is a trio of rookies that are all age 23 or younger. The Colts' cornerback room only features one player that has been a regular starter in the NFL (Kenny Moore II).

While there is still concern about the position group overall, I was fairly impressed with the players on the roster. Second year UDFA Darrell Baker Jr is an athletic playmaker that has been shining with the first team defense. Dallis Flowers just put together his best practice of the summer on Thursday. Rookies Darius Rush and JuJu Brents are raw but competitive on every snap. Even rookie Jaylon Jones has been making plays with the second and third team defense as well.

I'm not going to proclaim this group as perfect by any means, but I'm excited to see what these young players can do when the regular season rolls around.

Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Cross is Turning a Corner

Nick Cross was a third round selection by the Colts in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Colts viewed him so highly that they actually moved back into the third round, sacrificing a 2023 third and a 2022 fifth, to acquire him. Cross entered his rookie season with sky high expectations and, unfortunately, nothing really materialize for him. He was replaced by Rodney McLeod in the starting lineup and there were some comments by the coaching staff about needing to see more from him in practice.

Flash forward to this offseason and Cross appears to have won some trust from the coaching staff. DC Gus Bradley and DB Coach Ron Milus have praised his work ethic, and the young player is seeing a lot of action with the first team defense in training camp. With both Rodney Thomas II and Julian Blackmon out with injuries, Cross has seen starter snaps at both free safety and at strong safety in camp. Teams don't do that with players that they don't have complete faith in.

We obviously still need to see it on the field, but Nick Cross appears to be getting over that rookie season hurdle and propelling himself into a real defensive role in 2023.

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