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NFC scout: “If (Colts GM Chris) Ballard takes him at No. 4, he’s stupid. (Richardson) scares the fuck out of me … If you use him right he may not (bust). He’s got to sit a minimum of two years. That’s why you’ve got a guy for five years. You hope your guys can develop him. He’s so gifted athletically you almost got to take a shot and just see what happens. But what is that value at? … All the talent in the world has only started 13 games in the NCAA. If you want to measure his record against Mitchell Trubisky, 6-7 record shows you need more seasoning. He should have stayed in college … He’s more athletic than Cam Newton, I can tell you that. He can (rush), too. Just as good an athlete as Lamar Jackson. Different style of running, but as good. That’s what his strength is. He has unbelievable feet and lateral agility. He’s got incredible arm strength. But he doesn’t know how to play the game yet.”
AFC scout: “I don’t know if there is one (an apt comparison). Josh Allen? That’s ridiculous. I haven’t seen many like him. Maybe Cam Newton. Colin Kaepernick? This guy is so big and so fast. Colin was fast, could get out and run. Colin wasn’t an accomplished passer. Maybe they are similar.”
NFC scout: “Love the ability. I’m concerned that he hasn’t played a lot of football and he hasn’t done a lot of winning. Even in high school they were kind of average … I have problems with his accuracy. I think he has a long way to go but he has tons of potential. He scares me. The accuracy scares me. His experience scares me … Believe it or not, I think Richardson has a little more natural ability to throw the ball than Lamar did. He runs well but not as good as him (Jackson) … I had Justin Fields graded higher coming out … Terrelle Pryor was just a tremendous athlete. That’s actually not a bad comparison.”
AFC scout: “He is tremendously talented. I did see improvement throughout the year. There’s not a lot of natural rhythm and timing. He’s still working through that stuff. I know he was in a new offense this year, which is hard. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went No. 1 because he is so physically talented. My impression is he’s a pretty good kid and I do think football’s pretty important to him … I wish he would have played another year of college football but I can’t blame him because he’s going to be a high pick and there’s good quarterbacks in next year’s class, too. But I have major reservations about guys that have started one year. It’s hard. I think his inconsistencies are time on the job and having different coaches in his three-year career there … I don’t think he’s as elusive or dynamic as Lamar Jackson with the ball in his hand. He is big and powerful. The only guy I could even comp with him physically was Josh Allen just because of his size and explosiveness. Richardson actually is faster. In terms of jumping and explosiveness, Allen is the only other guy that’s even close that I’ve seen … Cam Newton was a big, strong player, too, and was probably a better thrower. Not as strong an arm but maybe a little better passer because he had played more … He’s bigger than Justin Fields. Fields was a better quarterback coming out than Richardson is right now … This isn’t a slight to anyone but I could see him in an offense similar to what Philadelphia does with Jalen Hurts, a kid’s that developing into being a very dangerous and dynamic player. Jalen’s intangibles were so high. He had won at Alabama, won at Oklahoma. He was a much more experienced player … Just from a skill standpoint, no reason this kid can’t be successful in the NFL. He is a freak athlete. In my mind, if Richardson’s a bust, it’s because either he gets hurt or it’s the organization. If you take that kid you have to be committed to doing what he can do. History tells us four of the (top) five will be busts.”
NFC scout: “He is a freak athlete for his size. He’s got maybe the best arm and is the most physically gifted kid. I don’t know about his decision-making. Does he have the natural feel for the position? Physically, he has all the tools you want. It’s just, does he know how to play quarterback or not? Can someone get him to play quarterback? He’s very raw still. He has to learn how to go through progressions. He’s a year or two away but he has the highest ceiling of any of them … Not Kaepernick. Richardson is more Cam Newton but he throws the ball better. It’s just his accuracy is off some. He’s way better than Terrelle Pryor … I was at his pro day. He put on a show. At his pro day he didn’t throw with the laces. The ball looked like a Nerf ball in his hand for how big his hand is. Whichever way it comes back he throws it – with or without the laces.”
AFC scout: “This guy’s the most incredible prototype. He’s 6-4 ¼, 243, ran 4.43. He’s the biggest, strongest candidate in the history of the NFL. He’s faster than Cam (Newton), he’s bigger than Michael Vick by a mile. He is rare … In a traditional NFL sense, you would say bust. He isn’t going to have it from the mental part. But if in today’s NFL, where there’s enough college stuff percolating around, and we saw what happened with (Jalen) Hurts, there’s at least a 50-50 chance that he can do it … In high school they were 7-4 and he got hurt. They take him at Florida and he’s a 5-star and he redshirts. Then they say, ‘We’re about to get fired, we’ve got to get him on the field.’ So they get him on the field and he gets hurt. He played some in ’21 and this year, his first to actually start …. Remember the Utah game (Sept. 3 at Florida)? You could have sold his stock sky-high that night. A week later, he’s throwing picks against Kentucky and looks haphazard and just average … If Shane Steichen did what he did with Jalen Hurts, then you gotta believe somebody out there thinks, ‘OK, we can do something similar because this guy’s more gifted.’”
NFC scout: “Sky’s the limit. Probably more Lamar Jackson with a little bit of Josh Allen thrown in there. If he ever figures it out … The first Utah game (Sept. 3), he had time to prepare and was completely different. He’s so big and strong, and he can throw it forever. I’m not going to say he’s not going to make it.”
NFC scout: “He could take a bad team and make ‘em at least mediocre. He could win seven or eight games, but that’s it for him until his passing improves. People call him developmental. He’s a project … He played one year of college football. He got all his notoriety because he can run. Then he shows up at the combine and he’s as big as the (edge) rushers that are going to try to chase him down. He’s as fast or maybe faster than them. But I’m going to tell you, he is not a quarterback. I don’t think he has vision. He runs around until he finds somebody open and throws the ball … I think (Tim) Tebow was a little bit better than him. Vince Young is a good call. He’s got athletic talent and physical toughness but he’s a sandlot quarterback. It just takes too long, and you don’t have time (in the NFL). Even if you (draft) him and pick up the fifth-year option, you’re going to have to coach him and train him, and he’s only played one year. He throws the ball all over the f------ field.”
AFC scout: “Some games he has more tackles than completions (laughs). They’d have to build a system around him. But, why not? Lamar (Jackson) did it.”
AFC scout: “Know who he reminded me of? Vince Young. Also Terrelle Pryor. (Pryor) ran high 4.3’s at Pitt Stadium on astroturf. We didn’t think he’d be an NFL quarterback but we weren’t going to discourage him. He stayed at quarterback for a couple years, and once he saw he wasn’t a quarterback moved to receiver. Pryor was a great athlete, too … I don’t like Richardson but he’s a great athlete. He’s not a great passer. He has no feel. They had some talent on that (Florida) team but they had a bad season, and I think it all reflects on him. More slinger, not a passer. I questioned his decisions, his mechanics. Justin Fields was better as a football player. Richardson was so inconsistent … If you take him in the first (round) you’re taking a big risk. He’s not a pro quarterback.”
NFC scout: “He’s got a little Vince Young in him. He’s a freak athlete but he’s a long ways away as an NFL passer. I mean, a long way away. He’s one of those raw, green guys. I don’t want him. He’s a raw athlete. That’s what you’re banking on. You’re rolling some big dice if you take him in the first, or (you have) a lot of rocks in your head.”
AFC scout: “I think the easy answer (for No. 1 bust) is to say Anthony Richardson but I think his talent level is too good. Hopefully, he goes to a system that suits him.”
NFC scout: “I worry about that (intelligence) on him but he’s such a rare talent that you take a chance on him. I don’t see it (top 10), no, but somebody’s going to take him. Just look around. People talk about taking him in the top five picks. I’m, like, ‘Holy shit.’ Glad I’m not picking him. I’d be scared to death of him … His accuracy is really off. That’s the one that scares you on him … It was just like Terrelle Pryor when he came out. He ran 4.4. I’d have drafted him in the fourth. Al (Davis) took him in the third. He was promising for a while, with limitations, but he didn’t get beyond a certain point. That’s what I think will happen to Richardson.”
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING NOW
Dan Campbell, Lions coach: “What you saw last week was (Richardson) at his best. I’m not even sure you can go back to earlier in the year because I feel they’ve taken the handcuffs off him. They’ve got quarterback power, they’ve got the RPO, they’ve got the read run, they’ve got play-action off that, and then he can scramble. Then, if he’s in the pocket and you’ve got your arms around him trying to bring him to the ground, he’ll just stiff-arm you off him and then throw it down the field. It’s rare, his strength, and he really does have a nice deep ball. He’s an accurate passer down the field, and I mean deep. It’s all-encompassing is what it is.”
Teryl Austin, Steelers defensive coordinator: “He’s just an avatar of an athlete. You’ll see him on some designed quarterback runs (where) guys will have an angle on him and he’ll beat them to the sideline. He’s unique in that way. Even as he’s moving a little bit off balance he has the ability to uncork a bomb. That’s always dangerous. We obviously preach with our guys to make sure they don’t relax at any time against this guy.”
Eric Washington, Bears defensive coordinator: “That’s tough defensively when the quarterback is a second runner.”
Zaire Franklin, Colts linebacker: “I think after the Houston situation (tap-out) I think he’s just dug a little deeper and has been giving more of himself. Not only to the team but to the game.”
NFC executive in personnel: “Yes, he was a mess in college, and hasn’t changed.”
Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator: “Listen, if you’re in his way, he’s going to try to run over you, and his arm is lively. He’s at his minus-30 and throws it 70 yards on one foot. One thing that’s underrated about this quarterback is his ability to be accurate down the field.”
BOTTOM LINE
Not only is the jury not in on Anthony Richardson, it hasn’t been sequestered or even called. Let’s be honest. No one has a clue if he’ll end up being a star, a bust or somewhere in between.
Email any comments and questions to golongtd@substack.com.
X: @TyDunne & @GoLongTD
Instagram: @TyDunne & @GoLongTD
YouTube: Go Long Channel
EDIT: Deb, I meant to put all 3 of these posts into the Indy game week thread.
Could you please move all 3 of these posts?
Thanks.
AFC scout: “I don’t know if there is one (an apt comparison). Josh Allen? That’s ridiculous. I haven’t seen many like him. Maybe Cam Newton. Colin Kaepernick? This guy is so big and so fast. Colin was fast, could get out and run. Colin wasn’t an accomplished passer. Maybe they are similar.”
NFC scout: “Love the ability. I’m concerned that he hasn’t played a lot of football and he hasn’t done a lot of winning. Even in high school they were kind of average … I have problems with his accuracy. I think he has a long way to go but he has tons of potential. He scares me. The accuracy scares me. His experience scares me … Believe it or not, I think Richardson has a little more natural ability to throw the ball than Lamar did. He runs well but not as good as him (Jackson) … I had Justin Fields graded higher coming out … Terrelle Pryor was just a tremendous athlete. That’s actually not a bad comparison.”
AFC scout: “He is tremendously talented. I did see improvement throughout the year. There’s not a lot of natural rhythm and timing. He’s still working through that stuff. I know he was in a new offense this year, which is hard. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went No. 1 because he is so physically talented. My impression is he’s a pretty good kid and I do think football’s pretty important to him … I wish he would have played another year of college football but I can’t blame him because he’s going to be a high pick and there’s good quarterbacks in next year’s class, too. But I have major reservations about guys that have started one year. It’s hard. I think his inconsistencies are time on the job and having different coaches in his three-year career there … I don’t think he’s as elusive or dynamic as Lamar Jackson with the ball in his hand. He is big and powerful. The only guy I could even comp with him physically was Josh Allen just because of his size and explosiveness. Richardson actually is faster. In terms of jumping and explosiveness, Allen is the only other guy that’s even close that I’ve seen … Cam Newton was a big, strong player, too, and was probably a better thrower. Not as strong an arm but maybe a little better passer because he had played more … He’s bigger than Justin Fields. Fields was a better quarterback coming out than Richardson is right now … This isn’t a slight to anyone but I could see him in an offense similar to what Philadelphia does with Jalen Hurts, a kid’s that developing into being a very dangerous and dynamic player. Jalen’s intangibles were so high. He had won at Alabama, won at Oklahoma. He was a much more experienced player … Just from a skill standpoint, no reason this kid can’t be successful in the NFL. He is a freak athlete. In my mind, if Richardson’s a bust, it’s because either he gets hurt or it’s the organization. If you take that kid you have to be committed to doing what he can do. History tells us four of the (top) five will be busts.”
NFC scout: “He is a freak athlete for his size. He’s got maybe the best arm and is the most physically gifted kid. I don’t know about his decision-making. Does he have the natural feel for the position? Physically, he has all the tools you want. It’s just, does he know how to play quarterback or not? Can someone get him to play quarterback? He’s very raw still. He has to learn how to go through progressions. He’s a year or two away but he has the highest ceiling of any of them … Not Kaepernick. Richardson is more Cam Newton but he throws the ball better. It’s just his accuracy is off some. He’s way better than Terrelle Pryor … I was at his pro day. He put on a show. At his pro day he didn’t throw with the laces. The ball looked like a Nerf ball in his hand for how big his hand is. Whichever way it comes back he throws it – with or without the laces.”
AFC scout: “This guy’s the most incredible prototype. He’s 6-4 ¼, 243, ran 4.43. He’s the biggest, strongest candidate in the history of the NFL. He’s faster than Cam (Newton), he’s bigger than Michael Vick by a mile. He is rare … In a traditional NFL sense, you would say bust. He isn’t going to have it from the mental part. But if in today’s NFL, where there’s enough college stuff percolating around, and we saw what happened with (Jalen) Hurts, there’s at least a 50-50 chance that he can do it … In high school they were 7-4 and he got hurt. They take him at Florida and he’s a 5-star and he redshirts. Then they say, ‘We’re about to get fired, we’ve got to get him on the field.’ So they get him on the field and he gets hurt. He played some in ’21 and this year, his first to actually start …. Remember the Utah game (Sept. 3 at Florida)? You could have sold his stock sky-high that night. A week later, he’s throwing picks against Kentucky and looks haphazard and just average … If Shane Steichen did what he did with Jalen Hurts, then you gotta believe somebody out there thinks, ‘OK, we can do something similar because this guy’s more gifted.’”
NFC scout: “Sky’s the limit. Probably more Lamar Jackson with a little bit of Josh Allen thrown in there. If he ever figures it out … The first Utah game (Sept. 3), he had time to prepare and was completely different. He’s so big and strong, and he can throw it forever. I’m not going to say he’s not going to make it.”
NFC scout: “He could take a bad team and make ‘em at least mediocre. He could win seven or eight games, but that’s it for him until his passing improves. People call him developmental. He’s a project … He played one year of college football. He got all his notoriety because he can run. Then he shows up at the combine and he’s as big as the (edge) rushers that are going to try to chase him down. He’s as fast or maybe faster than them. But I’m going to tell you, he is not a quarterback. I don’t think he has vision. He runs around until he finds somebody open and throws the ball … I think (Tim) Tebow was a little bit better than him. Vince Young is a good call. He’s got athletic talent and physical toughness but he’s a sandlot quarterback. It just takes too long, and you don’t have time (in the NFL). Even if you (draft) him and pick up the fifth-year option, you’re going to have to coach him and train him, and he’s only played one year. He throws the ball all over the f------ field.”
AFC scout: “Some games he has more tackles than completions (laughs). They’d have to build a system around him. But, why not? Lamar (Jackson) did it.”
AFC scout: “Know who he reminded me of? Vince Young. Also Terrelle Pryor. (Pryor) ran high 4.3’s at Pitt Stadium on astroturf. We didn’t think he’d be an NFL quarterback but we weren’t going to discourage him. He stayed at quarterback for a couple years, and once he saw he wasn’t a quarterback moved to receiver. Pryor was a great athlete, too … I don’t like Richardson but he’s a great athlete. He’s not a great passer. He has no feel. They had some talent on that (Florida) team but they had a bad season, and I think it all reflects on him. More slinger, not a passer. I questioned his decisions, his mechanics. Justin Fields was better as a football player. Richardson was so inconsistent … If you take him in the first (round) you’re taking a big risk. He’s not a pro quarterback.”
NFC scout: “He’s got a little Vince Young in him. He’s a freak athlete but he’s a long ways away as an NFL passer. I mean, a long way away. He’s one of those raw, green guys. I don’t want him. He’s a raw athlete. That’s what you’re banking on. You’re rolling some big dice if you take him in the first, or (you have) a lot of rocks in your head.”
AFC scout: “I think the easy answer (for No. 1 bust) is to say Anthony Richardson but I think his talent level is too good. Hopefully, he goes to a system that suits him.”
NFC scout: “I worry about that (intelligence) on him but he’s such a rare talent that you take a chance on him. I don’t see it (top 10), no, but somebody’s going to take him. Just look around. People talk about taking him in the top five picks. I’m, like, ‘Holy shit.’ Glad I’m not picking him. I’d be scared to death of him … His accuracy is really off. That’s the one that scares you on him … It was just like Terrelle Pryor when he came out. He ran 4.4. I’d have drafted him in the fourth. Al (Davis) took him in the third. He was promising for a while, with limitations, but he didn’t get beyond a certain point. That’s what I think will happen to Richardson.”
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING NOW
Dan Campbell, Lions coach: “What you saw last week was (Richardson) at his best. I’m not even sure you can go back to earlier in the year because I feel they’ve taken the handcuffs off him. They’ve got quarterback power, they’ve got the RPO, they’ve got the read run, they’ve got play-action off that, and then he can scramble. Then, if he’s in the pocket and you’ve got your arms around him trying to bring him to the ground, he’ll just stiff-arm you off him and then throw it down the field. It’s rare, his strength, and he really does have a nice deep ball. He’s an accurate passer down the field, and I mean deep. It’s all-encompassing is what it is.”
Teryl Austin, Steelers defensive coordinator: “He’s just an avatar of an athlete. You’ll see him on some designed quarterback runs (where) guys will have an angle on him and he’ll beat them to the sideline. He’s unique in that way. Even as he’s moving a little bit off balance he has the ability to uncork a bomb. That’s always dangerous. We obviously preach with our guys to make sure they don’t relax at any time against this guy.”
Eric Washington, Bears defensive coordinator: “That’s tough defensively when the quarterback is a second runner.”
Zaire Franklin, Colts linebacker: “I think after the Houston situation (tap-out) I think he’s just dug a little deeper and has been giving more of himself. Not only to the team but to the game.”
NFC executive in personnel: “Yes, he was a mess in college, and hasn’t changed.”
Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator: “Listen, if you’re in his way, he’s going to try to run over you, and his arm is lively. He’s at his minus-30 and throws it 70 yards on one foot. One thing that’s underrated about this quarterback is his ability to be accurate down the field.”
BOTTOM LINE
Not only is the jury not in on Anthony Richardson, it hasn’t been sequestered or even called. Let’s be honest. No one has a clue if he’ll end up being a star, a bust or somewhere in between.
Email any comments and questions to golongtd@substack.com.
X: @TyDunne & @GoLongTD
Instagram: @TyDunne & @GoLongTD
YouTube: Go Long Channel
EDIT: Deb, I meant to put all 3 of these posts into the Indy game week thread.
Could you please move all 3 of these posts?
Thanks.
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