INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts are in the middle of their offseason workouts. It's a new year, and football is closer than you think.
There's a lot for fans to be excited about, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
"It's great to be back out there," head coach Shane Steichen said.
Anthony Richardson is healthy, Steichen said, benefitting from a year in the system — even if it was on the sidelines.
Richardson agrees.
"I'm more comfortable with the offense now that I have a year under my belt. Not a year of playing time but just being in the meetings every day and just studying all the time. I come in every morning and meet with Shane," Richardson said. "That's something I take pride in. If I know the offense inside and out, then I think we're going to be unstoppable, so I just have to keep perfecting it and trusting myself and the offense."
Speaking of that offense, everyone is here at the same time. That's not something you could say a year ago. Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and newcomer Adonai Mitchell — the makings for an explosive and exciting offense.
“It’s fun, and it’s exciting. Every week, we’ll have things up for every single guy," Steichen said. "You guys have heard me say this before, but one week Pitt (Michael Pittman Jr.) might catch 10, AD (Adonai Mitchell), Alec (Pierce) and (Josh) Downs may catch three or four, and then the next week, it might flip to another guy. So, just have got to be selfless, those guys. But as far as the scheme goes, it’s exciting to have a whole bunch of guys that you can do a whole bunch of different things with.”
Taylor agrees.
“I think it’s a young, dynamic group," Taylor said. "We had a little shift from when I first got here. We had a lot of vets, which for me I enjoyed because I was able to learn. Guys like me, Pitt (Michael Pittman Jr.), Julian Blackmon, we were able to learn. We do have a young, dynamic group, and like I just mentioned, it’s going to be about continuity. It’s going to be about getting those banked reps together, knowing how everyone plays (and) how everyone is thinking maybe."
Steichen confirmed the team will have two joint practices with the Arizona Cardinals here at home, ahead of that preseason game, and one on the road with the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of that preseason game.