Indianapolis Colts' head coach Shane Steichen met with the media at the NFL's annual league meeting on Monday.
In case you missed it, here are the highlights from the roughly 30-minute interview.
- Steichen says that Daniel Jones can run the ball with the "zone-read game." Steichen also mentions Jones' career completion rate of 64%, his production, having won a playoff game, and his football IQ.
- The competition between Jones and Anthony Richardson will start in the spring, with the two splitting reps. The most consistent player will be the starter.
- "That definitely needs to improve," said Steichen about Richardson's completion rate. Mentions the importance of staying ahead of the sticks to stay out of long down-and-distances.
- Steichen on Richardson getting fewer opportunities in practice since he'll be sharing reps with Jones: "Those guys got to take advantage of the reps that they're going to get."
- "We're working through that right now," said Steichen about right guard. Notes the importance of keeping the quarterback clean and being able to run the football.
- "I'm not in favor of taking that out," said Steichen about the tush push. Steichen says the Colts ran it twice in their first year but they weren't successful on it either time. The play is still in the Colts' playbook.
- "Possibly," said Steichen about moving Matt Goncalves to right guard. "We'll explore those options."
- "Really excited about both those guys," said Steichen about Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum. Ward is a "lockdown corner." Bynum is "always around the football," and both will "bring great energy."
- "We're excited to get Braden (Smith) back." Steichen adds they'll continue to work through free agency and the draft to create competition inside.
- "I think it's going to be great for our team," said Steichen about the additions of Ward and Bynum--including the mentalities that they bring--along with Lou Anarumo and defensive back coaches Chris Hewitt and Jerome Henderson.
- "I feel good about the edges," said Steichen about defensive end. He adds that depth is important when it comes to the defensive line.
- "He does it the right way," said Steichen about Laiatu Latu. Steichen adds that he thinks we will see a "big jump" in Year 2.
- "I think it's going to be great," Steichen said about Bynum's presence helping Nick Cross. Steichen adds that Cross had a "big year" in 2024.
- "He's made some of those big-time throws," Steichen said about Richardson, referencing the two game-winning drives in the second half of the season and the late third-down completion against Tennessee. Steichen reiterated a few times that it's all about consistency with Richardson because the talent is there.
- When asked about the tight end position and what he's looking for, Steichen mentioned the need to "battle" in the run game as a blocker, great hands, coming in and out of breaks, and being strong after the catch. "There's a lot of good ones in this draft."
- Steichen will get the final say in who the starting quarterback is.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL league meeting: Highlights Colts' HC Shane Steichen's ...
