Anthony Richardson's Journey to QB1

WESTFIELD, Ind. -- The Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Anthony Richardson is making significant strides in his career by focusing on his diet and mechanics. Richardson, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has decided to take a more professional approach to his craft.

Cutting Out the Sweets

"I had to cut the sweets out, man," Richardson said this week. "It's the candy. I used to be big on Skittles and all that stuff, just eating candy all the time. So, I've been just trying to cut out the sugary stuff and hydrate more."

Richardson's new diet has already shown results, with the quarterback losing 10 pounds, now weighing in at 240 pounds. His slimmer face and trimmer physique are noticeable, but the real test will be on the field.

Improved Mechanics

Richardson's footwork, which was inconsistent during his first two seasons, has been a focal point of his offseason training. Working with private coaches, Richardson has shown significant improvement in his mechanics, leading to more accuracy in his throws.

"When your feet are right, your timing is right," offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. "You're in rhythm, the ball comes out a little more rhythmically. The feet lead the whole thing. So, when your feet are off... you don't throw the ball as well as you should."

The Battle for QB1

Richardson's injuries and struggles last season left the Colts uncertain about his future as their starting quarterback. This uncertainty led to the signing of veteran Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million contract, making the QB1 spot up for grabs.

Richardson believes he is a better version of himself due to his renewed focus on diet, mechanics, and preparation. "I just feel like the things I was doing last year and the year before, I feel like there was more [to do]," Richardson said. "All the greats, they always do more. They do more than what other people are expecting them to do."

Lessons Learned

Richardson's journey hasn't been without challenges. He was benched for two games last season in favor of veteran Joe Flacco, a move that prompted him to revise his daily schedule and spend more time preparing.

"I'm proud of Anthony," general manager Chris Ballard said. "He's growing. He's still young, but he's growing... Unfortunately, growth does not happen through success. Growth happens when you have to go through a lot of s---. And a lot of times, people don't have success because they don't want to go through it. Sometimes you have to go through it."

Looking Ahead

Richardson's progress in training camp has been promising. His accuracy on quicker, shorter throws is improving, and he has shown himself to be more decisive. The winner of the quarterback battle likely won't be decided for many more weeks, but Richardson seems to be doing what it takes to give himself the best shot to win it.

"Just taking a deeper dive and studying my playbook a little longer, asking more questions, going through my footwork, walking through the plays by myself, just stuff like that," he said. "Just trying to do more."

Soon, we'll learn whether more work and fewer Skittles is a recipe for success for Richardson.