INDIANAPOLIS – Michael Pittman Jr. has been here before and knows the possible directions facing the Indianapolis Colts.
He also knows the best way to help ensure an 0-2 team with a still-developing, 22-year-old quarterback with six career starts finds higher ground rather than spiraling into darkness.
Do more to help that still-developing, 22-year-old quarterback who’ll make his seventh NFL start Sunday when the Chicago Bears visit Lucas Oil Stadium.
Do more to help Anthony Richardson.
Pittman was the voice of the receivers’ room Wednesday but could have been speaking for the entire locker room.
“Just trying to make his job easier because obviously the quarterback is the hardest position in all of sports, right?’’ he said. “There’s a lot we can take off his plate and we haven’t been doing that.
“That’s what we’re going to aim to do this week and going forward.’’
Again, Pittman turned his focus to his room in the aftermath of last Sunday’s 16-10 loss at Green Bay.
“I think as pass catchers we can do a better job of helping Anthony,’’ he said. “Obviously, after the game people are frustrated when things don’t go your way. You feel like you could do something, and it doesn’t happen.
“But after watching the film, I think we could do a better job. Me specifically.’’
Richardson completed 17-of-34 passes for 204 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, but there were four or five dropped passes.
“Something like that,’’ Pittman conceded. “I really don’t count anyone else’s.’’
The Colts’ first possession of the game ended when Jonathan Taylor dropped a third-and-7 pass from Richardson – he might not have moved the chains even if he had secured it – and drops by Pittman and rookie AD Mitchell sabotaged a drive late in the second quarter.
A catch by Pittman would have resulted in a third-and-short instead of third-and-8.
“That’s one when you go back and look at film and you’re like, ‘Aw, that’s one I should have made for him,’’’ said Pittman, who’s off to a quiet seven-catch, 52-yard start. “Even those little completions matter. They are confidence-builders.’’
And no one should dismiss the importance of boosting Richardson’s confidence. He’s not a rookie, but he still is in his early developmental stage.
Missing the final 12 games last season with the sprained right shoulder robbed him of invaluable experience. He’s still seeing wrinkles from defenses for the first time.
Richardson: Haven’t mastered anything
This isn’t new for Shane Steichen. He was on hand for Justin Herbert’s rookie season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and Jalen Hurts’ first full season as the Philadelphia Eagles’ starter in 2021.
One of the main reasons owner Jim Irsay and general manager Chris Ballard brought Steichen to Indy was his “quarterback whisperer’’ reputation.
Young quarterbacks, he said, need to experience “different looks over and over again. There are so many different looks that come up in games.
“With time, the more you play, the more you’re going to see and the more you’re going to get better. So that’s the process for a young quarterback going through that.’’
Richardson admitted he’s more comfortable than he was as a rookie.
“Of course, it was all new to me and I was still trying to find my place on this team,’’ he said. “But I think I’ve pretty much found my spot now and it’s just a matter of me keeping my head, staying calm and just playing for the squad.’’
What has he mastered after six starts?
“I don’t think I’ve mastered anything yet,’’ Richardson said. “I didn’t get to play my first year, so I’m still learning, learning the ins and outs of the game.’’
The biggest challenge?
“I mean, it’s all hard,’’ he said. “It’s football. It’s the NFL. You’ve got great teams to play against. You’ve got great guys to go against.
“So, I guess maybe just staying in it whenever things aren’t going your way. Not getting too flustered and just standing there and just trusting it.’’
Statistically, it’s been a difficult two games. Richardson is No. 9 in the league in yards per attempt (7.85), but No. 32 in completion percentage (49.1) and No. 27 with a 63.1 rating. His four interceptions – one was a Hail Mary against the Packers – are tied for most in the league.
That’s why everyone around Richardson – coaches and players – must do a better job of maximizing his unique stills while easing the load as much as possible.
It’s a delicate balance.
Not surprisingly, the Richardson-led offense has been uneven in the first two games. It has generated 15 big plays (completions of at least 20 yards, rushes of at least 10), which is tied for fourth-most in the league.
The issue has been sustaining drives. Of the 19 possessions, only four have involved at least seven plays and just five have picked up more than three first downs. The Colts have converted just 9-of-23 times on third and fourth down, including 3-of-11 at Green Bay.
That has contributed to a ridiculously lopsided time of possession. The Colts are averaging a league-worst 19:55. They’ve allowed the opposition to pile up at least 40 minutes of possession time in the first two games of the season for just the second time in the Indy era and the first time since 2018.
Defense: not helping
And that brings us to a defense that’s not doing nearly enough to help Richardson.
As the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft headed into year 2, it was hoped Gus Bradley’s defense would hold up and give Richardson a chance to struggle, even fail during stretches.
“When you have a young quarterback, more times than not, the defense has to stand up and they’ve got to buy some time for him to get experience and be able to execute at a high level,’’ Bradley said.
“There is a responsibility for us . . . to be strong enough and allow that time for his maturity and hold up on our end and keep these points down so that we have a chance for him to progress.’’
That hasn’t happened.
The run defense has been gashed at a historic pace. It has allowed 474 yards on 93 attempts, both league highs by a sizable margin.
The 474 yards are the third-most allowed in consecutive games in the Indy era, and the defense has given up at least 200 yards in back-to-back games for just the third time – the first since 2017 – since 1984.
Bradley said the defensive failings have been a shared effort.
“You say, ‘Gus, what’s the answer?’ Well, I’m a big believer in you see what you coach and right now they’re not playing very good,’’ he said. “So, we’ve got to get it right as a coach. If you’re not demanding it, you’re accepting it.
“I’ll take the shared responsibility. They have to take shared responsibility and together we get it done.’’
Linebacker Zaire Franklin insisted the Colts’ second 0-2 start since 2017 is a team-wide issue.
“As a team . . . we can play better complementary football,’’ he said. “For us, it’s giving him those chances with a short field (and) when he is hot, giving the ball right back to him.’’
Franklin has no concerns with Richardson.
“To be honest with you, I feel like Anthony is right where he needs to be,’’ he said.
Pittman is more concerned with where the team is going. The Colts opened the 2021 season 0-3, but regrouped and challenged for a playoff spot. A late-season meltdown ended that. In 2022, a 0-1-1 start disintegrated into a chaotic 4-12-1 mess.
“I’m the vet guy,’’ he said. “I’ve been in this same situation twice and one time it went good, one time it didn’t go so good.
“We just know we can’t panic.’’
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.