PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers have faced three quarterbacks, a pair with tons of experience. None of those three can do some of the things Colts QB Anthony Richardson can. It presented a different challenge a defense leading the league in points allowed.
The fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, only played four games his rookie season due to injury. He is only completing 49% of his passes for three touchdowns and an NFL leading six interceptions this season. He does also lead the league in yards per completion at 16.2 and has rushed for 117 yards, eight first downs and a touchdown on just 18 carries.
“He's a big man who is agile,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “He's strong. You'll see him on some designed quarterback runs, you know, guys will have angle on him and he'll beat them out to the sideline. He's unique in that way. He's just an avatar of an athlete.”
“Then obviously when you are talking about him running, he has the ability to, even as he's moving a little bit off balance, to uncork a bomb. And so that's always dangerous.”
“The thing we obviously preach with our guys is to make sure that don't relax
at any time versus this guy. He has enough ability to avoid rushes, create some space, and then also get the ball down the field.”
“Just have to do our job at the end of the day,” said safety Damontae Kazee. “If it’s Cover Two, stay back. If it’s Cover Three, stay back. Do your part because he does have the arm talent to beat you.”
“He has a rocket-cannon attached to his shoulder,” said corner Donte Jackson. “He can make every throw. He’s a really smart player and really, really great athlete. It’s going to be a challenge keeping a guy like that from hurting you. We have to come out and execute.”
“There are certain calls you know you can’t run,” said rookie corner Beanie Bishop. “You don’t want guys in the secondary with their backs towards the quarterback because if he gets out of the pocket we know he’s a threat to run the ball.”
It’s those 70-yard throws the Steelers say they have seen on tape. So Richardson can take off and run and also has a huge arm. He’s only been sacked four times all season.
“Quarterback mobility is everything,” said Steelers captain Cam Heyward. “You can bottle up the rush game from the running backs, but if your quarterbacks are falling forward, having a bunch of yards, QB draws. It’s going to be about bottling up the quarterback, making sure he stays in the pocket. That’s put on the front, if that does happen, everybody has to rally to it and get to the ball fast.”
“Just keep the QB in the pocket,” said DL/OLB DeMarvin Leal. “That all we are going to have to do. We are going to have to rush with our eyes. We are still going to have to get after the QB. Still meet everyone at the QB, just going to have to do it in a smarter way.”
“We have to be really good,” Austin said.
“Our front has to be really good and solid versus the run so we don't have to cheat Minkah [Fitzpatrick]. We can keep him back there to defend those big balls.”
“It's going to be a big challenge for us.”