DENVER — The stakes are high, the energy even higher, the ColtsTHE Broncos and their young quarterbacks prepared to compete under the bright sunshine – and under the watchful eye of the last man to deliver each of these clubs their greatest triumphs, Peyton Manning.
Broncos rookie Bo Nix and the Colts’ still-raw second-year signal-caller Anthony Richardson both are currently trying to walk the same path as Manning. They have overcome the first obstacles, they are already the faces of their franchise, but everything else is still to come.
And of course, Manning had ideas. On the development of Nix and Richardson. On their most moving features. On the challenge of the roller coaster they’re riding — which Peyton himself once rode — and what he hopes for the two of them.
“I’m definitely pulling for both of them,” Manning said by phone Saturday. “They’re doing exciting things.”
Nix and Richardson both attended the Manning Passing Academy, the annual four-day summer clinic, as high school students and then as counselors while in college. Manning has also seen both up close since they’ve been in the league, although more of Nix since Manning lives in Denver and doesn’t miss home games.
“Bo is in a great situation,” Manning said, citing Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s experience and creativity as a playmaker. “Sean’s system has answers, and it is what you want as a quarterback. Bo had all the college experience; it is impossible to have more experience. And he’s gained chemistry with his wide receivers. He gets better every week.
Manning is equally convinced by Shane Steichen’s advice regarding Richardson. He stays in touch with the Colts’ third-year coach, visiting him in Indianapolis and declining Steichen’s request to speak to the Colts on Saturday only because he was hosting his wife’s birthday party.
Steichen is also an accomplished, instinctive and aggressive player, but Manning said it was Steichen’s decision to sit Richardson earlier this year, when the coach wanted his player to show greater commitment in all the extra work necessary for an elite. NFL quarterback, from the film room to the weight room, who so impressively pushed the right button.
Compared to Nix’s 61 starts as a college quarterback, Richardson had only 13. He then lost most of last year’s rookie season to a sprained AC joint and shoulder surgery, then two more games this season because of an oblique injury. After playing for one game in Week 8, he was benched the next two weeks and responded with a focus and approach that Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard had hoped for.
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is for Anthony to be the quarterback for a long time,” Manning said. “Let’s look back on this and say, ‘Look how far we’ve come.'”
Aside from the fact that the move appears to have worked (Richardson has played noticeably better since returning to the starting spot), Steichen admits that sitting Richardson was “one of the hardest decisions I’ve made as a as head coach. Largely because Steichen, like Manning, believes the best way to get better is to play.
“Game reps are always your best teacher,” said Manning, who played every snap as a rookie, going a painful 3-13 and throwing an agonizing 28 interceptions. (Which, by the way, he still resents. “With 17 games, you’d think someone would break that,” he sighed.)
“How do you talk to Patrick Mahomes sitting behind Alex Smith for a year? Or Aaron RodgersOr Jordan Love or even Eli (Manning) for those nine games,” Manning said, listing the quarterbacks, including his brother, who didn’t start immediately. “But for me, it was beneficial to be there right away.”
“I learned something in those fourth quarters. Sometimes it was about learning not to throw a fourth interception,” Manning said ruefully. But then, more seriously, he added: “We were 3-13 my first year, then 13-3 the next year. It won’t happen if I don’t play all 16 games.
Richardson, already short of games, sat through those two, but from Manning’s point of view, “he learned from it,” he said. “You can never take being the starting quarterback for granted.”
As they continue to rack up reps as their team’s starters, Nix and Richardson are visibly showing more confidence. And the confidence of their head coaches. And Manning believes these relationships portend the greatest boon for his two aspiring successors. The most overlooked facet of quarterback development, Manning said, is play-calling stability.
Bryce Youngthe No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, is on his third player in less than two seasons. Caleb Williamsthe No. 1 pick in this last draft, saw a signal-caller fired mid-season, now plays under an interim head coach and a second signal-caller, and will likely have his third coordinator come season next. This, Manning said, “bothers me.”
Manning was under the tutelage of the same offensive coordinator, Tom Moore, for his entire playing career in Indianapolis. Even though the head coach changed from Jim Mora to Tony Dungy to Jim Caldwell, Moore stayed, and that, Manning said, was a lot of cumulative repetition — from practices to games — of one voice. He evokes Tom Brady and said that even though Brady had three in New England, head coach Bill Belichick “made sure the system was the same.” The language was the same.
“If you take that No. 1 overall quarterback, what’s your five-year plan? » » asks Manning. If the caller is a coordinator, who could then be chosen for a leadership position, who is the understudy supposed to replace him? Manning says he would make that next shadow the coordinator, whether it’s having breakfast with him or even occasionally going to work with him.
That’s why, when asked what a reasonable time frame is to truly evaluate the quarterbacks, these two in this game or any other, he responds: “It’s so hard to have a universal answer.” What system do they come from? What system do they play in? What is the situation around them?
Today NFL has several examples of players cast aside, or labeled as busts, who ultimately found the right fit, from Mayfield Baker has Sam Darnold. Darnold said earlier this year that he wasn’t even properly taught to fully read the covers in detail until he was in San Francisco, shutting down Mo. 3 after apparently getting fired up with the Jets And Panthers.
Neither Richardson nor Nix seem likely to fall into the trap of poor coaching or organizational instability. Both Payton and Steichen enjoy enormous top-down support. Both are among the league’s elite players and show no intention of abdicating those duties, and both, more importantly, love their quarterbacks. It’s obvious and clear in everything they say publicly, as well as in quieter production meetings. Payton’s eyes light up when he talks about Nix and says, “I love coaching him. » Steichen said he was told that picking a quarterback was “basically getting married” — and coincidentally for him, “I really like Anthony.”
“You want your head coach and referee to be all in on your quarterback. These two guys have it,” Manning said.
Manning still remembers the moment the light bulb went on for him. It was week 7 of his rookie year. The Colts went to San Francisco and lost, but they only lost 34-31. Manning threw three touchdowns and he said Steve Young then took him aside and told him, “The game will eventually slow down for you.”
“That was the first time I knew what it could look like and I said to myself, ‘I can do this,’” Manning said.
Nix had a very similar interaction earlier this season. The Broncos traveled to Kansas City in Week 10 and lost 16-14 after a last-minute blocked field goal. But after, Mahomes, the other world Chefs The quarterback approached Nix and, according to Payton, said, “You and I are going to have a lot of good games together.”
Steichen couldn’t pick a bright moment for Richardson, but the two fourth-quarter touchdown comeback against the Jets in his first game back from the bench, and the 19-game winning streak against the Patriots in the Colts’ last game, could both qualify.
Regardless, Manning said he sees Nix and Richardson doing more, galvanizing their teammates and cutting corners.
He was jokingly asked how he chooses which quarterback — and which team — to back in this game, where the winner has a much clearer chance at the playoffs, and Manning groaned gleefully. Of his two teams playing each other, he said: “It’s tough. »
To illustrate how deep his allegiance to both teams still runs, Manning talked about “locker room dues,” essentially tips collected by players for equipment, video staff and coaching. Nine years after his retirement, Manning continues to send his “dues” to both locker rooms, FedExing the Colts and depositing Broncos dues just this week.
“I still have a great relationship with both teams,” Manning said. “I’m just going to wear something neutral and stop for a good game.”
With two good and promising heir apparent quarterbacks.