Indianapolis Colts' Shane Steichen spoke with reporters following his first training camp practice as head coach. He discussed rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson's performance, injuries, and more. (Video by Jake Arthur)
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00:00 I'll start off, I want to thank the fans.
00:04 The turnout here was unbelievable here.
00:06 Just this whole facility here at Grant Park.
00:09 I want to thank all the volunteers and all the work that goes into putting this
00:12 thing together.
00:12 Shoot, I walked out here today and I walked out here the last past week and
00:15 checking out.
00:15 We got a training camp, it looks like the Ritz Carlton out here for football.
00:19 So excited, fired up to get this thing started.
00:22 >> Shane, is your camp gonna be quality over quantity as far as length of
00:27 practice versus today's different?
00:29 >> Yeah, you got the ramp up period to start.
00:31 I think when you look at training camp, the history of training camps over
00:34 the years, the first week is a lot of those injuries happened that first week.
00:38 So just being smart with those guys, with the reps and all those things.
00:41 And then as we get going, the times will vary in practice.
00:45 >> How long do you expect JT to be in our help?
00:47 >> We'll see how long that takes, but once he's 100% healthy, he'll be out there.
00:51 >> What was your takeaway from his first day?
00:54 >> I thought he did a nice job.
00:55 I think what he did in the spring, learning the system and
00:58 carrying over it today, I thought he made some good plays.
01:00 Obviously, we're down in there in the tight red zone, so
01:02 we didn't have deep holes or anything.
01:03 But making the right decisions, making the right reads, did a nice job.
01:06 >> The tempo that you guys practiced at, big adjustment for a young quarterback.
01:10 >> Yeah.
01:11 >> When you take that into context, what did you learn from that?
01:14 >> Well, I think with any young quarterback, and I've said this in the past, but
01:17 I think when you play fast with young quarterbacks, I think it definitely helps.
01:21 They don't have to think about too much stuff.
01:22 Obviously, we're in huddle today, but
01:24 we have a system where we can get in and out of huddle and do those things.
01:27 >> How good was it to see Sheck out there today?
01:30 >> It's awesome to have him back, the energy he brings.
01:32 I know he's been grinding and taking care of his body to get back out there.
01:36 And we're slowly progressing him back in, and just really thankful and
01:39 thrilled for him to be back out there.
01:41 >> Shane, is there an optimal time during preseason when you wanna know
01:46 who your quarterback is gonna be?
01:47 >> There's not.
01:48 I don't have a timetable on that, to be honest.
01:51 I just wanna see consistency and growth from all that position.
01:54 I mean, when you compete, it makes you better.
01:56 And so when that time comes, I'll know, we'll talk through it as a staff, and
02:00 we'll go from there.
02:01 >> Anthony talked about tying his legs together, obviously, and his hips.
02:05 He is a big guy and has a big arm.
02:08 And I know that some of those guys have a tendency to just rely on that arm.
02:10 Have you seen him grow in that regard, and how important is that?
02:14 >> Yeah, it definitely is.
02:15 I tell this to the quarterbacks all the time.
02:18 The rhythm of your drop, it plays a huge part into the timing of the route.
02:22 But not all drops are gonna be the same.
02:25 You gotta look at leverage and matchup and who's playing what and
02:28 all those different things.
02:29 But it is big.
02:30 When you can tie your feet into the concept of the route and be on time and
02:34 throw that thing on time and know how to throw it and when to throw it,
02:37 it definitely helps.
02:38 >> Seems like a lot of red zone work today.
02:39 >> Yeah. >> Along with that.
02:40 >> That was how we started out.
02:41 Again, I didn't want long distance running the first day.
02:44 These guys have been working out, but they haven't done football yet.
02:47 So I wanted to keep it compacted.
02:49 >> Is Julian Blackman dealing with an injury?
02:51 >> Yeah, he's got a little hamstring right now, and
02:54 I got no time to have on his return.
02:56 >> What about Juju Brentz?
02:57 >> You know what?
02:58 He's got a, he tweaks hamstring a little bit.
03:01 But he should be good.
03:03 He should be out there soon.
03:04 >> Shane, Michael Pittman organized kind of that get together in Miami.
03:07 What just about that commitment to having guys all get down there shows to you?
03:12 >> Yeah, there's no question.
03:13 When you've got guys that take it upon themselves to say like, hey,
03:16 let's do this.
03:17 We don't need coaches around to go get better.
03:19 And they had a chance to go in, and I guess they got a meeting room, and
03:22 they walked through and did classroom work.
03:24 And I think when you do that, it builds camaraderie, and
03:26 obviously it gets guys on the same page, so you can start training camp faster.
03:29 >> Shane, when did you know Taylor was gonna go on the pump list?
03:31 Was that a surprise to you?
03:32 >> Yeah, no, it came out when he came in and did his stuff.
03:34 So it came out, and that's when it happened.
03:36 >> You had no idea going in?
03:37 I mean, you got him in a rush.
03:39 >> Well, yeah, but so he had to do his physical and stuff.
03:42 So yeah, so we just wanna make sure he's 100% healthy, and
03:44 when he is, he'll be back out.
03:46 >> What did you think of how Anthony has been kind of grabs and
03:48 done better at the middle side?
03:49 He was saying that's probably the hardest part, is just getting the plate moved
03:52 down, and seeing kind of rest from draft night to-
03:54 >> Yeah, it's been great.
03:55 Obviously, you had that spring time, and then now we got another month, right?
03:58 So you take that work you did in the spring, and
04:01 you don't wanna take a step back, you wanna hit that ground running.
04:04 So doing work in the summertime, continuing to study, and
04:08 it looked good today going forward.
04:10 >> I think he handled just the spotlight of today,
04:11 cuz obviously it's his first time in front of the Colts fan base.
04:14 And with expectations that he's gonna go full pitch and
04:16 change his name, so I just see him manage all of that.
04:18 >> He was great.
04:19 I mean, shoot, he played in the SEC, so
04:20 he's played in big crowds before, so he was awesome.
04:24 >> Shane, I know this is business, but did any part of you,
04:27 first time doing this, and training camp's kind of an official time,
04:32 I mean, did it mean a little more?
04:34 >> Yeah, I think it's always special when you get an opportunity to be a head coach
04:37 in the National Football League, never take for granted.
04:39 And walking out here and seeing the fans and players and
04:42 all the work that goes into it, it's special.
04:43 >> Shane, do you wanna give maybe three days of starting offense next year,
04:48 maybe three days, do you wanna split that?
04:49 >> Yeah, you'll see it, you'll see the rotation as we go, and that could change,
04:52 but you'll see it, we'll flip flop those guys with the ones and twos all throughout.
04:56 >> You guys have a really- >> [INAUDIBLE]
04:59 >> Potential of an RPO.
05:01 >> [INAUDIBLE]
05:03 >> Yeah, that stuff's great,
05:05 I don't really like to get into a whole bunch of team stuff, but yeah, it's good.
05:10 >> You guys have a really- >> Have I ever been in your system before?
05:13 Does he have to kind of set that tone a little bit for the tempo out here?
05:17 >> Well, yeah, I mean, he knows the system really well.
05:19 I think it comes from everybody, and obviously the quarterback is,
05:21 the leaders on the team, the quarterback's gotta lead too, but it's everybody, right?
05:25 It's our leaders that are veteran players setting the tone and
05:27 understand what we're trying to get done.
05:29 >> You spoke on having a bit of a rotation with the quarterbacks,
05:31 is it gonna be the same thing with cornerbacks, or
05:33 do you guys have some starters on the outside that you like?
05:36 >> Yeah, we're working through all those things through camp,
05:38 we have those conversations ongoing, myself and Gus and Milo and Michael.