Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen provided injury updates on Shaquille Leonard and Zack Moss. Steichen also discusses expectations for Anthony Richardson and what the team plans to do at running back. (video via Jake Arthur)
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00:02 >> Ray, what do you guys think?
00:03 >> Any update on Zach Lawson, where he's at?
00:06 >> Yeah, he's progressing well.
00:07 He was out there today with the guys.
00:09 We'll see where that goes this week, but he's progressing well.
00:11 >> Is Shaq still under concussion protocol?
00:15 >> He is, but same thing, he's progressing well as well.
00:18 Yeah.
00:18 >> Hey, does this team have an identity yet?
00:20 Or is that something that will be found out in this first game?
00:23 >> Yeah, I think it'll be found out throughout the course of this early on in
00:26 the season, you know what I mean?
00:27 I think, like I said, last time we talked, I think you kind of find out about your
00:30 team that first month, first four weeks, week five, week six, right in there.
00:35 You kind of figure out really who you are as a football team.
00:37 So we're working through that.
00:39 But again, we wanna be tough, we wanna be physical, we wanna play fast.
00:42 >> Shane, to the extent that you were able to see Shaq,
00:45 what were your impressions of the way he came back before this injury hit?
00:49 >> I mean, just his leadership presence out there and the way he sees the game,
00:52 the way he studies the game,
00:54 just the presence he brings to our football team out there defensively is
00:57 tremendous for our pass.
00:58 I mean, to have a leader like him, to see it the way he sees it,
01:01 the way he calls out plays by formation, I mean, that stuff's invaluable.
01:05 And we're looking forward to him playing this year.
01:07 >> How does the job change in terms of for Anthony picking up a game plan versus
01:13 picking up what you guys were doing in the preseason or
01:16 just doing in the offensive end zone?
01:18 >> Yeah, without diving too far into it, right?
01:20 We wanna do stuff that he's good at,
01:22 stuff that we got reps at through training camp.
01:24 And then we go from there.
01:25 Obviously, there's a lot of intricacies into a game plan each and every week.
01:29 There's different front structures, different coverages.
01:31 And you gotta study your tail off and make sure you're prepared and ready to go.
01:34 It starts with us as coaches, helping him get there.
01:37 But I like where he's at right now, and we got a lot of work this week coming up.
01:41 >> Giving him stuff that he's good at, I think you just filled it out for
01:44 you guys, kinda went through some of Jaylen's college statement and
01:47 stuff like that.
01:47 Is that somewhere along the lines of what you do with Anthony?
01:50 >> Yeah, I think with anything, you always dive deep into what they've had success
01:53 doing, whether it's in college or since he's been here.
01:56 You try to take advantage of the things he's really good at, and
01:58 let him go execute on Sundays.
02:00 >> Do you learn those things over the course of the season, or
02:03 do you feel like you have a good handle of what isn't comfortable for him now?
02:09 >> Yeah, I think he evolves throughout the season.
02:11 I mean, I think right now you have an idea too, but obviously,
02:13 as the season gets going, you kinda feel it out a little more.
02:16 You know, the in-game stuff, the communication, all those different things.
02:20 That's a growing process.
02:21 That's a learning process that you go through with any rookie,
02:24 not just a rookie quarterback, but any rookie.
02:26 >> Can the volume of stuff that you have for the game,
02:30 does it, is it impacted at all with the other rookie quarterback?
02:34 >> I think so.
02:34 I don't think you wanna overload any player, really, especially a rookie.
02:37 You wanna, like I said, you wanna make sure he knows that game plan path.
02:40 Again, it starts with us as coaches making sure he understands the game plan.
02:44 Every play, we have a purpose for what we're trying to get done.
02:47 Are we gonna get the perfect look every time?
02:49 No, that's not realistic, but make sure he has answers when the looks aren't there,
02:53 so we can go execute.
02:55 >> Shane, you've been so much talking to us about Anthony,
02:57 this is his first start and all that.
02:59 Obviously, this is your first game as well.
03:01 What have you done so far since, what have you been, March,
03:05 until you're ready for this?
03:07 >> Well, I- >> Do you hope or
03:09 do you know you're gonna win?
03:10 >> Yeah, I think, it's like with anything, it's like, hey, you're getting this job,
03:14 or you're getting that, or as a player, you're ready?
03:16 Well, shoot, when we get out there, we're gonna find out, right?
03:19 But you prepare as best as you can every single day to put yourself in position to
03:23 be successful, whether that's through your schedule, your detailed layout plan of
03:27 what you want it to look like throughout the week, and stick to it.
03:31 Are you gonna have adjustments throughout the season?
03:32 Yeah, to adjust things to make sure it's a better fit for
03:35 the players and the coaches, absolutely, that's part of the process.
03:38 But like where we're at as a football team,
03:41 I know it's a long season, but I'm fired up for this first week.
03:44 >> You've worked with rookie quarterbacks, obviously,
03:46 Herbert got thrown into the fire pretty quick.
03:50 What are some of the biggest challenges that they face on game day,
03:54 maybe their first game?
03:56 >> I think it's just the unknown, you know what I mean?
03:58 You're gonna get some looks that you probably haven't seen on tape.
04:00 You're going against new bodies, new personnel.
04:03 I think a lot of those guys that have played in the league for a long time,
04:05 they've went against a lot of these guys, they've seen a lot of different looks.
04:09 And I think that's the biggest thing,
04:11 just understanding what you're going up against and be ready for the unknown.
04:15 Cuz it's not gonna be perfect out there, and as coaches,
04:18 we gotta be able to adjust on the sidelines to help these guys make plays.
04:21 >> Shane, how deep do your fingerprints go in the locker room?
04:26 We're gonna go in there and see how it looks.
04:28 Do you have any say in you care about who's where,
04:31 or where these guys are offensively?
04:33 >> In the locker room, just like where they're positioned?
04:35 >> Yeah.
04:35 >> Yeah, I think a lot of stuff, that's part of being a head coach,
04:39 is all those little details, the ins and outs of the locker room.
04:42 What's going up in the building, what's going outside the building.
04:45 Make sure we're practicing on the right field today,
04:47 we're stretching on field, there's all those little details.
04:50 That you didn't have to worry about when you're a position coach or
04:52 a coordinator.
04:52 But yeah, I think you gotta be in tune to all those things to make sure it's running
04:56 how you want it to be running.
04:57 >> And all the things you've got to, I mean, the running back for
05:00 WJT, you've got Zach, how do you look at that from the in game world?
05:04 >> I think it's running back by committee, I do.
05:06 I think with anything, whoever's got the hot hand,
05:10 let them ride a little bit and go with that.
05:12 But again, we'll rotate those guys in, see where everyone's at, and
05:16 like I said, we'll ride with the hot hand.
05:17 >> Is that me or would you like to know who you've got here?
05:19 I mean, this- >> I think that'll take place over
05:23 the first couple weeks, you know what I mean?
05:24 See who's rolling pretty good, and then you go from there.
05:27 >> So are you always kind of a running back by committee guy in general?
05:31 Is that your view of it in general, or is it just more specific to this situation?
05:35 >> Yeah, I think it's more specific to this situation right now.
05:38 But again, like I said, if someone's hot and they got a hot hand,
05:40 just roll with it.
05:41 >> But Zach, it being an arm and not a leg, do you feel like his conditioning is maybe
05:46 in a better place as he comes back to practice?
05:49 >> Yeah, that's the biggest thing.
05:49 Our training staff's done a heck of a job with him, getting him,
05:52 whether it's on the treadmill or whatever it is, on the bike,
05:55 getting his conditioning ready to go.
05:57 Obviously, he hasn't been in football out there with the guys running around, but
06:00 that'll be a big process, which he's been going through and
06:03 getting up to speed this week.
06:06 >> Have you seen Anthony be able to handle more and more and more as the weeks go on,
06:09 just from a mental side of things, and bouncing back from mistakes and
06:13 correcting those quickly as well?
06:14 >> Yeah, I think so, absolutely.
06:15 With anything, you don't want guys making the same mistake twice, and
06:19 you learn from those mistakes, and you go from there.
06:20 And I think that's how you grow, and that's how you get better.
06:23 And that's part of the learning process with anything, any position.
06:26 Obviously, we got a couple extra days to get ready for this week one.
06:29 It'll be that quick turnaround.
06:30 You got five days to get ready for the next one, and
06:32 five days to get ready for the next one.
06:34 And that'll be the big challenge for everyone,
06:36 is getting ready for that next opponent week in and week out.
06:39 >> Sorry about that.
06:40 How do you see Anthony's patience level in the pocket?
06:43 Is he, so far, is he looking like he's gonna leave with it too soon, or
06:46 is he not gonna leave soon enough?
06:48 Where is he on that continuum?
06:50 >> Well, I think you look at the preseason games,
06:52 I thought he got some good pocket movement in the preseason games.
06:54 And then again, each week could look different, you know what I mean?
06:57 He might be able to make some big plays out of the pocket, scrambling.
07:00 And he might stand in there and sidestep a guy and make a throw.
07:02 And I think that's it, everybody, that's always growing.
07:05 And we learn from those things, whether it's good or bad.
07:07 And we'll see where it goes.
07:09 >> Curious to know, if you had any one-on-one interactions with Anthony,
07:13 just about the pressure he's gonna face, or has he been on the vent in any capacity?
07:17 Because he talked to us about it, and obviously it's not normal, I guess, or
07:21 for it to be coming if he faces a franchise.
07:23 But how you see him kind of just- >> Yeah,
07:24 I think we've had multiple private conversations about life and everything.
07:28 I'll keep those private, but they've been really good.
07:31 He's in a great mindset.
07:32 He's got great support around him, and just looking forward to his future.
07:36 >> Do you think you guys will go into the game with four guys on the 53 here,
07:39 have like a seed revy?
07:41 >> We'll see, we're talking through that this week, yeah.