Rick Venturi unfiltered: Colts analyst breaks down practice, Indy's all-or-nothing season

New York Times

a day ago

WESTFIELD, Ind. — A right knee replacement can wait. Football cannot.
To Rick Venturi, the former Indianapolis Colts coach and current radio analyst, nothing comes before the game. His love won't allow it. That passion explains why he scheduled his right knee surgery for early next year, after football season is over. The 79-year-old has more pressing things on his to-do list at the moment, like walking (and slightly limping) up and down the sidelines during training camp at Grand Park while scouting this year's Colts.
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Tuesday was no different. As the sweat dripped down Venturi's face at Grand Park, The Athletic shadowed the football lifer during his 43rd training camp. 'It's 44 if you count my one CFL season,' he laughed. 'The Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1981!'
Venturi is proud of his streak. Proud that he's adapted and survived for so long in an unforgiving game. Proud that his mind is still sharp, even if his body doesn't move the way it used to.
'I'm not gonna be 80 in anything except for this right knee. That's out of warranty,' a gray-haired Venturi said, laughing. 'If it wasn't for that, you couldn't tell!'
Here's how practice unfolded through the lens of one of the most respected men in the Colts franchise.
10:17 a.m.: Venturi is staring at third-year QB Anthony Richardson as he warms up next to ex-Giants starter Daniel Jones. Colts GM Chris Ballard has said this isn't a make-or-break season for the 2023 No. 4 pick, but with Jones challenging him for the starting job, Venturi thinks otherwise.
'This is everything, and not just for Richardson,' Venturi says of the 2025 campaign. 'I think with the holy trinity — coach, GM and quarterback — it all could change.'
Steichen is 17-17 through his first two seasons in Indy. Ballard, entering his ninth season with the franchise, has just one playoff win and zero AFC South titles during his tenure. No one is safe, Venturi says, and he would know. After going 1-10 as the Colts interim coach in 1991, Venturi was fired after the season.
10:32 a.m.: The Colts are at the 5-yard line, and Steichen has dialed up the perfect play call. Rookie tight end Tyler Warren is lined up in the backfield, and when the ball is snapped to Richardson, he quickly flips the ball in Warren's direction for what should've been an easy TD. However, the shuttle pass is behind Warren, who in a real game, likely would've been hit hard across the middle because of Richardson's errant toss. Fortunately, there wasn't any friendly fire as Warren tried to contort his body to make the catch, but Venturi doesn't hold back on Richardson.
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'See, that's the s— he has to clean up,' Venturi laments. 'That's a layup. He's gotta make the layups.'
Richardson's 47.7 completion percentage last year was the lowest mark in the NFL and worst single-season mark in Colts history. Venturi notes that no offense can succeed with that level of inefficiency at quarterback, and his hope for Richardson is to raise that completion percentage to at least 55 percent in 2025. The former coach also points out Richardson's 15 turnovers (12 interceptions and three lost fumbles) in 11 games last year, which is another area he must improve to truly turn a corner.
Right after Venturi finishes scolding Richardson's early miscue, the QB quickly bounces back with a pair of TD passes to wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and Mo Alie-Cox on back-to-back plays. The second one makes Venturi slap his knee in satisfaction, as Richardson would ultimately end his day 9-of-14 passing in 11-on-11s and 4-of-5 in 7-on-7s.
'Every time he throws a ball that looks decisive, you're happy with it,' Venturi says. 'This week, he's done that better than I've seen him do it in a long time.'
10:39 a.m.: The team has separated for individual drills, and Venturi, carrying a small foldable chair, has left the quarterbacks on the north field and is making his way to the south field. That's where the one-on-ones between the offensive and defensive linemen are taking place, and when Venturi believes he has a good view, he plops down on his chair and begins dissecting.
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He praises starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann for stonewalling his first challenger, defensive end Samson Ebukam, and jokes that Raimann shouldn't lose a rep after inking a four-year, $100 million deal. Venturi compares Raimann to former Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo and believes the 27-year-old still has plenty of room to grow. However, he has questions about how the rest of the line will fare this year. A few reps later, it's Matt Goncalves' turn, and the Colts' new starting right guard is easily beaten around the edge by veteran defensive end Tyquan Lewis. Goncalves started eight games last year at both tackle spots but had zero starts at guard. He was moved inside to guard this offseason to replace former starting right tackle Will Fries, who joined the Minnesota Vikings in free agency.
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'That's where I really worry about him. It's in space and on the outside,' Venturi says. 'That's why I like him a lot more at guard than at tackle. Now, the only problem is that realistically, some of the great three-technique (defensive tackles) will end up (over the) guard, but at least he'll have some help in there. When you're at tackle, you're out there on an island.'
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10:47 a.m.: The Colts are transitioning to another team period, and as action gets underway, Venturi points out the additions of cornerback Charvarius Ward and free safety Cam Bynum, and how they always seem to be in position. Ward, a 2023 second-team All-Pro with the 49ers, inked a three-year, $60 million deal in free agency to join the Colts. Bynum, a three-year starter in Minnesota, cashed in as well, with a four-year, $60 million pact. Venturi believes both new members of the secondary will elevate the Colts' defense, especially considering who's at the helm.
The Colts hired Lou Anarumo, formerly the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator, as their new DC this offseason. He'll replace Gus Bradley, whose bend-but-don't-break defenses conceded a lot of underneath throws and never finished better than 24th in the NFL in points allowed per game during his three-year tenure. Venturi is giddy at the creativity he's already seen from Anarumo and references an interview he did on 107.5 The Fan about an hour before Tuesday's practice began in which he praised the Colts' new DC.
'They've been remedial against soft zones, area zones, and I call them high school zones (in recent years),' Venturi said on the radio. '… Now, you bring in a guy who really is NFL. This the NFL I grew up in with the Bud Carsons, (Bill) Belichicks and (Nick) Sabans. (Anarumo is) gonna be much more sophisticated. You can see it on the backend. (He's) much more aggressive with the press coverage and combinations underneath. '
10:55 a.m.: During a 7-on-7 period, Jones launches a deep ball down the sideline to AD Mitchell, who's had an up-and-down camp so far, and the second-year receiver leaps over cornerback Samuel Womack III for a highlight-reel catch. Mitchell follows that up with two more first-down catches from Jones as the two connect on three consecutive plays. Venturi is amazed at Mitchell's speed, body control and athleticism, and he wonders aloud about Mitchell's potential after a lackluster rookie campaign.
The Colts drafted Mitchell in the second round last year, but he was largely a non-factor. He finished his first NFL season with just 23 catches (on 55 targets) for 312 yards and no TDs.
'That is the guy who can make the difference right there,' Venturi says. 'But I just don't know what his temperament is. Can he handle this? He's a superb talent, best separator on the team. He has everything. But like Richardson, you think, 'Can you make the layups?' Because, I mean if you put him opposite of Pierce with all of those other guys inside, holy Jesus! But you gotta catch the ball.'
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Venturi also tips his cap to Jones, who finished the day 4-of-4 in 7-on-7s and 8-of-11 during 11-on-11s. The former coach thinks Jones is salvageable after flaming out with the Giants, though he's not expecting many highlight-reel plays if he wins the starting job.
'He's never gonna wow you. You're never gonna walk out of here going, 'Oh, my God, yeah!'' Venturi says. 'But he does everything pretty well, and he's a much better athlete than people give him credit for. Now, Richardson? He gives you more, 'Wow,' and I think if it remains close, they'll go with him.'
11:07 a.m.: Venturi ducks out of practice a little early, retreating to a nearby tent to prepare for his weekly Colts podcast with Matt Taylor, the radio voice of the Colts. Venturi grabs a notebook that he's already started to fill with all of his thoughts on the Colts and their opponents. He'll run out of room by the end of season, at which point he'll buy another, but before he started writing on the inside of his latest notebook, he wrote on the outside.
The message on the cover: Do you trust AR5? Can Dan (Jones) play like 2022 (when he led the Giants to the playoffs)?
'Those are the questions we're all asking ourselves,' Venturi says. 'Pretty soon, we'll get some answers.'