Colts co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon addresses QB battle, state of team during preseason game

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The tradition continues.

Indianapolis Colts co-owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon joined the broadcast booth during the third quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers — just like her father, the late Jim Irsay, would do every year.

During the interview, Irsay-Gordon addressed the state of the Colts as many feel this is a make-or-break year for the current regime under general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen. She said that the search for success is “all about the journey.” She said that since she and her sisters, Kalen Jackson and Casey Foyt, have been so hands-on as co-owners for years, it’s made the transition into full-time leadership smoother.

“This is one of the best camps we’ve had in quite a long time,” Irsay-Gordon said.

The hottest question of training camp centers on the quarterbacks. The battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones has been the focus of everything surrounding this team. Irsay-Gordon talked about the looming decision.

“It’s a very expensive question I think that everyone’s wondering about,” Irsay-Gordon said. “There’s nothing that makes the good things rise to the surface better than competition, and I think having Daniel (Jones) in here with Anthony (Richardson), he’s obviously had more experience than Anthony, but I think that room as a whole, they’re competing in camp. They’ve done things well. They’ve also made mistakes. So, Shane (Steichen) is going to have a tough decision to make, but I feel confident he’s going to make the right decision.”

Both Jones and Richardson played during the first half against the Packers. Jones got the start, finishing 7-of-11 for 101 yards, while Richardson played three drives and went 6-of-11 for 73 yards. Richardson also rushed for nine yards and led the Colts on a 90-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 3-yard score from running back Tyler Goodson.

Irsay-Gordon also applauded the off-season personnel decisions made by Ballard and his staff, including signing free agents Camryn Bynum and Charvarius Ward and drafted tight end Tyler Warren in the first round from Penn State.

She said that she and her sisters have taken a hard look at what’s worked and what hasn’t in the last few years. One example she cited was the decision to make a change at defensive coordinator — replacing a fired Gus Bradley with former Cincinnati DC Lou Anarumo.

“I love Gus, but it was time to move on from Gus,” Irsay-Gordon said.

Anarumo has brought a level of accountability to the defense that was 29th in the league last season.

“The players are really responding (to Anarumo),” Irsay-Gordon said. “I think they really respect Lou because he will correct you. I think most players want to be coached, but they want to be coached consistently. Then it helps them not make mistakes and it helps them look good.”

The Colts have their first chance to truly show off what all these changes will be like in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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