Trent Richardson & Reporter Bias

mark9765 said:

Mods you may delete this but I am going to sound off anyway.
Maybe I am seeing things different than what some sports reporters and talking heads see, if I'm wrong then I'm sorry. My current deal is the reporting on Trent Richardson. He has been labeled a bust. And it seems that all writers want to do is repeat what others have written. In last nights game he averaged 2.3 yards per carry. As a stat on paper this seems bad, however if you watch the runs he did pretty well. When he had hole he hit it hard and gained ground. More times than not he was hit at or behind the line of scrimmage. The writer graded him a C and pretty much said he was he same bust as previous seasons. Over he last 2 seasons Trent has played under difficult conditions, he played through injuries including broken ribs. He had to learn a complete new offense mid season. I think he has done pretty well if you look at what he has gone through.
I think that because he was drafted in the first round he was doomed from the start if he didn't get amazing numbers. Writers and talking heads don't want to be wrong and they said it was a mistake to draft a running back in the first round. This my be true but Trent Richardson didn't force Cleveland to draft him in round 1.

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I kinda of agree with your sentiment. The problem is last year Donald Brown was very productive behind the exact same offensive line. The biggest thing I think TR can do to be successful is re-invent his body. I think he needs to lose some muscle weight and focus on getting a step quicker and faster. Donald Brown looked much faster than TR did running behind the same line last year. In the NFL speed trumps power just about every time.

WMack4Bama said:

Trent is a fine player (as if I needed to say that). He'll get it going this season. The Colts's 1st team offensive line is playing with its 3rd string center due to injuries. Once the line gels and everything comes together, Trent will be just fine. I have him going over 1000 yards this season and double digit TDs.

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I hope you're right. I'd really love to see that.

CrimsonForce said:

I kinda of agree with your sentiment. The problem is last year Donald Brown was very productive behind the exact same offensive line. The biggest thing I think TR can do to be successful is re-invent his body. I think he needs to lose some muscle weight and focus on getting a step quicker and faster. Donald Brown looked much faster than TR did running behind the same line last year. In the NFL speed trumps power just about every time.

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Don't tell the "Bus" that speed trumps power. I think it's way to early to be speculating on NFL players or teams in the pre-season.

BigBama76 said:

Don't tell the "Bus" that speed trumps power. I think it's way to early to be speculating on NFL players or teams in the pre-season.

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The Bus played in a power running era, not a spread offense era. And there are exceptions to everything. I would rather have the rule than to try and have an exception.

Indy had major issues on the OL. Until that's addressed the run game will suffer no matter who is at RB. These writers need to think about that before they write these articles.

I expect big things for him this season. I don't take stock in the pre-season at all. Hello, Minnesota.


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CrimsonForce said:

The Bus played in a power running era, not a spread offense era. And there are exceptions to everything. I would rather have the rule than to try and have an exception.

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I wasn't aware that the entire NFL had gone to the spread. I know they are highlighting the passing game but that still requires a good running game. I could come up with a long list of power runners besides the "Bus", most of whom were better than him.

BigBama76 said:

I wasn't aware that the entire NFL had gone to the spread. I know they are highlighting the passing game but that still requires a good running game. I could come up with a long list of power runners besides the "Bus", most of whom were better than him.

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OK. You're missing my point. I didn't say TR couldn't still be a power runner. I said I feel like he needs to increase his speed and quickness. Donald Brown had success last year running behind the same offensive line. The reason for this that I could tell is Brown is a step quicker to the hole than TR.

I didn't say the whole NFL was a spread offense. The majority of them are though. You keep pointing out the exceptions to what I am saying. There are exceptions to everything.

bamagradinATL said:

These writers need to think...

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Whoa now, let's not get out of hand here!

i love Trent. but the writers have a point. True, Cleveland should not have drafted a RB that high however his production has been weak no matter how you slice it. I remember watching Hardesty run better than Trent behind the exact same line. He could pick up 1000 rushing this year as the man however 1000 yards in the NFL these days doesnt mean anything. I'm pulling for him big time though. just like all our bama players.

Ingram looks thinner and faster....I hope TR gets the same message. He was lightening quick as a freshman.

Padreruf said:

Ingram looks thinner and faster....I hope TR gets the same message. He was lightening quick as a freshman.

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Yep. That's the point I was trying to make earlier in this thread. TR needs to lighten up just a little bit, IMO.

I remember when most NFL teams didn't count on a guy until he hit his 4th or 5th season. Now they expect everybody they draft to make the pro-bowl. I hope trent does play better this season but there is a low ceiling behind THAT line. The press guys know this but they are looking for raw blood and guts to throw in order to get attention and Trent is that guy until he proves otherwise.

bamaslammer said:

I remember when most NFL teams didn't count on a guy until he hit his 4th or 5th season. Now they expect everybody they draft to make the pro-bowl. I hope trent does play better this season but there is a low ceiling behind THAT line. The press guys know this but they are looking for raw blood and guts to throw in order to get attention and Trent is that guy until he proves otherwise.

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When did NFL teams wait half a decade to see if a guy can contribute?

For some reason Trent is not running like he did at Bama, hes not hitting the hole very hard and not pounding the rock, lots of stop and go and trying to shake and bake, as bad as I hate to say it the writers are right. So far he has been a bust and if he doesn't start hitting the line of scrimmage harder Im afraid he will be looking for yet another team and then shown the door. RBs typically last 4-5 years he should be in his prime. Trent please stop doing the hokie pokie and start pounding the rock or you will prove the "experts" right.

In Trent's defense, 2012 rookie season he had 950 yards rushing; that's 50 yards shy of 1,000. Had he gotten that 50 yards in the game that he missed due to injury would he still be considered a bust by the critics? His average per carry was 3.6 yards. If he had 4 more tenths to hit a 4.0 ypc average would he still be a bust? He also gained 367 yards receiving for a combined total of 1,317 yards and 12 total TD's. I don't think that is too terribly bad for a rookie that played a good portion of the year with bad ribs. We all know last year's story with the trade just a few games into the season and he was behind the eight ball trying to learn a new offense. I felt the same way in watching Donald Brown hit it for 6 - 8 yards it seemed like every time he touched the ball and poor Trent was mustering 2 yards. However, I do have to give him the benefit of the doubt about not being sure of the plays and what he was supposed to do.

Now, to take off my crimson and Pensacola colored glasses for a second, I have been telling friends since watching him in the NFL that he just needs a really good RB coach to break him of a few bad habits that will help him out; primarily the hesitancy and stutter step instead of hitting the hole like a missile and then worry about making moves once he hits the second level. Hopefully, now that he has the playbook down, he can do that.

I was really looking forward to seeing his improved productivity this season and was disappointed to hear of the recent injuries to the Colt's starting O-line. That makes it much tougher for him to prove the critics wrong. The good thing is, Trent is a worker and highly motivated to be the best that he can be. That hard work will payoff at some point and time. He has landed with a good organization in the NFL and I hope that he can produce for them and stay there for a nice, long career. Here's to an injury-free season, lots of yards, and lots of TD's!