Re: Not Surprising News: Colts Waive Trent Richardson
Keep in mind, Trent hasn't been running through these NFL defenses with a college talented kids around him. The guys blocking for him have been NFL players, too. Bottom line, who knows what his issues are (injuries, attitude, etc...), but lack of talent or skill aren't two of them.
Never did I say Trent was lacking talent, I only said there was more opposing talent. You cant dispute that. Trent was great in college because he was fast and physical. In the NFL there are defensive linemen fast enough to catch the fastest backs in college. Need proof? Watch Johnny Manziel try to outrun people these days.
the problem with the offensive line arguement is that Dan Herron started 3 games and on 78 attempts gained 351 yards on that same Colts offensive line, wheras Trent started 12 games and on 159 attempts gained 519 yards. So why should the Colts build around a guy that has only 168 more yards on 71 more attempts than a second to third string gu guy that was picked 188 picks after him in the same draft.
I think the Browns saw the same problem coming that they saw with Peyton Hillis. Hillis had an incredible first season with the Browns, but with the AFC North you need to either have a back that can adapt or stay healthy, and Peyton got hurt and was never the same. Trent has tried to bull rush grown men like he did in college, and I think the Browns saw that TR was unwilling to get away from that and worried that the Steelers or Ravens would clip him good the next year, so they wanted to avoid being stuck with a player with a 3rd pick salary that is constantly on IR. So they did the smart thing and looked for a team that was desperately seeking a runningback and would take him.
Also Trent's former Alabama teammate Eddie Lacy negates the whole offensive line arguement all together. The packers arent this world mover offensive line that they seem to be. If they were then AR would have more than one ring since that would mean almost any back could run for them . Eddie's yards mostly come from YAC and due to his signature spin move. I think Trent is capable to turn things around, but it really looks bad since Andrew Luck takes a huge chunk of the Defensive focus.