There aren't any more excuses for Trent Richardson . (USATSI)
By all accounts, last year was a whirlwind for Colts RB Trent Richardson.
Traded to Indianapolis in the third week of the season for a first-round pick, there was already pressure to perform out of the backfield despite not knowing schemes, blocking assignments or player personnel.
Richardson, splitting time with Donald Brown, struggled to gain a foothold and impress his new teammates. He averaged a meager 2.9 yards per carry and didn't produce more than 64 yards in any game.
This year's supposedly different for Richardson, the former third overall pick who's been making the most of his first offseason with the Colts.
“To be taking everything slow and know the real concept of the plays [is helpful],” he told the team's website. “Not just going week-to-week and just really knowing why the quarterback is doing this, or why they're thinking that, or why do we got those audibles set up in this play, or why the offensive line is making this call.”
“I'm learning a lot, as much as I've learned in this last week, [it's] much more than I learned last year. The offseason is very important because you have a chance to vibe with your team, to build that respect, to build that trust and then to build that team chemistry.”
That's fine, and Richardson does deserve time to assimilate with his new teammates. But another dismal year in a pass-first offense that protects him with the likes of Andrew Luck, and last year's trade is going to look even more unconvincing.
NFL Hot News
Despite ankle surgery, Panthers say QB Cam Newton will not run less this season
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ran for 585 yards last season, a very respectful total but his lowest in three NFL seasons. He also underwent ankle surgery last month that is expected to keep him out of action until training camp. But once Newton is ready, the Panthers plan to use him like normal; you shouldn't expect Newton to fall further than 585."We don't want to take away a weapon," head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday to the speculation that Newton will run less this season.
It's just one sentence about Newton in an article really about the Panthers' priorities in next week's draft. Two big priorities: Help on the offensive line to protect Newton, and help at wide receiver to catch his passes. Assuming Newton recovers well from his surgery, I will have no concerns about him. But everyone should be concerned about the Panthers' receiving corps, currently headed by Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood. That weakness, and a patchy offensive line, will have more of an effect on Newton than ankle surgery. His fantasy value hinges heavily on how the Panthers address their group of wide receivers in the draft.
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