Riders hoping Richardson jolts struggling ground game
REGINA — For the Riders, the potential return on newly-signed running back Trent Richardson far exceeds any risk.
A month after contract talks reportedly broke down between the two sides, a marriage was struck on Tuesday when the team announced a deal to bring the former NFL third overall pick north of the border.
Richardson may not come with the same kind of fanfare as Vince Young, but if you ask CFL.ca’s Jamie Nye, the situation is similar.
“I look at it that way,” said Nye. “What’s the worst thing that can happen? You cut him because he wasn’t good enough. The best thing that can happen is Trent Richardson finds his game that he had in university and in his rookie season in the NFL.”
Critics will quickly point to an NFL attempt that fizzled fast following an illustrious college career. A two-time BCS National Champion with Alabama, Richardson was a unanimous All-American in 2011, also winning the Doak Walker Award and SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
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The Riders announced Tuesday they’ve signed a deal with Trent Richardson (The Associated Press)
One of the most highly-touted running back prospects ever, Richardson struggled to find success at the next level. Even though he tied a Browns franchise record of nine touchdowns, his 3.6-yard average was the lowest for a rookie running back that season.
After two seasons with Cleveland, Richardson was traded to the Colts. He played two more years in Indy and then, after practice roster stints with the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens, became a free agent.
There were reports last month that the Riders and Richardson were close to a deal. The length of the deal held things up, but now, Richardson will join the Green and White on a two-year deal.
For Nye, the deal can benefit both the Riders and Richardson. While the Riders’ rushing attack needs a boost, Richardson gets one final window to make it back into the NFL.
“I think the Riders are looking for an uptick in production from the run game,” said Nye, “and they believe Trent Richardson, who’s still young and motivated to get his football career back on track, may be the guy to do it.
“I think it’s clear they’re not getting the production they’d like to see [in the run game],” he added. “After the game against the Calgary Stampeders, Chris Jones made it clear: When you can’t get a yard in the CFL on first down, it puts your offence behind the eight ball.”
The Riders are averaging 70.6 rushing yards per game, the lowest total in the CFL. They rank second-last in attempts (178) and third-last in average (4.8 yards per carry).
Chris Jones is hoping his CFL-worst running game can improve with Trent Richardson (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)
Since Cameron Marshall suffered a non-contact knee injury in the Labour Day Classic, the Riders’ rushing totals have regressed weekly, from 94 yards in the Banjo Bowl to 41 yards against the Ticats and, last week, 28 yards against Calgary — an average of 54.3 yards per game.
In the end, the discussion for Chris Jones will always come down to finding the best players. With Marshall still out and the Riders needing a boost on the ground, the Richardson signing aligns with Jones’ philosophy.
“I think this is a fix right now for the Riders, not even depending on Cameron Marshall,” said Nye. “If this is a three- or four-week fix and they have him for the playoffs, I think the Riders are quite fine with that. They’re just looking to plug a hole right now and find the right guy for the job at the running back spot.
“Chris Jones has always had that philosophy of ‘I’m going to find the best players’; he’s not going to just rest on who he’s got here. If he thinks he can go out and find somebody better, he’s been more than willing and capable to do that, mid-season, early in the season — whenever he sees fit.”
When this is over, Richardson will have either helped the Riders’ CFL-worst run game or he’ll have been released. Hardly a high-risk scenario.
