CREDIT: Peter Read Miller (Photo by Peter Read Miller /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
Football fans love a good comeback story, and they are about to witness one in Baltimore. No joke. This is the stuff that Rocky movies are made of. The National Football League is about to feel the wrath of running back Trent Richardson.
The Baltimore Ravens are loaded at the running back position with Justin Forsett, Buck Allen, Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrance West, and Kenneth Dixon, who was added this year in the fourth round. Richardson faces an uphill battle as he seeks redemption in the charmed city, but he is aware of the daunting task before him and remains confident.
He touted his guaranteed success in an interview with Matt Zenitz of AL.com
“This is what I am going to do. I am going to prove it. Like I keep saying, its going to be fun looking people in the eye and hearing what they have to say after this year.”
After surpassing the physical benchmarks required by Ozzie Newsome and weighing in at 218 lbs, Ozzie told Trent
“we really want you here.” Apparently the front office believes that there is room for improvement in the backfield, and I agree. Richardson signed a one-year deal and I think he will make the 53-man roster.
The Ravens need a strong three down back that will be healthy down the stretch, when a playoff birth is on the line; the kind of back that can keep drives alive on third and one. Under John Harbaugh, Trent will be that back.
At One Winning Drive, Richardson will overcome the mental blocks that were prevalent in Indianapolis and prove the naysayers wrong. In Baltimore he will return to the basic instincts that led him to a tremendous success at the University of Alabama.
Fellow Alabama running back, Shaun Alexander, believes Richardson was “restricted by the schemes” in Indianapolis behind a poor offensive line that hindered his natural abilities. I am hedging my bets, that against all odds, the former Crimson Tide star will return to form and get a start as the short yardage back for the Ravens on Sunday Sept. 11 against the Buffalo Bills.
As the season progresses, Richardson’s pass catching ability will prove to be an ideal fit for Marc Trestman’s offense. Clearly, Trent hit rock bottom last season. Sitting at home, facing a future without playing football, forced the 23 year old to look in the mirror and do a serious gut check. That was then. This is now.
After being picked 3rd overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, the former SEC champion rushed for over 950-yards and 11 touchdowns in his rookie year, while playing injured on a bad team. In addition to his skills on the ground, Richardson has good hands out of the backfield, averaging 8.1-yards with 113 total receptions as a pro.
The former Heisman runner-up fell on hard times last summer, after being cut from the Oakland Raiders. He is about to break out in purple and black. In the words of former teammate and trainer Mike McCoy “He will shock the NFL this year.” Ozzie Newsome believes Trent Richardson will return to form. In his last chance to make good as a pro, Richardson has vowed to “play like a Raven”. I believe him.
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Christopher DuVall is a writer for the Couch Rider Report. Follow him on Facebook.