Rams' Richardson wants to make the most of backfield opportunity
Daryl Richardson does not mind being challenged. In fact, he seems to enjoy it.
Selected in the in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL draft, Richardson was pick No. 252, one ahead of Mr. Irrelevant, the final selection of the draft.
But the 5-foot-10, 196-pound speedster out of Division II Abilene Christian (Texas) University battled through some hamstring issues early in training camp to beat out second-round pick Isaiah Pead and went on to a solid season as the main backup to longtime Rams’ star Steven Jackson.
Richardson rushed 98 times for 475 yards — an average of 4.8 per carry — and also caught 24 passes for 163 yards last fall. With Jackson out with a groin injury, he ran for a 83 yards in a 31-28 victory over the Washington Redskins in Week 2 and had another big day in a Week 6 loss at Miami that included 11 rushes for 76 yards as well as a 26-yard pass reception.
He produced the team’s longest run from scrimmage in 2012 (53 yards vs. Washington) and also had a 44-yarder at Miami.
“No sir, I’m not surprised at all (with last year’s success),’’ Richardson said after Tuesday’s practice sessions at Rams Park. “I just try to work and and do the job the coaches need me to do.’’
The Rams’ top returning rusher, Richardson finds himself in a group of young backs looking to fill the void created when Jackson opted out of the final year of his contract with the Rams and signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons.
That group, which also features Pead, second-year pro Terrance Ganaway and rookie Zac Stacy, has some huge shoes to fill. Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the last eight seasons and is one of just 27 NFL backs to eclipse the 10,000-yard mark.
“I learned a lot from Steven, on and off the field,’’ said Richardson, 22. “More than anything, I learned what it takes to be a professional and being serious about your craft. He taught me about studying opponents and game plans and also about training and nutrition, about taking care of your body.’’
But Jackson’s departure also creates an opportunity.
“I’m definitely working toward a bigger role,’’ Richardson said. “I’m excited about getting a chance to show the coaching staff what I can do. I definitely feel like I can be the starter, but I guess that’s something that will be decided in training camp. We’re all friends, working to push each other and to make each other better, but we’re also all trying to be that No. 1 guy.’’
It seems likely the Rams will go with a committee-type approach in the backfield this season.
“You need multiple backs in this league,’’ offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said. “We’re going to try to play to their strengths. With (Jackson) last year, it was a little different. It was harder to do the committee because every time you took him out, you knew you were missing his leadership and his toughness. This year I think we’ve got nice pieces to try and blend in and differently attack people.’’
Rams head coach Jeff Fisher also envisions an expanded role for Richardson.
“We have to get the ball to him in the passing game more than we did (in 2012),’’ Fisher said earlier in the offseason. “We were spreading it out, but we weren’t necessarily going to the backs as much as we would’ve liked. Any time we can get Daryl the ball in space, it’s going to put added pressure on the other team.’’
Richardson followed older brothers Bernard Scott (Cincinnati Bengals) and Clyde Gates (New York Jets) through Abilene Christian to the NFL. He is excited about the Rams’ many new weapons and looks forward seeing where he fits in.
“I feel much more comfortable this year because I have a better feel for the playbook and my teammates,’’ he said. “I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do with all these playmakers.’’
The Rams have competition for spots and they have options. The key now is fitting all the pieces together.
“I think we’re still trying to find what our identity is going to be,’’ he said. “It’s a work in progress. I think we’re starting to kind of get a feel for it, but nothing’s done yet. That’s the hard part. The personnel groupings. How do they fit? How do you mix pieces around? Who can learn different spots? Who can’t?’ (But) it’s a good problem to have.’’
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