Florham Park, NJ – It appears John Idzik has an affinity for running backs with dreadlocks. After Zac Stacy had a breakout year of sorts and the Rams drafted Tre Mason in the third round Daryl Richardson became expendable to the Rams and Idzik quickly pounced on the opportunity to add Richardson to this suddenly very deep running back group.
Richardson was a seventh-round draft, out of Abilene Christian University, in 2012 and served as backup to Steven Jackson during his rookie season. As Jackson’s backup Richardson had 98 carries for 475 yard (4.8 yards per carry) to go along with 24 catches for 163 yards (6.8 yards per reception).
The Rams had hopes that Richardson would take over for the departed Jackson and be the team’s lead back in 2013, but suffered a foot injury early in the season and was never able to get back on track. Richardson lost his starting role to Stacy in week five and never came close to reclaiming it. Richardson played in only eight games last season and gained just 215 yards on 69 carries (3.1 yards per carry), a drastic drop off from his 2012 production.
Richardson will join an already crowded backfield of Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson, Bilal Powell, Mike Goodson, Alex Green and John Griffin. (UPDATE: The Jets have released Alex Green) (UPDATE #2: Rex Ryan said Green has not been released and he will compete in camp. The Jets did give his number away to Calvin Pryor though so…) Richardson isn’t guaranteed a roster spot at this point, though the fact that Idzik claimed him so quickly bodes well for his chances, but his arrival will likely bring the eventual departure of Goodson, Green and Griffin.
Richardson has good hands and can contribute in the passing game. His versatility offers good depth for the Jets running back core.
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Richardson sounds like he could be a sleeper and the fact that he has a quick
first step and the ability to burst into the secondary and he can catch the ball
makes him a dangerous back who may get more playing time than people think? Even with a crowded back field now he offers a different look and set of skills than Powell or Ivory and with Goodson’s future with the jets in question
Richardson might play a lot behind Johnson and Ivory!