Trent Richardson is entering a career defining year in Indianapolis. A repeat of last seasons performance could land Richardson out of he NFL, or at best, bouncing around the league as a journeyman running back.
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson was as polite as he could be in laying the guantlet down for Richardson. Via ESPN.com, Grigson made it clear that Richardson needs to produce or else.
“Trent, he needs to answer the bell and do his job to the best of his ability,” Grigson said, via ESPN.com. “We’re all accountable here. I will say this, there are a lot of backs last year that wouldn’t have got [2.9 yards per carry] considering the amount of people he had in that box and the amount of bodies that were hitting him before he even seemed to get the ball sometimes. He’s such a hard runner, we know how tough he is, but he’s got to produce just like all these guys do on this final 53.”
Richardsons saving grace may come in the form of a pretty good Colts passing game. Andrew Luck’s success should provide Richardson with lanes and alley-ways to run the ball in.