Published March 25, 2011 - 5:08am
NEW: Discuss this topic in the Google+ community for SEC fans.
Saturday Down South is continually counting down the top 20 players in the SEC for 2011 – pre-season style!
Trent Richardson – No. 6
Fresh off sharing the load with fellow running back Mark Ingram for the last two years, Trent Richardson is indeed ready to shoulder the load for the Crimson Tide offense. Even though Ingram mostly received all the notoriety because of the Heisman Trophy – and I’m not taking anything away from Ingram because he is dynamic – Richardson is arguably even better.
Richardson absolutely brings the thunder whenever he takes a handoff out of the backfield. He is a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism at 5-11, 225lbs – built like a truck. He can run through you or around you, and that makes Richardson the total package at running back.
I’m sure it’s mentally concerning as a defender to have a running back who delivers blows as you try to put a good enough hit on him to bring him down.
In 2009 as a freshman, Richardson came in and competed right off the bat with Ingram for playing time. He had 145 rushing attempts for 751 yards and eight touchdowns. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry. In 2010, Richardson had 112 carries for 700 yards and six touchdowns – good for 6.3 yards per carry.
One aspect of the game Richardson most notably improved upon was his ability to receive the football out of the backfield. When a running back can take a handoff and run through you, and then on the very next play take a screen pass to the house – you know he is special. This is a weapon on offense that Alabama will continue to use and lean upon in 2011.
Richardson is also an absolute animal in the weight room as well as on the gridiron, and he wants to push himself to be the best he can be. The sky is the limit for Richardson and his future with his sick athletic ability and size. For his team and the market he plays in, Trent Richardson could have a shot to be in the Heisman discussion in 2011.
The Countdown:
This guy should have been number 1 or 2. Especially when you put Kniles Davis at 1 or 2 and he doesnt show up this season.
Potentially the only problem, and I can see it happening, with Richardson – teams are going to key in on him and make your first year starting qb beat them. I do think that will impact Richardon’s numbers. Do you?
When you look at Knile Davis – he has tons of talent around him at wide receiver. And he does have a first year starter at quarterback – whoever that will be – but at the same time, Petrino will throw the rock around and will have results. So, there will be other players to help lighten the load and open up running lanes for Davis.
Alabama is more of traditional offense, thus a lot under center and up the gut with Richardson – and Alabama has far fewer play makers at receiver to help shoulder the offensive burden.
But what do I know?
Getting down to the Top 5, so who we got left Jon, besides Lattimore and Knile Davis? I’m starting to sweat a bit about Tauren Poole of Tennessee. Not saying he’s better than Davis, Richardson or Lattimore, but I’d certainly put him up against Bolden and Ballard. Hopefully you haven’t slighted Poole and I do realize it’s difficult to make up a list of any size and not give somebody the shaft. I have enjoyed the list. Great work!
Michael…thanks for your comments. To be honest, I’m just not sold on Poole. He could have a great season, but honestly, Lattimore, Davis, Richardson, Dyer, even Jeff Demps, Ballard, Bolden I would take over Poole. It’s nothing personal, and I think Poole is an adequate back, but I’m just not 100% sold on him. I do think the dynamic passing offense that everyone is expecting in KnoxVegas could open up running lanes for him.
He does have experience to lead a young team, which is outstanding, but just MO he does nothing to seperate himself from the rest of a talented position in the SEC.
I would put Justin Hunter on this list before Poole…but this is just MY opinion and nothing more. I’m way wrong more than I’m right as well.
But look at the O-Line that Bama has been building. DJ Fluker, Mike Vlachos, Warmack, Barret Jones and now Koundjo*, and many other top O-linemen that have been drafted. Teams can key in on TR but I think the line will do most of the work for him and free up highways for him to run down. Davis, is good but I really dont see him putting up the numbers he did last year. Also add that TR was hurt most of last season with torn ligaments in his foot, torn abdominal and pulled MCL. With the Bama line and backs, I think TR puts up a huge season, he’ll be in NY but you know how everyone hates the SEC, he’ll probably lose out to some Pac 10 or Big 10 player on a feel good story.
Very plausible, and I respect your opinion. I think TR will be a stud, no doubt about it.