Less Could be More for Raiders' Richardson

A lighter, quicker Richardson may be able to fill a role with Oakland in 2015 say Tice and Tomlinson

When the Raiders signed running back Trent Richardson in April, not many observers believed in the former Alabama All-American.

Richardson had failed to live up to his billing in both Cleveland and Indianapolis and went unclaimed after he was waived by the Colts in March. Since coming into the NFL as the third overall pick of the 2012 draft, Richardson hasn’t shown the explosiveness he showed in college. Part of that may be due to having gained weight.

He reportedly was fined 14 times while with Indianapolis for being over an agreed-upon weight.

When the Colts released him, Richardson told Mike Wells of ESPN.com that he was determined to turn his career around.  He said his next stop would be his last.

“I’ll never be traded unless I want to be traded,” he told Wells. “Being released will never happen again.”

So far in Oakland, Richardson has made a good impression. Though Latavius Murray is the leading candidate to be the team’s No. 1 back, Richardson has an opportunity to stick as No. 2, with Roy Helu Jr. in position as a change-of-pace and pass-receiving threat.

Recently, Oakland offensive line coach Mike Tice said Richardson is looking more like his old self in spring workouts.

“He lost some weight and his quickness came around,” said Tice.

In addition, former All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson, now an NFL Network analyst, said he’s encouraged by recent conversations he’s had with Richardson.

“He really wants to be a good football player,” Tomlinson said in a recent interview with 95.7 The Game in San Francisco. “He tries hard. He wants to do the things that it takes to be a really good football player.”

Tomilinson admits it’s “going to be Latavius Murray’s show,” but says Richardson can be a contributor.

“You do need another running back to spell (Murray) at times and really to help keep the chains moving,” Tomlinson said. “If Trent Richardson gets his mind right that that can be him, then I believe he can have a nice role with that offense.”

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