If you believe the words coming out of the locker room in Indianapolis, running back Trent Richardson's poor yards-per-carry average in 2014 was the result of him not knowing the playbook.
Richardson was traded to the Colts from the Cleveland Browns early in the season, and he's since claimed he never felt comfortable on his new team. With a full offseason under his belt, Richardson promised to be much better. His teammates promised the same.
This is what Richardson looked like in the Colts' preseason opener Thursday:
That footage looks like slow-motion, but it's playing back at regular speed. Richardson simply displayed almost no burst whatsoever.
Richardson totaled just 13 yards on five carries. On the plus side, that's 13 times the yards as he rushed for in two playoff games last season.
The Colts need Richardson to be a big part of their offense. They lost Vick Ballard for the season to a torn Achilles in late July, and Ahmad Bradshaw is rarely healthy.
Richardson probably won't ever live up to the hype he created at Alabama - hype that led to him being selected as the No. 3 pick in the 2012 draft by the Browns. What's frustrating about him is that he seems to have the raw talent to be more than the player you see on tape above. Why he refuses to hit the hole with any authority remains a mystery.
[H/T @FantasyFbPundit]
