Before last Thursday’s game against the Titans, the Colts said that they had no regrets about trading a first-round pick for struggling running back Trent Richardson.
In that game against Tennessee, Donald Brown was the more effective back and got more work as Richardson managed just 22 yards on his eight carries. Coach Chuck Pagano said after the game that he thought Richardson might be “snake bit” and praised much of the work that Richardson has done since coming to Indianapolis. He’s not the only one giving Richardson’s work good reviews.
“I’m not frustrated at all because I think I’ve been playing good,” Richardson said, via the Indianapolis Star. “If you turn on the film, I don’t have any missed assignments. I haven’t had any missed reads. I’ve been playing good. Stuff just hasn’t matched up like we thought it would when I’m in there. I think teams match up differently when I come in. But if Donald is having a good day or Andrew [Luck] is having a good day, I think that’s a good day for me even if people are keying on me. That might let Donald get going or let Andrew have a big day. That’s a good day for me, too.”
Pagano and Richardson both stressed the parts of Richardson’s job outside of running the ball, but the Colts didn’t deal a first-round pick for someone who was a good pass blocker in the backfield that they could use as a complement to Brown. They did it to add another weapon to their offense and Richardson hasn’t been able to be one thus far no matter how you slice it.