Trent Richardson 2012 NFL Draft scouting report

Position Parameters:

· Height: 5 feet 9” to 6 feet 2”

· Weight: 190 – 230 pounds

· Speed: 40 yard dash—Faster than 4.6 seconds

Position Specifics:

· Run Instincts – Richardson has very good run instincts and consistently finds the hole and uses his quick feet to get thru it in a flash. He has great vision he uses very well to make sharp cuts easily. He will follow his blockers and sit on their hip then makes sharp cuts.

· Elusiveness – He uses his foot quickness, great agility, and balance to elude defenders consistently at the line of scrimmage. He has some wiggle to make defenders miss in the open field. He uses very good knee bend and flexibility to run low and can cut sharply.

· Cutback Ability – He has very good instincts and vision that he uses well to find the hole or opening in the defense then uses his very good balance to execute cutbacks and bursts thru the hole.

· Inside Running – Richardson is excellent in the inside running game. He is very strong and has a powerful leg drive to carry defenders for extra yardage after the initial contact. He follows his offensive linemen’s blocks then uses his vision and instincts to cut off either hip and burst thru the hole. He gets very low with his great knee bend and flexibility in his hips and will deliver a punishing blow to the tackler.

· Outside Running – He can get to the corner with his very good foot quickness and has the power to deliver a blow to the defensive backs on the edge. Once he gets to the corner he can also accelerate quickly to his top speed and is a consistent threat to score. He has the combination of power and elusiveness that he uses well once he gets to the outside.

· Receiving/Hands – He has good hands and consistently secures the ball before he starts running. He was not asked to run a lot of pass routes, but is very adequate on screens and dump offs at catching the ball then can accelerate quickly.

· Yards After Catch/Contact – His combination of size, strength, speed, and agility makes him a dangerous runner in the open field. He keeps his legs moving after initial contact and has the strength to carry the defender for extra yardage consistently. It usually takes more than one defender to bring him down. He uses his very good elusiveness after the catch to make defenders miss and is a threat to score every time he touches the football.

· Run Blocking – He was the primary ball carrier in 2011 and the games I reviewed he was not asked to run block. He would probably be a good lead blocker if needed because of his strength and powerful legs.

· Pass Blocking – He needs some technique work in this area. He sets up aggressively and has very good strength that he uses at the point of attack. He gives solid effort to eliminate man consistently.

· Durability – Richardson has the toughness, playing strength, and what I call the “want to be great”(heart) to be a durable running back in the NFL. He does not let minor injuries hamper his performance and his competiveness usually takes control.

· Errors/fumble prone – He consistently carries the ball with proper placement and is not a fumbler. He does not make glaring mental mistakes and knows where to line up every snap.

v Strengths: Richardson is a strong in between the tackles runner. He has the body build and playing strength to be an every down back in the NFL. He is a very good athlete with quick feet, agility, and balance to change directions very fast and to make sharp cuts. He follows his blockers very well, then can sit on their hip and make sharp cuts off of their blocks. He consistently keeps his legs churning and fights for extra yards. He has the strength to run thru arm tackles and can break tackles when he runs with good pad level. He also has very good balance to keep on his feet versus hard hits. He can reach top speed quickly on outside runs to turn the corner and can finish with a burst.

v Weaknesses: Richardson was not used a lot as a receiver which usually states he is not a polished receiver. He does not always attack the line of scrimmage when there is no hole. He tends to slow up and does not run as aggressively. He does not use good techniques in pass protection occasionally.

v Summary: Richardson is an elite talent and should be the first running back drafted in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has all of the intangibles that suggest he will be an outstanding every down running back in the NFL. In his game, he has the combination of power and vision for the inside running game and then the speed and elusiveness to be very effective in the outside running attack. He has the speed and burst to be dangerous from anywhere on the field. He has good hands and will make plays on screens and check down passes. Overall, Richardson should be an outstanding back at the next level and contribute immediately with his ability to make plays inside or outside.