Trent Richardson has accepted his role as backup and he is not making a stink about the recent demotion. The former first-round draft pick certainly has not been looking like his usual self since he turned pro and the Indianapolis Colts have lost patience as they make a push for the playoffs. Now that Donald Brown has been named the future starter for the team, Richardson said he is simply humbled by the whole thing.
The Colts announced the move prior to their game against the Tennessee Titans. It was the first time since his sophomore year at Alabama that he was not a starter for a team. But the move had to be made. Richardson has been struggling since the Colts traded for him earlier in the season. He is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry while Brown is putting up 5.3 yards per carry. He recalled entering the first quarter as a backup felt a bit odd, but necessary.
"It was different when I went out there Sunday," Richardson said. "It was kind of like this is a place in your life where you have to learn and really see the offense and how things flow. I learned about myself Sunday, how humbling it was. I have to step up. I have to make sure I'm doing my job."
Richardson continues to speak with confidence over his abilities to still be a productive rusher in the league. He believes that with time he will earn his spot back. Richardson was rushed into the starting lineup, giving little time to learn the offense. He was traded on Sept. 18 and started three games later, having only a six-hour plane ride to learn the playbook.
Richardson has just 306 yards on the season, looking like a far cry from the running back that put up 950 yards in his rookie season or the running back that was a Heisman finalist in college.
"I think it's only fair that Donald is the starter, especially the production he's been putting up and the numbers," Richardson said. "He's been playing good ball. I tell people all the time that when I first got here, they thought it was a two-headed monster with me and Ahmad [Bradshaw]. I always said it was a three-headed monster."
Richardson is just 23 and the Colts are fully invested in him, confident that improvement will come. Head coach Chuck Pagano believes that after a full training camp with the team, Richardson will be back to his old running ways, it just takes some time.
"It's going to happen," Richardson said. "Over these last two weeks I was able to sit down and dig my head into it. Right now I feel good."
