Richardson's Big Goals With Ravens
Perhaps the Ravens' most intriguing move this offseason has been the decision to bring in former No. 3 overall pick Trent Richardson. Baltimore has an unofficial agreement with the running back, and he will add more competition to an already crowded backfield.
So what exactly should the Ravens expect to get from Richardson?
The 25-year-old ball carrier was a disappointment in the first four years of his NFL career, bouncing between three teams during that time. He ultimately ended up out of the NFL last year after getting cut by the Oakland Raiders in training camp.
But spending last year on the sidelines was a wake-up call for Richardson, and the former Alabama standout has re-dedicated himself to the game after a number of conversations with Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh this offseason.
"This motivates me even more, motivates me to not let coach Harbaugh down for taking this chance," Richardson said in a lengthy interview with Matt Zenitz of the Alabama Media Group. "I had to readjust and come back and write my playbook over. If I didn't, what was I going to get back? The same results? Nah. Just came back, doing what I did to get here and get past here and to get to a Pro Bowl, and I want to be that yellow jacket (a Hall of Famer). I know I've got that talent. I know I've got that pedigree. And I'm going to be that. That's what I need. That's what I'm going to be."
Richardson has the physical tools to be a premier NFL running back, but his professional career up to this point has looked nothing like his time in college where he was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2011.
Richardson opened up to Zenitz about his struggles adjusting to life in the NFL, and part of his issue is that he needed to get in better shape. Richardson acknowledged that "it's very easy to get lazy in the NFL," and the Ravens' holdup on signing him is that they wanted him to slim down first.
He weighed in at 238 pounds on his visit to Baltimore this offseason, and General Manager Ozzie Newsome told the running back to drop to 225 pounds.
Richardson was down to 218 pounds last week, which was the lightest he's been since high school.
Richardson expects to sign with the Ravens sometime in the next three weeks, and he plans to be part of the team's voluntary conditioning program that starts April 18.
He has cleared away some of the distractions that hindered him at the start of career, like family members asking for money, and said that "hands down, this is the happiest I've been since I was at Alabama."
Richardson understands this shot in Baltimore may be his last opportunity in the NFL, and he's motivated to make the most of it.
"Coach was like, 'You've got to seize this moment because you might not have another chance.' But I was thinking, 'I'm not going to need another chance,'" Richardson said. "It's going to be fun looking people in the eye and hearing what they have to say after this year."
Forsett Hosts Football Camp In Italy
Richardson isn't the only running back having a busy offseason.
Returning starter Justin Forsett spent the last week overseas in Italy where he held a three-day football camp for a team in Florence.
Forsett chronicled the trip on social media, sharing photos and videos of his international trip. Take a look below at some of the fun from his travel.
Hargreaves A Reach At No. 6?
We're officially a month away from the draft, and that means just about every possible scenario is going to get talked to death over the next four weeks.
So without further ado …
Would Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves be worth the No. 6 overall pick?
Hargreaves is considered by most draft analysts to be the second-best corner in the draft behind Florida State's Jalen Ramsey, but CSNMidAtlantic’s Clifton Brown pointed to three reasons why he might be Baltimore's best option with the No. 6 pick:
- Cornerback is still a "major need"
- Hargreaves can force turnovers
- Drafting an offensive tackle is not necessarily a priority in the first round
"Despite re-signing Shareece Wright and keeping Kyle Arrington, the Ravens need more depth at corner," Brown wrote. "Hargreaves is the kind of talent who could be a nickel back immediately, and push Wright and Arrington for the starting job opposite Jimmy Smith."
If the Ravens selected Hargreaves at No. 6, Brown said it would most likely be because Ramsey and Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa are already off the board.
Brown also brought up the left tackle position because Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley is a popular projection for the Ravens. But incumbent starter Eugene Monroe is coming back, and Brown thinks the Ravens would prefer to go defense with the No. 6 pick.
"Hargreaves seems like a better fit than drafting left tackle Ronnie Stanley from Notre Dame," Brown wrote. "Coming off a 5-11 season, the Ravens need help immediately, not just down the road. If the Ravens keep Monroe, they can focus on finding a first-round defensive player who will help them win starting Week 1. Hargreaves could be that guy."
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