Should fans be surprised to see Trent Richardson traded?
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CLEVELAND, Ohio-So far the 2013 Cleveland Browns offense resembles a theatrical play who's advance billing had many in anticipation to see. However, when the curtain went up, lack of talent and a seemingly unfamiliarity with the stage sent fans home wondering if they had just witnessed amateur hour at the Apollo instead.
Some people may wonder why a football team would trade their most prominent offensive leader, especially when Brows officials have recently spoken of how he is supposedly a big part of their future plans.
If there were a marquee over the Cleveland Browns First Energy Stadium, Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden's names would have been in bright lights for the opening game this season. They were the leading men for the Browns new supposedly explosive offense. Joshua Gordon would have been sharing the marquee if he had not been suspended by the NFL for the use of an illegal substance.
During the off season a move was made to bring in not just a wily veteran offense coordinator in Nor Turner, but one who's resume and trips to the Super Bowl will land him in the Hall of Fame. The Browns also spoke of Turner as the director and producer of their new Cleveland offense that would use receivers such as Josh Gordon, Greg Little and Travis Benjamin to throw deep passes with regularity. This would open up running lanes for Richardson. Defensive backs could not cheat up the line if scrimmage and have eight players in the box to stop Richardson.
However, when the season opened up with the Browns hosting, the Miami Dolphins fans found out that Cleveland's only deep threat was sitting at home, suspended for two games. Professional athletes have a saying “ the next man up.” Meaning the second string player at any position must be ready to step up and keep the team production at a high level. The leading men Richardson and Weeden, literally have had more pressure on them with no deep threat in the first two games.
With Gordon being out Little needed to step up. Instead Little showed everyone that he is not ready for prime time as the number one guy at the receiver position. Over the two games against the Dolphins and the Ravens Little was thrown to 22 times, but caught only eight passes for just 59 yards. Little dropped five of those passes thrown to him. Mean while Richardson was only involved in the rushing game 31 times those two games and netted only 105 yards, for just over a three yard average. This shows how ineffective Trent is in the offense that can't throw deep down field to open up rushing lanes.
Travis Benjamin was looked upon as a possible deep threat, but his lack of strength and slight build at 5' 10” and 175 lbs has proved to be a problem for him when contested on a deep pass. His lack of physical stature and strength lead to Weeden's first interception against the Dolphins.
Devon Bess is a slot receiver and does not run deep patterns. The longest pass in game two against Baltimore was 53 yards to tight end Jordon Cameron, he ran for 20 of those yards after the catch. Richardson has also failed to get the proper support from the offensive line. Statistics from www.profootballfocus.com reveal that Richardson was fifth in the league in rushing after the first contact with an average of 2.6 yards per carry, but he averaged only one yard before first contact which is a clear indictment against the offensive line for not creating space for him to run.
Turner gave up on giving the ball to Richardson out of the back field late in the third and not at all in the fourth quarter when the Browns were within two points of the Ravens. Turner did not call one screen pass for Richardson in the Baltimore game even though Weeden was sacked five times. Screen plays are always good in slowing down a pass rush. In addition, Turner has not played Richardson one time on third down in two games. You would think that the best play maker and leader would play on the field on the most crucial play of each possession to keep drives going. Cleveland only converted one out of 14 third down plays against Miami and only four out of 15 in the second game against the Ravens.
So when you consider all of the above it is easy to conclude that Richardson was not the leading man fans were lead to believe. The way that the Browns used Richardson indicates that to them he is only a complimentary player. Without the proper supporting cast around him Richardson could not be put in position to make the plays that he is capable of .
It's not surprising that the fans are befuddled with the Browns offensive play and plans. But there is a method to the Browns current madness. The NFL has fast become a league where speed is at a premium at the play making skill positions like running back, wide receiver and even quarterback. Team president Joe Banner brought one of those quick, elusive play making running backs, in the mold of Lesean McCoy, with him from his old Philadelphia squad when he traded for Deon Lewis. But Lewis' broken leg in the preseason put a cramp in the Browns offensive game plan in which Richardson would have been used less if Lewis was healthy.
Also, no one will be surprised if Cleveland feels that they can do without their other leading man Brandon Weeden because he needs more supporting players around him to be effective. No leading man can carry a play or a team without a good supporting cast. Now with a second first round pick received from Indianapolis for Richardson, Joe Banner and Mike Lombardi will look to bring in more play making speed to this offense and probably another quarterback, which may be a good thing.
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