Cleveland Browns coach want Trent Richardson to “play as much as possible”
By Mike Dyce
The Cleveland Browns are excited about the new season. Coordinator Norv Turner’s offense will have them throwing the ball down field a lot but Trent Richardson is still expected to be the workhorse of this offense.
“We want Trent to be able to play as much as possible,” head coach Rob Chudzinski said Saturday, via The Chronicle-Telegram.
The Browns aren’t bringing a lot of running backs into the season. Chris Ogbonnaya and Brandon Jackson as the only backup running backs left on the roster following their roster cuts on Saturday. Montario Hardesty and Dion Lewis were lost to season-ending injuries.
“You always expect your role to get bigger every day when you’ve got guys done for the year,” Richardson said Monday. “You just got to step up and get in shape. Just take it upon yourself, put the team on your back, whatever it takes. Mental, physical, you’ve got to be ready for all situations.”
This includes third down situations and two-minute drills.
“Third down on Sunday, me and Obi will be out there,” he said. “We know what we’re doing on each down.”
“If you got your best player, and on third downs he’s always on the sideline, you’re probably not taking advantage of all your guys,” Turner said of Richardson during camp. “We can’t wear Trent out, but we have to be able to use him in some of those situations.”
Chudzinski is aware of the amount of punishment Richardson will take and has a plan to manage it.
“It’s a long season, it’s 16 games, there’s a lot of carries to be had, so it’s a matter of having a plan to keep a running back, in this case Trent, fresh and at his best,” Chudzinski said.