While praising his offensive line's potential, Oakland Raiders assistant coach Mike Tice took the time to discuss the running backs who will be jaunting through the holes his group plans to create.
The Raiders imported Trent Richardson, Roy Helu and rookie Michael Dyer to a backfield of Latavius Murray and George Atkinson.
"Each one has their own style," Tice told SiriusXM NFL Radio, via the team's official website. "I like the (Latavius) Murray kid. He really came on in that veteran minicamp. He got his legs under him and showed some quickness, some good finish. I thought the young man out of Alabama (Richardson) came on. He lost some weight, his quickness came around.
"And then the young man we picked up out of Washington (Helu), a local boy out of San Ramon, I think he had an outstanding offseason and he shows good quickness, good awareness."
Tice's comments on Richardson are notable. According to the running back, the Indianapolis Colts had an issue with his weight last season, which in part led to his struggles on the field.
Richardson's game film in 2014 was anemic. He rarely hit the hole with burst -- if he could find it -- and never displayed consistent power or speed.
The Raiders are the third team to take a chance on the former No. 3 overall pick. If the 24-year-old runner did in fact lose some weight and add quickness, he could find a niche behind Murray and Helu -- who should be the third-down and pass-catching back -- and keep his NFL career alive.
If not, his third chance will likely be his final one.
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