Nick Saban's Alabama teams have thrived off a brutal, dangerous ground game. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram punched his card with 3,261 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns on the ground before New Orleans made him a first-round pick in last year's draft. Now it's Trent Richardson's turn.
Saban appreciates them both, but acknowledged Ingram and Richardson bring separate qualities to an offense.
"They're both great players, but they're a little different styles," Saban told The Plain Dealer this week. "Mark is a little bit more of a quick, elusive, change-of-direction burst kind of guy, but also a good receiver and good hands. Trent's a little bit bigger than Mark and a little different style of runner but very effective and can do all the pass-blocking, receiving and all of that stuff very effectively as well."
Richardson widely projects as a top-five prospect in next week's draft, with the Cleveland Browns (at No. 4) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at No. 5) looming as potential landing spots.
Probably because he was speaking with the Plain Dealer, Saban was asked how Richardson would fit in Cleveland. The coach has perspective on the matter, after serving as defensive coordinator there from 1991 to 1994 under Bill Belichick.
"He'd be great in the community, he'd be a great player for them and he's somebody that I think a lot of young people could really relate to for the kind of person he is, the example he sets," Saban said. "If they wouldn't be excited, they really should be."
Ingram was drafted by the Saints, held back somewhat by the lockout, and rushed for 474 yards in a pass-crazed offense that relies on a stable of complimentary backs. Richardson looks the role of a featured back, able to catch the ball and play physical with pass rushers -- basically do it all.
More than a few teams could use one of those.
