Trent Richardson issues blunt challenge to Alabama offense: ‘Run the ball’

Alabama opened year two of the Kalen DeBoer era Saturday afternoon with a disappointing 31-17 loss to unranked Florida State on the road. It marked the Crimson Tide’s third loss in their last four games dating back to last season and DeBoer’s fourth loss in eight games where Alabama has been at least a 14-point favorite.

Starting running back Jam Miller did not suit up for the Crimson Tide, leading to a disappointing showing on the ground from Alabama. Lead backs Kevin Riley and Richard Young combined for 57 yards on just 14 carries, as they never quite got an opportunity to get that aspect of the game going. Alabama‘s longest rush of the game went just 13 yards.

Due to this poor showing on the ground, former SEC Offensive Player of the Year Trent Richardson issued a blunt challenge to Alabama ahead of their week two matchup against Louisiana-Monroe: “Run the ball.”

“Run the ball. Run the ball,” an emphatic Richardson said on ‘THE DYNASTY: A Podcast on the Alabama Crimson Tide‘. “Be effective in the run game. The offensive line has gotta get somebody; they’ve gotta get push. To me, we can’t finesse this. We gotta get down and dirty and play smash mouth football. We gotta have Kevin Riley involved more because he came out there fired up and was running hard. I respect everything that kid did. I don’t feel like they gave (Richard) Young a real good chance, but we’ve got to get in the flow of the run game. The run game opens up the passing game.”

Richardson emphasizes how well the run game can open up the pass game

“Now that (Germie) Bernard, they know who Bernard is and he’s been playing like that since day one, but now they see it’s not just Ryan (Williams). So now they’re gonna get him too. I don’t know what the update is on Ryan’s injury, I don’t know if he’s gonna be back or be playing this weekend or not. So they’re gonna have to learn how to run the ball because right now they’re saying ‘y’all can’t beat us passing’ or ‘we’re not gonna let you beat us passing.’ So we have to try to beat them running. Until we can do that, it’s not gonna be an even balance.”

“When we were successful throwing the ball (when I was playing), we were able to run the ball anytime we wanted to and everybody knew when I was getting the ball, or Mark (Ingram) was getting the ball or Eddie (Lacy) was getting the ball. They knew and it and we didn’t give a damn. It’s put up or shut up. Me against you. Your dream against my dream and I believe in my dream all day. These guys have to have the same mindset.”

The Alabama running game will look to establish itself against the Warhawks of ULM this Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:45 PM on SEC Network.