Running Backs a Focus for Gundy, Richardson Looked the Part Monday

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State was back inside and outside the Sherman Smith Training Center for the fifth practice of fall camp on Monday. The team went through another physical two-and-a-half-hour practice in helmets and shoulder pads and tomorrow they will be in full pads for the first time in camp. Monday’s practice saw the running backs do well including the leader and top back on the depth chart in junior Dominic Richardson. The 6-0, 212-pound former Oklahoma City Bishop McGuinness All-Stater that rushed for a career high 373-yards and four touchdowns last season had a couple of touchdowns in team. He danced through a big hole in the middle for a seven-yard scoring run as he went untouched. Defensive players are coached to just fit up the backs or tag them so as to protect them. Tuesday that will change with the full pads as defenders will get more physical in run stopping.   

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Warren was an every down back that was excellent on pass protection.

If you remember last season, the most critical thing for the offense that got the Cowboys through unbeaten before offensive linemen and receivers started to get healthy and come back was Jaylen Warren. Warren and his 218-yards and two touchdowns at Boise were critical. Warren became the go-to running back.

“If you go back, and you guys watch it, but I have the luxury of stopping it and looking and then starting and stopping, and he made a lot of yards when there really wasn’t yards there sometimes,” head coach Mike Gundy said of Warren. “That’s where the replacement is.”

So, does Gundy think that the oldest back on the team, Richardson can be the every down back the offense will need?

“His skill set, yes. He’s thick enough and physical enough to do that, Gundy answered. “Now, I’ve also said this for a number of years that it takes more than one at this level because those guys take a lot of hits. And now he is physical. He’s mature. He’s been around a while which is going to help him. He’s a different runner, a different type of runner. You know, he’s more of a slasher, he’s going to drop his pads and try to run through somebody and then take off and go. We need him to be durable. I don’t worry about his attitude. I don’t worry about his toughness.”

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Richardson is a leader and he has been on a mission this camp.

“I always feel like I have something to prove,” Richardson said of his attitude in camp and knowing he is on trial for being the 2022 “bell cow” of the backfield. “I always go out there feeling like I have to get things done. I’ve been working on myself to be a full all-time back by getting the ball and not get tackled and go 80-yards if I have to. I’ve been working on my stamina to be an every down back and work on being focused, know my protections, using my eyes, and that’s the main thing for sure.”

Richardson reminds me of Pro Football Hall of Famer and early AFL Denver Broncos great, another of the long line of Syracuse backs that started with Jim Brown in Floyd Little. Like Little, Richardson is bow-legged, but many great running backs have shared that physical quality. Gundy isn’t bothered by Richardson’s legs as long as he stays upright and healthy.

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Not big, but likely the quickest back, Jaden Nixon is interesting. A potential big play guy.

“We just need him to be durable and to give us, if he needs, to give us 18 carries a game,” Gundy added of expectations. “And then the other guys are going to have to help. We’re going to have to play three backs. We just haven’t had the luxury. You guys would know what better than I would, but I don’t know when’s the last year we had a back that played all year long. I can’t remember that we didn’t have to play a second team and a third team back during the season. Can you guys?”

I would say 2010 and Kendall Hunter but remember that was the one season where Dana Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator. It was the OSU introduction to the “air raid” offense, so the play might not have been as physical for Hunter. He carried 271 time for 1,548-yards.

Back to current events.

Other highlights in practice Monday included Spencer Sanders with a touchdown pass to Cowboy back Blaine Green. Green did a square out into the end zone and got a step on the coverage. Green could end up being quite a weapon this season. The defense had highlights as well. The defense really jumbled up some personnel groups, but there were some solid plays made by defensive end Trace Ford, defensive tackle Aden Kelley, linebacker Jeff Roberson, linebacker Nick Martin, and several of the players in the secondary including safety Kendal Daniels, safety Thomas Harper, and corner Jabbar Muhammad.

The full pads come on for the first time on Tuesday with practice scheduled again at 8:45 a.m. with the walk-thru. The team gets another day off with meetings only on Wednesday before going through a period of six straight days with practice. Sunday will be a lighter day with special teams work only and a newcomers practice included.