Teicher:MU’s Richardson attracts Chiefs’ interest at combine

[Tribal Warfare]

MU’s Richardson attracts Chiefs’ interest at combine
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
This won’t come as a surprise to Missouri fans aware of the outspoken ways of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. But Richardson believes he’s the best player available in this year’s NFL Draft.

“I see myself as the top pick, not a top-10 pick,” Richardson said Saturday at the NFL Combine. “I didn’t come into this draft to be second to anyone. If they see what they like …they’re going to get a (heck) of a ballplayer.”

The Chiefs have the first pick in the draft and prefer defensive ends in their 3-4 system to be taller than Richardson, who is 6 feet 2. But Richardson said he had a Saturday night meeting scheduled with the Chiefs.

Even if the Chiefs don’t draft Richardson, he won’t have to wait long in the first round to hear his name called. With a strong showing at the Combine and in subsequent workouts, Richardson could be the first defensive tackle drafted, ahead of Utah’s Star Lotulelei and Florida’s Sharrif Floyd.

“They’re real good defensive tackles, but I like the way I stand up to them,” Richardson said in his typically candid way. “I like my draft stock versus their draft stock.”

But Richardson’s ability is real.

“The Richardson kid is exciting,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “At 300 pounds, to me he has the movement skills of a 250-pound linebacker. Missouri actually stood him up, and how often do you see a defensive tackle standing up and playing a linebacker position at 300 pounds? Obviously, Missouri and Dave Steckel were highly impressed with this kid’s athletic ability. He’s really gifted. He’s probably more gifted than the Utah kid.”

The belief he could be one of the top picks led Richardson to declare for the draft rather than return to Missouri for his final season.

“Leaving my guys was the hardest thing I had to do,” he said. “It was a family decision. Me and my father and my mother sat down and it was something that we came to together. It was time for us to leave.”

Richardson was encouraged by his play in Missouri’s first season in the Southeastern Conference.

“It motivated me a lot,” he said. “Jumping to the SEC brought a whole lot of offensive competition that I was ready for and I wanted to prove I was ready for it. I loved it.”

He got in trouble with coach Gary Pinkel when, before Missouri’s first conference game against Georgia, he criticized the Bulldogs’ offense as “old-man football” because of a taste for running the ball.

“I told coach (Mark) Richt how he had a great team and I didn’t mean any disrespect after that game and that I respected his team,” Richardson said. “When I said old-man football, I meant old-school football. It was just a joke … and it’s a joke still to this day.”

Asked what he learned from the incident, Richardson said, “Just watch what I say. They’ll take a little thing, anything, and make something out of it.”

But he said he won’t stop being himself, with his new NFL teammates at least.

“I’m an assertive leader,” he said. “In college … I was the guy the team looked to. When it got nitty and gritty, I was the guy they needed and the guy they depended on and the guy that kept them going.”

[KCrockaholic]

I remember coming out of high school he ran somewhere around 4.6 or 4.7 yard 40. He's a freak athlete. But he's gonna have to enjoy playing on a team other than KC.

[Ebolapox]

I love big sheldon... but not at 1-1. if he falls to the second, sure. otherwise, have a great career.

[RealSNR]

So we're interested because we have an interview scheduled with him at the combine?

**** you, Teicher

[stevenidol]

Originally Posted by SNR

So we're interested because we have an interview scheduled with him at the combine?

**** you, Teicher

LOUD NOISES!

['Hamas' Jenkins]

He's an absolute animal and he should be a top 10 pick. He needs to work on his conditioning some, but he was a better college player than Aldon Smith. He's the best defensive player I've ever seen at Missouri.

He's a prototypical 3 technique.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

He's an absolute animal and he should be a top 10 pick. He needs to work on his conditioning some, but he was a better college player than Aldon Smith. He's the best defensive player I've ever seen at Missouri.

He's a prototypical 3 technique.

So he might be better than Tyson Jackson?

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by GoWalrus

So he might be better than Tyson Jackson?

His upside is Warren Sapp, but he's a better athlete than Sapp.

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by GoWalrus

So he might be better than Tyson Jackson?

Who isn't?

[Ace Gunner]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

He's an absolute animal and he should be a top 10 pick. He needs to work on his conditioning some, but he was a better college player than Aldon Smith. He's the best defensive player I've ever seen at Missouri.

He's a prototypical 3 technique.

yep. should become a good one for some 43 defense

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

He's an absolute animal and he should be a top 10 pick. He needs to work on his conditioning some, but he was a better college player than Aldon Smith. He's the best defensive player I've ever seen at Missouri.

He's a prototypical 3 technique.

He's also a quitting bitch who will disappear in the biggest moments and the biggest games.

He'll flash occasionally in the NFL, while routinely frustrating the shit out of the fan base of whichever team is stupid enough to draft him in the first round.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

He's also a quitting bitch who will disappear in the biggest moments and the biggest games.

He'll flash occasionally in the NFL, while routinely frustrating the shit out of the fan base of whichever team is stupid enough to draft him in the first round.

HORSEMAN WAR

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by GoWalrus

HORSEMAN WAR

As a Mizzou fan, Hamas knows exactly what I'm talking about. I love Richardson's talent, but I hate his heart.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

As a Mizzou fan, Hamas knows exactly what I'm talking about. I love Richardson's talent, but I hate his heart.

He's a headcase, but I don't think he's a quitter.

To the broader audience;

We lost out on a chance at a bowl game this year because Richardson missed class and the coaching staff gave him PT as a punishment. He refused to do it, so they suspended him for the Syracuse game. We got absolutely no pass rush against them, making Nassib actually look like a pro in the process.

He's also a drama queen, evidenced by his recruiting saga.

He's also an incredibly rare athlete. For the first half of the South Carolina game, he was the most dominant defensive player on the field. Yes, that includes Clowney. Massive boom/bust potential.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

He's also a quitting bitch who will disappear in the biggest moments and the biggest games.

He'll flash occasionally in the NFL, while routinely frustrating the shit out of the fan base of whichever team is stupid enough to draft him in the first round.

That's my take on him.

Most talented defender I've ever seen at Mizzou. And oddly enough, when he's engaged his motor is unbelievable. When he felt like playing, he was the most dangerous guy I've seen at Mizzou, though a healthy Aldon certainly comes close and I never had to worry about Aldon taking a half off.

But he slips into neutral for entire quarters and frankly, I'll never get the stink of him quitting on the team out. He cost us a bowl game and potentially ****ed up our recruiting class.

**** Sheldon Richardson.