Sheldon Richardson adjusting to rookie life
Jets DT Sheldon Richardson, right, participates in the team's second day of Rookie Camp held at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. (May 11, 2013) Credit: James Escher
Sheldon Richardson may be a first-round selection, and a highly-touted rookie, but in the eyes of veterans, he’s no different than any of the other first-year players.
“They got me on rookie duty, right now they just got me carrying helmets,” Richardson said.
While the 6-3 defensive lineman is happy to take part in the rookie “festivities” off the field, he’s trying to distinguish himself from the other rookies on it. During OTAs on Wednesday, Richardson appeared to be every bit as good as advertised.
Taking part in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, the rookie out of Missouri was able to break through the offensive line on multiple occasions, putting pressure on the quarterbacks and causing them to rush a few passes. Richardson, though, said he wasn’t content with his performance and is still trying to figure out his role as he is being shifted along the defensive line.
“I had a rough one today, put me at a new position,” Richardson said. “They’re putting me in at a lot more nose [tackle] today. They moved me over from the three [technique]. It’s a slow pace for me, but I’m getting it.”
The position change has presented the rookie with a whole new set of challenges, in addition to learning a new playbook.
“It’s a lot more responsibility, a little more heavier people in there, a lot more double teams," Richardson said. “I just have to make sure to contain and get outside -- there’s a lot of people to work through. For right now, I’m getting kind of good at it.”
