STRENGTHS
Richie is a smart, athletically talented, defensive back/safety. When he turns his hips, he has excellent pure speed to run down players and make tackles. He might be the fastest safety in this draft. Because of that pure speed, and his ability to anticipate, Richie will not only make plays on the ball, but he will also create turnovers for others to make plays on the ball. He has good hands to make the interception and as I have stated before the speed to be used a single safety who can go sideline to sideline. In fact, that is what he truly brings to the next level. He is a good tackler and a willing safety who will come up quickly to support the run. Richie does have some cover skills but his ability to run and create turnovers because of his high football IQ and the skill to anticipate will make Richie attractive to just about any team in this draft.
CONCERNS
Sometimes, and because he is moved around so much, Richie is slow to react because he has so much confidence in his athleticism. Up near the line in pass coverage, his lack of quickness to change direction, is magnified in single coverage situations. The quick slot receivers will give him big problems. That being said, Richie does have the speed to recover and make the tackle on those quick receivers.
BOTTOM LINE 2.61
Richie is a pure impact, free safety, and better off the line with the play in front of him because of his pure straight-line speed, football intelligence, and anticipation skills. As long as he has time to turn his hips, Richie can recover quickly and make impact plays. Bringing him up to the line because of his quickness to support the run, get off blocks, and his skills to make a play on the ball off the line is fine and he will do well but, if you want Richie to impact for your defense, then keep him in situations where he can keep the play in front of him, and use his speed and anticipatory skills to make plays on the ball and create turnovers.
