Riddick to WR a Good Move for Both Parties

By nickshep10, March 9, 2010 at 2:48 pm

By: Nick Shepkowski
Chicagonow.com and 670 The Score

Theo Riddick was known most for being Notre Dame's main guy on kickoff
returns in 2009, bringing back 37 kicks for a total of 849 yards as a
freshman. He also picked up 160 rush yards on the year and 43
receiving yards. It was made public by head coach Brian Kelly on
Tuesday that Riddick will move to wide receiver for the upcoming season.

It appears to me that Kelly is trying his best to find someone who can
replace Belitnikoff Award winning receiver, Golden Tate. Riddick will
take some time to learn the receiver position but he is an extremely
quick runner who showed on multiple occasions last year he can be a
play-maker when he's "in space".

The other positive of Riddick moving to wide receiver is that he will
get more of a chance to get on the field. Not to say he wouldn't get
any carries at running back but Armando Allen, Jonas Gray, and Robert
Hughes would likely remain in front of him on the depth chart hogging the vast majority of carries.

Brian Kelly is giving who he feels one of his big playmakers could be a
chance to get on the field sooner at wide receiver. With Tate's
departure its obvious that Michael Floyd will be the number one threat
next year but the depth chart at the position from 2 on down is a bit
shady. Say what you want about John Goodman,
he won't be a wide
receiver that qualifies as a game breaker in 2010. No guarantees
Riddick will either but the potential for it to happen is much greater
than it is with some others.

Riddick will have growing pains likely at the flanker position.
However, putting him up against the likes of Shaquelle Evans and Deion
Walker at the slot receiver position gives him a better chance of being
on the field more often in 2010 than being behind three at running back
does. The added depth at receiver compared to an already deep stable of running backs helps the offense by default.

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