Richards

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Richards can't stand Rosier and can't get it out of his head. I'm not accepting any other version. I attended the Duke game last season when Richards was finally healthy after missing earlier games. In that game Richards was arrogant and defiant. It was obvious even when the ball didn't go his way. I assumed it would remain that way throughout the season.

But once he was nicked and then came back again, it was glaringly different. Richards has certain routes he knows he'll win and he wants the ball and an opportunity. Kaaya understood that. Richards with Kaaya didn't care if he was quiet for stretches, like the road game at Virginia in 2016. I attended that game also. Richards wasn't involved early but wasn't *****ing. I kept telling fellow Canes fans nearby it was going to happen. Then boom...80 yards or something like that on a catch and go to blow open a tight game.

Richards' attitude problem is directly tied to Rosier. Last night I could see it coming, as I mentioned in a thread last night. Rosier was rolling in Richards' direction and not only not looking for him, but he was forcing passes to others. I hoped Richards would ignore it but once he was out of the game just like late last season I sensed there had been some type of blow up on the sideline, something far beyond a minor injury reoccurrence.
 
He is obviously not in sync with Rosier and has no interest in hiding it. Very reminiscent of some games late last season.

I was hoping there would be a change from 2017 but from early in the game when the balls were being forced to receivers other than Richards I was thinking it could unfold similarly again.

I can't say I remember a similar situation in 50 seasons following this team. There was one year we wasted Chuck Foreman at wide receiver with quarterbacks who couldn't throw. That's the only thing I can think of immediately in terms of squandering immense talent but it is hardly comparable since this seems to be attitude more than anything else.
We've had guys over the years who insisted on playing a different position but they wouldn't give in: the coaches wanted Ryan Collins at safety, he insisted on playing QB. There were others. In those cases, the players' talent was wasted more because of the player.
 
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