NFL

What can Sheldon Richardson do for an encore?

As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 2: Sheldon Richardson

Last year’s ranking: Unranked (rookie)

Position: Defensive lineman

Age: 23

How acquired: Selected in the first round of the 2013 Draft

Years left on contract: 3

2014 salary cap figure: $2.3 million

Looking back at 2013: The Jets took Richardson with the draft pick they acquired from the Buccaneers in the Darrelle Revis trade. There may have been some pressure associated with being the guy the Jets essentially got in exchange for Revis, but Richardson never showed it.

The big man from Missouri fit in from Day 1, showing unusual poise from a rookie. Nothing ever seemed to faze Richardson, and he became one of the Jets’ most productive players.

Richardson recorded 78 tackles, 3 ½ sacks and 1 forced fumble on his way to earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He proved he was durable and reliable, playing 906 snaps.

Pro Football Focus ranked Richardson fifth overall among 3-4 defensive ends last year, even higher than teammate Muhammad Wilkerson.

The Jets’ defensive line emerged as the strength of the team and the defense finished No. 3 in the NFL against the run. Richardson was a big reason why. He had 41 “stops,” according to Pro Football Focus. These are solo tackles that resulted in no gain or a loss for the offense. Only the Texans’ J.J. Watt had more at the position.

He only had 3 ½ sacks, but Richardson created sacks for others. He had 24 quarterback hurries, so it was not as if he was never in the QB’s face.

In addition to his primary role, the Jets also used Richardson as a goal-line running back. He scored two touchdowns on four carries, bringing back memories of William “Refrigerator” Perry.

Outlook for 2014: What can Richardson do for an encore? He’s not going to surprise anyone this year, and it will be interesting to see how teams attack the Jets’ defensive line of Richardson, Wilkerson and Damon Harrison.

The Jets need that defensive line to be as good, if not better, than it was last year. The secondary is unproven and the Jets are going to be relying on the guys up front to create havoc so quarterbacks don’t have time to pick apart the defensive backs.

Richardson seems motivated to improve his sack numbers, but it doesn’t really matter how many sacks he ends up with as long as he’s getting in the backfield and creating sacks for others. If Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples register some sacks because Richardson forced the quarterback outside, mission accomplished.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Richardson move around more this year. The Jets experimented with him as a standup linebacker a few times last year. He even played middle linebacker a few times in practice. He is an extremely athletic guy that Rex Ryan can get creative with, especially now that he is comfortable in his primary role.