Stephen Holder

stephen.holder@indystar.com

After the most disappointing football season of his career, Trent Richardson went back and watched. And studied. And contemplated.

What he discovered during those hours of reviewing film of his 2013 performance was that he failed to produce enough (averaging 2.9 yards per carry in 14 games with the Indianapolis Colts) because he was trying to do too much.

"You catch yourself trying to hit the home run when you haven't had the big runs yet," Richardson said after off-season conditioning Wednesday at the Colts' complex.

"It's human. But you can't hit the home run. You have to set up your runs. That's one thing, (because of) not having as much success as I've always had, you catch yourself saying, 'I gotta score, I gotta score.' "

Ultimately, all that did was limit Richardson's production last season. While looking for the big runs, he missed too many short ones. The bruising, tackle-breaking Richardson seen at the University of Alabama and, at times, as a rookie with the Cleveland Browns, was nowhere to be found.

Perhaps a renewed approach in 2014 will be the difference.

"When I (missed) the cuts and the holes, I said, 'Dang, how the heck did I miss that?' " Richardson said. " 'How in the world did I miss that?' That's second nature. You never miss a cut. You get as much yards as you can get at every opportunity."

The Colts are looking to stabilize their running game in 2014, as it remains fundamental to their offensive scheme. And that effort goes well beyond Richardson.

It will be at least a three-man undertaking, with Richardson, Ahmad Bradshaw and Vick Ballard vying for precious carries.

There's a common bond between these men. Each member of this running back group must answer vital questions:

>> Can Richardson atone for last season's ineffectiveness?

>> Can Bradshaw take a pounding with two fused vertebrae in his neck?

>> Can Ballard bounce back from a knee injury that has doomed many running backs before him?

"Everybody looks for us to fail," said Bradshaw, re-signed to a one-year deal last month. "I just think we'll complement each other so well this year."

The Colts could use the boost. Indianapolis ranked 21st in rushing offense last season, and leading rusher Donald Brown (537 yards) is now wearing a San Diego Chargers uniform. So, the job of improving the ground game becomes an all-or-nothing proposition for the current running back trio. They will be considered disappointments or be seen as over-comers.

As if the mere competition wasn't motivation enough.

"I feel like all three of us are going to compete at our highest level and the best person will play," Ballard said.

In a moment of honesty, those in the Colts' brass would say they prefer to see Richardson grab hold of the opportunity, get untracked and rebound. He'll make the most money of the three backs and the Colts gave up the most to get him in this year's first-round draft pick.

For his sake, Richardson is not being shy about telling anyone who will listen that he expects the same.

"There's a lot of personal expectations," he said. "I want to be one of those backs that everybody compares all these other backs to."

Richardson balanced his self-criticism by adding something surprising: He feels better now about his play last season than he did while in the midst of his struggles.

"I've been looking at a lot of film," he said. "I didn't do as bad as I thought I did last year."

He arrived at this conclusion, he said, after observing on film how fiercely defenses attempted to slow him.

"It made me stronger (seeing) a lot of people still respect me," Richardson said. "They were stacking 10 (defenders) in the box, nine in the box. You didn't see that for every team, especially when you have a quarterback like Andrew Luck and you have receivers out there like T.Y. (Hilton) and Reggie (Wayne)."

When Richardson looked back, he felt the view wasn't as bad. When he looks ahead, he sees even greater things. When the season kicks off in September and he takes his first carry, he wants to leave everyone wanting more.

"I want everybody," he said, "to be on the edge of their seats."

Call Star reporter Stephen Holder at (317) 444-6520. Follow him on Twitter: @HolderStephen.