Seahawks’ Sheldon Richardson: ‘I feel like my best plays are when I’m causing havoc’

Seahawks fans might be excited about Sheldon Richardson’s stats, but the 26-year-old defensive tackle is not that impressed.

In fact, he thinks sacks can be overrated.

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Richardson, who recorded four tackles in a solid first appearance with the Seahawks in Green Bay, is preparing to make his first start in front of an entirely new fan base in one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. He joined 710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton Friday to talk about how he is adapting to the Seahawks locker room, how he describes his own pass-rush style, and why he thinks sacks aren’t always the most important stat.

Seattle acquired the 6-feet-3, 295-pound Richardson in a trade with the New York Jets in early September. The move to Seattle also brought a transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense – a move Clayton argues is a more natural fit for Richardson’s speed and athleticism. He also seems to fit in well with the Seahawks’ locker room; a number of players reached out to Richardson following the trade, with cornerback Richard Sherman being the first to call.

“Richard Sherman called me the most. He called me first, I should say,” Richardson said. “Talked to him, a few text messages here and there, telling me, ‘Welcome to the team,’ how this team is and what they do here. And I told him, ‘Let’s ride.’

“I’m a really adaptable guy,” Richardson said. “I always tell them I’m like water; whatever you need me to be, I am.”

So how is he flowing in Seattle?

“Still finding my way right now, but other than that it’s just getting inside pass rush, and stopping the run.”

Richardson is a versatile, disruptive lineman; in his four-year career with the Jets, Richardson recorded 18 sacks, 142 tackles, five forced fumbles and a safety. But he’s not too blown away by his own stats.

“I just like to have a lot of consistent pressure,” Richardson said. “Because you can get a sack and never be seen again in a game, so those stats can be a little fluffed. I feel like my best plays are when I’m causing more havoc, and not just getting a stat. Like more so strip fumbles and causing interceptions and things like that, and (this season) we’re going to have our chances at the ball like that.”

Listen to Richardson’s full interview with John Clayton here.

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