PhillyGirl
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Looking bigger, Alabama WR Calvin Ridley hopes for expanded role in '17
Calvin Ridley has never looked physically imposing. Last season, he played with a listed weight that was a shade under 190 pounds.
But when the 6-foot-1 Alabama receiver walked into the Naylor Stone media room inside the Mal Moore Athletic Facility, he did appear bigger. His arms, in fact, were noticeably thicker.
Still, Ridley isn't tipping the scales.
He says he remains "like 180 something."
And, the rising junior added, he feels "good."
Ridley has never divulged much in his interactions with the media. He's one of the most inscrutable players on Alabama's roster.
When asked why he was targeted twice during the Tide's victory over Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal on New Year's Eve, Ridley said, "I don't know. I really don't know. I'm just running my routes."
Last season, Ridley ran 451 patterns to be exact, according to Pro Football Focus. He run-blocked on 419 snaps, too, which may explain why it seems he's gained some mass.
At times -- to the bewilderment of many -- Ridley became just a cog in Alabama's machine, doing yeoman's work. He made 72 receptions for 769 yards while scoring seven touchdowns. He reached the end zone the same number of times he did as a freshman, but the other totals fell short of what he produced during his inaugural season in Tuscaloosa.
The decline in his statistical output was directly related to the growing pains experienced by freshman Jalen Hurts, the mobile quarterback whose limitations as a passer became evident over the course the season, especially when he attempted to throw downfield.
"He's working on his pass game a lot and trying to get that right," Ridley said.
With Hurts still under development, Ridley has remained patient and has rarely showed signs of frustration as he's carried out his assignments.
While Ridley averaged more catches per game than ArDarius Stewart, he frequently became the secondary option when both played. In one of the three games Stewart missed, a victory over Kentucky, Hurts threw to Ridley 17 times, which equaled 17 percent of the receiver's total targets in 2016.
Stewart is now out of the picture after declaring for the NFL draft in January.
And the quiet, unassuming Ridley wants to take charge.
"I would say I'm now the leader the wide receiver group," he said. "I want to take that role on and not only to my group but my team, and be one of the captains on the team. That's what I feel like I need to do."
And how does he intend to assert himself?
"Being more vocal, yeah," he explained. "I lead by example already, I think, I just need to speak up some. I don't say too much."
That's for sure. But for now Ridley has co-opted that age-old big-stick ideology by maintaining his soft-spoken demeanor while filling out his frame with some added muscle. The fire and brimstone may come later.
Calvin Ridley has never looked physically imposing. Last season, he played with a listed weight that was a shade under 190 pounds.
But when the 6-foot-1 Alabama receiver walked into the Naylor Stone media room inside the Mal Moore Athletic Facility, he did appear bigger. His arms, in fact, were noticeably thicker.
Still, Ridley isn't tipping the scales.
He says he remains "like 180 something."
And, the rising junior added, he feels "good."
Ridley has never divulged much in his interactions with the media. He's one of the most inscrutable players on Alabama's roster.
When asked why he was targeted twice during the Tide's victory over Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal on New Year's Eve, Ridley said, "I don't know. I really don't know. I'm just running my routes."
Last season, Ridley ran 451 patterns to be exact, according to Pro Football Focus. He run-blocked on 419 snaps, too, which may explain why it seems he's gained some mass.
At times -- to the bewilderment of many -- Ridley became just a cog in Alabama's machine, doing yeoman's work. He made 72 receptions for 769 yards while scoring seven touchdowns. He reached the end zone the same number of times he did as a freshman, but the other totals fell short of what he produced during his inaugural season in Tuscaloosa.
The decline in his statistical output was directly related to the growing pains experienced by freshman Jalen Hurts, the mobile quarterback whose limitations as a passer became evident over the course the season, especially when he attempted to throw downfield.
"He's working on his pass game a lot and trying to get that right," Ridley said.
With Hurts still under development, Ridley has remained patient and has rarely showed signs of frustration as he's carried out his assignments.
While Ridley averaged more catches per game than ArDarius Stewart, he frequently became the secondary option when both played. In one of the three games Stewart missed, a victory over Kentucky, Hurts threw to Ridley 17 times, which equaled 17 percent of the receiver's total targets in 2016.
Stewart is now out of the picture after declaring for the NFL draft in January.
And the quiet, unassuming Ridley wants to take charge.
"I would say I'm now the leader the wide receiver group," he said. "I want to take that role on and not only to my group but my team, and be one of the captains on the team. That's what I feel like I need to do."
And how does he intend to assert himself?
"Being more vocal, yeah," he explained. "I lead by example already, I think, I just need to speak up some. I don't say too much."
That's for sure. But for now Ridley has co-opted that age-old big-stick ideology by maintaining his soft-spoken demeanor while filling out his frame with some added muscle. The fire and brimstone may come later.
