I think Richardson is ok myself. Great? Who knows? Two seasons as the #2 guy with 700-750 yards, and about 5.5ypc avg those 2 years. Not bad as the #2 guy.
Dyer became the #1 RB, but still was the #2 guy. He's solid, no doubt about it. I think he's got a more durable build, but not by much. He's probably not as fast, but you're talking the difference between 4.45 and 4.5 or something like that. I could be off on that, but you get the picture. In one season, his freshman season, Dyer had 182 carries at 6.0ypc. That's a better ypc avg with 70% of the total carries of Richardson over his 2 seasons. That's a nice sized sample for comparison.
Each plays in a system that is quite different from the other.
Say what you want about Ginger, but he was a seasoned QB, and had Who Leo that had to be accounted for with coverage, usually taking a defender out of the box most downs.
Dyer certainly benefited by the threat of Cam.
Neither will have those benefits this season. How each performs will be largely dependent on how the offense around them develops with the new QBs, and loss of certain other contributors at the OL and WR positions.
If McCarron is effective, it will benefit Richardson. If not, then he and bammer will have a long season. As always, when Auburn is rebuilding, bammer is reloading, just ask any of the mullet nation.
Our QB situation is up in the air. Doubt we strike gold, oil and diamonds with whoever it is like we did with Cam, but it probably won't be as bad as the Finebaumistas predict. Russell Wilson? I'm personally not giddy over that prospect, but then again, I had reservations about Cam last August. I think Trotter can be at least as good as Todd, and is more mobile. The OL is a complete unknown. If they're good, things could go quite well for whoever is calling the signals.
The bammer pick? Because they tell everyone that when they lose star players, and starting experience that they have someone on the bench as good or better. Also has a lot to do with how they thrashed Michigan St. Which, for some reason, the pollsters and prognosticators like to focus on, but in reality means jack shit as to the 2011 season.