South Charlotte Today

CHARLOTTE — The ball flew towards Demani Richardson like a candy-coated raindrop, zipping across the middle of the field and into the arms of the rookie safety who had already become a magnet for the ball during the week. As Adrian Martinez's pass came his way, Richardson had one thought.

"Go get it," Richardson smiled, following the preseason game.

Richardson nabbed the only turnover of the game in the Panthers' 15-12 loss to the Jets in the second week of preseason, setting up a field goal to make it a three-point game at that time. It was his third turnover of the week, following two in practice on Sunday.

"Every day is new lessons, learning different coverages, leverage and all that. And the cool part about Demani is, he had an opportunity tonight. He took advantage of it. Sometimes we get those ops and the guy either can or can't come up with the ball," Canales said of his rookie safety.

"And so, he did a fantastic job of finishing that play, putting us in a good situation, getting us back on the board and really making it a three-point game at that point. So, that was awesome."

Given Richardson's propensity for being around the ball this past week, especially Saturday night, one has to wonder if he is lucky or simply putting himself in the right place at the right time.

"Just doing what I'm coached," he explained. "We got good coaches and I'm in the right spot. Quarterbacks…they're not making the right read and I'm just capitalizing on what I'm coached to do.

"Our coaches teach us just to lean to the receiver side or the bad matchup. So I leaned to that side and the quarterback overthrew."

Added Jaycee Horn about Richardson's play: "Some DBs you just see they got a tendency of getting to the ball. Some guys are always around it."

Being a ball hawk has become such a part of Richardson's reputation in camp that as soon as Horn saw Martinez’s pass sail over midfield Saturday night, he immediately started looking for Richardson.

"As soon as it went across the middle, he was the first person I thought about: 'Where's Demani?' And he picked it off. It was definitely the most exciting moment of the game for sure."

"I saw [the quarterback] throw it to midfield because I think we had a linebacker matched up on [the receiver]. So I kind of saw that matchup pre-snap. During play, I watched them and saw [the receiver] kind of get open. Then I saw [Martinez] throw an overthrow so I'm like 'Oh who is back there at safety?' Demani was my first thought and obviously it was him going with football."

After an offseason where coaches emphasized turnovers, Richardson's nabs have become noteworthy points. His turnovers on Sunday kicked off what Horn called "definitely our best week in camp regarding turning over balls."

"We had five during joint practice," Horn said. "We just went on a roll... They come in bunches and that's been happening."

Richardson's performance Saturday night exemplified how turnovers can change games and momentum shifts during critical moments. There is one aspect though Richardson admits needs improvement moving forward; despite a 29-yard return setting up Panthers offense on 28-yard line he knows he should've scored all way through.

"I feel like I could have," started before correcting himself saying: "I should have scored but let lineman tackle me; so feels like bad return...

"I can't let lineman tackle me."