Jay Richardson said his rookie year in the NFL at defensive end for the Oakland Raiders was an eye-opening experience.

The fifth-round pick in the 2007 Draft out of Ohio State was matched up against offensive linemen who have been through the wars and know the tricks of the trade.

“These guys are very smart,” Richardson said Wednesday at the team’s training camp complex at Redwood Middle School. “You’d be surprised at how smart some of these players are. It’s not all about ability and scheme. A lot of it is about intelligence.

“Going against the older veteran who knows what he’s doing, you have to be able to play a chess match with him out there — almost try to out-think him.”

To Richardson’s credit, he caught on pretty fast, playing in all 16 games and starting 11 of those. He learned about run stopping and defensive line play from Warren Sapp, a former Raiders player who retired after last year’s season.

“He taught me more than just football, but being able to take care of yourself and being able to learn what you’re trying to do here and see the bigger picture,” said Richardson, who recorded 33 tackles with a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery.

“After training camp and after the preseason, I had performed pretty decently, so they gave me a shot. I just got a chance to really help the team out, show what I can do and show what I bring to the table. I think I found my niche in this defense. Last year it was as a run stopper because that’s what we needed help with. That’s kind of what I did best last year. And this year I’m trying to do both, and be out there for the pass rush, too.”

Richardson (6-foot-6, 280 pounds), who lines up on the right side, had several big games during his rookie season.

• He deflected Jay Cutler’s pass, which led to Thomas Howard’s 44-yard interception return touchdown in the fourth quarter of a Sept. 16 game at Denver.

• He recorded three solo tackles and blocked Texans kicker Kris Brown’s 40-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter of a Nov. 4 game against Houston.

• He had four solo tackles Nov. 25 at Kansas City.

• He had two solo tackles and recorded his first career sack for an 8-yard loss Dec. 2 against Denver.

• He recorded three solo tackles and assisted on another on Dec. 30 against San Diego.

Pass rushing, he said, is so much about getting an offensive lineman on your terms, being able to get him off balance, being able to dictate how he moves, and not reacting to what he’s doing but making him react to what you’re doing.

“It’s just wanting to get to the quarterback,” said Richardson. “After you get your technique and footwork down, you’ve got to just bring it and really want to get there. A lot of it’s heart.”

The keys to run-stopping, he said, are consistency and toughness.

“You have to keep your steps consistent, keep your focus consistent and come right down the pipe and not be afraid of contact and not be afraid to get overwhelmed — you have to take the fight to them before they bring it to you,” he explained. “If I can get my hands on him before he gets them on me, and go hit him before he hits me, I’ve got a much better shot to be able to get off and go make a play.”

Richardson wants to show that he’s not just a run stopper, but can defend the pass as well.

“I want to be able to continue to perfect my craft and become a dominant force on the right side.”

Correction: An earlier version of the article misspelled Richardson's name in one sentence.