13 in 44: 2009 Cardinals Running Backs

[RugbyMuffin]

Topic Number 2: Running backs

This is a long time Cardinal Achilles Heal. Did we do something to Otis Anderson that was so foul as to curse our team ? I give Edge A LOT of credit for putting up back to back 1,000 years seasons in AZ. Because there is something in the water out in AZ or something. Why do our running backs seem to have such a problem ?

We will touch on the offensive line later in the coming days so let's keep them out of the discussion. Obviously it is not all on the line. There are holes to be run through and many yards that have been left out on the field by the Cardinal running backs, IMO.

Is Beanie Wells the answer ? I dunno. There is a HUGE leap from college to the pros. You can't judge a back on what he did at college. I can say he has the size, and the supposed speed, but the toughness and ability to break tackels will be tested in the NFL. With his size, and the fact that teams are going to be more scared of the deadly Cardinal air attack, he is set up for a perfect situation. Can he produce ? We will see.

But when it comes to Wells, the question is: Can he break it open for the big play ? Can he take it to the house ? If he cannot do that, then we have an more expensive copy of Tim Hightower.



And speaking of Tim Hightower, he has proved his worth to me. I agree that he run a lot like Marion Barber does. A whole lot of "want to" and effort goes a long way, and Hightower is playing with a optimum level of effort.

Yet, his effectiveness is obviously slowed with too many carries. For Hightower to be effective he must be 100% fresh, or re-freshed when his number is called. Not to mention he seems to dance more, when he gets more carries. He is very effective at reading, and hitting the hole in order to get the yardage needed. And even though he is not a "speed back" he seems to have an extra boost to turn the corner need be. I hope to see Hightower as a part time back, and not a starter.


Jason Wright is going to be a good role player for us. He is tabbed as a special teams ace, a great pass blocker, and a very average running back. I could see Wright as being a mentor to the younger backs on this team. I expect for Jason Wright to have more recieving yards than running yards, and I would not be surprise to see him used in no-huddle/2 minute drill situation as well for no more than his pass blocker ability, and his experience.


The Cardinals will go with 4 backs this year. Tim Castille was looked at as a 4th RB and back up fullback. With Maurice Cathon gone, his pet project will be shown the door as well, and probably end up with the Cheifs.


Our 4th RB will be LSH (Mr.Howling). He is a good replacement for JJ Arrington. A "speed & quickness" back like Arrington who runs around a 4.4 and took 4 years to find his groove is easily replaced, IMO. Howling is along the same lines of Arrington. I expect Howling to make the team, and have a very small role with the club in his first year, thought I expect at least one big play that will seem to come out of no where this year.


In summary, the Cardinals are still a huge question mark at the running back position. A rookie RB, with a lot of upside, but injury concerns could be disastrious and sooner rather than later. If Wells goes down, or is an instant bust, the Cardinals are left with Hightower, and no one that is a threat in the least in the backfield.

Our running back situation is on the shoulders of Beanie Wells, and with the fragile state of the running back core the Cardinals may be one injury or one bad training camp away from possibly adding another back.

Or on the other hand Mr. Beanie Wells could blast off with the great setup he is in, and this will make the Cardinals the most potent offensive in the NFL.

 

[cgolden]

First, great write-up. Nice insight and analysis.

State of the RB's: I think I'm actually more optimistic than most about the RB's this year but I think most of that optimism is based on expectations. I mean what does this group really have to meet expectations? As far as I'm concerned it's somewhere close to 20th (or better obviously) in the league in rushing. I think Wells will be at least as productive as Edge, who I was never a big fan of, and Hightower should be improved in his second season. He reportedly in much better shape and I think they'll really work on his 'dancing' in the backfield.

Outside of those two though, I have no idea what to expect. Is Wright really a third down upgrade over Hightower? I actually like Timmy out of the backfield last year and with him being 10-15 pounds lighter, he should improve in that deptartment as well. As far as LSH, if he does anything it'll be on special teams and anything he provides on offense is a bonus in my mind.

Call me crazy but I think the combo of Wells and Hightower will be productive and share time well enough to keep Wells healthy and Hightower fresh.

 

[Carddan]

I agree that production from the backfield is a big question mark. On the other hand, it is not likely the stats will go down and there is a lot of upside potential. It is hard to leave the O-Line out of the discussion so I will mention one name: Anthony Becht. If our running game and defense can improve to "average", the team will be very successful.

 

[Perfectionist]

Topic Number 2: Running backs
Or on the other hand Mr. Beanie Wells could blast off with the great setup he is in, and this will make the Cardinals the most potent offensive in the NFL.

That what I am looking and hoping for!!

 

[TJ]

I have the same feeling about LSH. Our current RBs on the roster: Wells, Hightower, and Wright. weigh no less than 215 lbs. LSH weighs 179 lbs and has quick acceleration; kind of like Darren Sproles. He will undoubtedly challenge Wright for the #3 RB position, especially if he shows great hands during training camp. To make room for him on the roster, I think Castille will be the likely casualty. He is not a good lead blocker and does not show any elusiveness after the catch. Kreider is the only true FB we have on this team and will be helpful when we line up in I-formations, Jumbo, or Goalline situations

 

[joeshmo]

Yet, his effectiveness is obviously slowed with too many carries. For Hightower to be effective he must be 100% fresh, or re-freshed when his number is called. Not to mention he seems to dance more, when he gets more carries.

I think this is an interesting observation that brings up many other interesting points.

If it was a to many carries issue, then that means it was an endurance issue. May be the reason why he lost some weight, to gain some extra endurance. But then again does losing the weight make him less effective as a 4th and 1 or redzone RB. An interesting observation for sure but I am not so sure it’s the right one. I don’t think happy feet had anything to do with to many carries or endurance for one simple reason, he shows happy feet all the way from quarter one to quarter four, if it were endurance he would show more happy feet as the game wore on which I don’t remember being the case.

If it isn’t endurance then what is it. I tend to think its mentality. Some guys have a different mental when they can see a goal in sight compared to when they cant. This applies to Hightower because in the red zone and on 4th and 1 he can clearly see the goal in sight he doesn’t have happy feet. But between the 20’s the goal isn’t as clear perspective wise, and he gets happy feet. Is there a different mentality when you are running in the red zone versus running between the 20’s? I think Marion Barber is a great example of this. When he was the #2 RB he had a clear goal and purpose in certain packages. As the #2 he had 5 yards a carry and double digit TD’s. But as the #1 with a wider purpose in mind he drops down to under 4 yards a carry and doesn’t get double digit TD’s.

I think we should learn from Barber and the Cowboys and keep Hightower as a #2 RB where he will be his most effective having a more narrow purpose in mind. That isn’t to say he is a bad RB either, just keeping him in a role that makes him a good RB getting 10 TD’s or more a year.

 

[Captain Matt]

All rookies (except maybe AD) seem to hit the wall after 10 games or so. TH will be better all-around this year. No worries here.... And in case anyone has questions please look at that photo of our boys on the AZCards webpage from April. Those are some big horses we have back there.

 

[joeshmo]

All rookies (except maybe AD) seem to hit the wall after 10 games or so. TH will be better all-around this year. No worries here....

Dont believe in that cliche anymore. I used to but it has now turned into one of those cliches that just does not apply to the NFL anymore, like a lot of others for that matter. Just doesnt work out in reality the last 10 years or so, if ii ever did in the first place. Did Slaton, Chris Johnson, or Forte hit a wall. Did the rookie QB's for Baltimore or Atlanta hit a wall. What about DRC. All with way more playing time then Hightower.

Lets say the cliche was actually factual. Why would it apply to a guy who isnt even starting until Week 9, it wasnt like was taking enough of a pounding to hit a wall in the first place having only run the ball 49 times up to his first start in week 9. He had 149 runs all season,, he got more then double playing time and took double the hits his senior year in college then he did his rookie year. In only this one guys opinion Hightower couldnt have hit a wall becuase he didnt play enough to hit a wall, and if he did with that little amount of playing time leading up to week 9 then either Lott didnt do his job or Hightower was to lazy in the offseason, of which I dont think either could be true.

It was something other then hitting a wall.