BA's Juke

[Mitch]

Yesterday CFLredzoned posed a great question regarding BA's recent comment that if he is going to focus the offense around Juke, then he'd better have some players like him.

Isn't it interesting what difference a year makes. Here BA was a year ago saying that he wants his RBs to be able to block first and that it really didn't matter all that much if they couldn't catch because he rarely throws to the RBs.

One curious thing was that Steve Keim was in hot pursuit of Reggie Bush last year---and you don't sign a Reggie Bush without factoring him into the passing game.

Now that BA saw what The Juke could do in his offense---BA's philosophy has changed. Clearly his philosophy is amenable to maximizing the strengths of his personnel---which is yet another reason to laud BA.

I believe BA is comfortable with Stepfan Taylor as his short yardage "grinder" RB and FB. Thus, I do not think we will see the Cardinals go after a power RB in FA or the Draft.

CFLredzoned asked the great question if Ryan Williams fits the mold---what do you think? I just don't know what to think of Williams at this point. But, remember what BA said about Williams chances: "If we like what's behind Door Number 2 better, then he's gone."

So---I went searching for players that might fit the mold of combo RB/WR and here are some players I thought BA&SK would be considering.

UFAs:

Maurice Jones-Drew---for his carrer he's averaged over 70 ypg rushing and over 25 ypg receiving.

Donald Brown---quick feet (0 lost fumbles)----good receiver---102/537/5.3/6td rushing in 2013 with 27/214/2tds receiving.

Dexter McCluster (a couple of years ago he had a 500+ yard season (4.5 ypc) rushing when Jamaal Charles was sidelined---and his receiving yards have gone up every year: 209, 328, 452, 511).

Joique Bell (RFA---Lions---likely gets 2nd round RFA tender)---over 1,200 yards rushing and receiving combined last year: 650 rushing, 547 receiving)

Draft:

Tre Mason, Auburn (2013: 1816/5.7/23td---rushing; 12/163/13.6/1td---receiving)

Brandin Cooks, Oregon St. (2013: 32/217/6.8/2td rushing; 128/1,730/16td receiving)

Lache Seastrunk, Baylor (2013: 158/1177/7.4/11td rushing)

De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon (2013: 96/594/6.2/8td rushing; 2011: 46/605/13.3/9td receiving)

Robert Herron, Wyoming (2013: 72/937/13.0/9td receiving; 2011: 40/235/5.9 rushing).

Jalen Saunders, Oklahoma (2013: 61/729/12.0/8td receiving; 2010: 19/166/8.7 rushing).

Josh Huff, Oregon (62/1140/18.4/12td receiving; 2010: 12/214/17.8/2td rushing).

Tevin Reese, Baylor (2013: 38/867/22.8/8td receiving; 2011: 5/102/20.4 rushing).

Dri Archer, Kent St. (2012: 159/1,429/9.0/16td rushing; 39/561/14.4/4td receiving).

Bishop Sankey, Washington (2013: 327/1,870/5.7/20td rushing; 28/304/10.9/1td receiving).

Best Fits, imo?

UFA Dexter McCluster

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcKoP1si00A

Draft: Bishop Sankey

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6GlGHRelgM

Sleeper: John Brown, Pittsburgh St. Gorillas

2013: 17/100/5.9/2td rushing; 61/1,198/19.6/14td

Check out his 40 at the Combine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkT6Jvj5qsI

What are your thoughts and which players do you think are the best fits?

 

[GuernseyCard]

If Williams is still on the roster March 11th., we have the likely answer.

 

[Cardiac]

How does BA make Juke the center of our Offense? My guess is utilizing his versatility and creating match up nightmares. I would think most of this would be moving him out to WR from RB presnap. Some might come with him and Taylor in the backfield and then Juke motioning to the slot etc.

Dexter McCluster is a good fit based on his skill sets but I'm not sure what his cost would be and if he would sign as second fiddle to Juke.

I want Dri Archer because he is a RB but has a bunch of receiving yardage. I would guess most of that is from screens and outlet throws so BASK will need to work him out running the route tree to see if he can learn to be a receiving threat like Juke.

 

[juza76]

bishop sankey seems to be a good complement to andre ellington

 

[CFLredzoned]

Maurice Jones-Drew---for his carrer he's averaged over 70 ypg rushing and over 25 ypg receiving.

He's definitely smart, which is maybe half the equation for the hybrid RB/WR. I heard him guesting on the Rich Eisen podcast during Super Bowl week. He was a natural. The guy can really talk football. It sounds like he has a future as an analyst if he doesn't return to the NFL.

 

[WildBB]

bishop sankey seems to be a good complement to andre ellington

I imagine he'd come off late 2nd early 3rd maybe. He could possibly be there for our 3rd rd. pick. He'd be pretty good value there. He got a lot of work last year.

 

[Mitch]

He's definitely smart, which is maybe half the equation for the hybrid RB/WR. I heard him guesting on the Rich Eisen podcast during Super Bowl week. He was a natural. The guy can really talk football. It sounds like he has a future as an analyst if he doesn't return to the NFL.

MJD is BA's kind of player. I remember how effusive BA was in his praise of MJD when the Cardinals were preparing to play at Jacksonville this past season. He said something to the effect of the defense was going to have to wear its "big boy pants" if they were to contend with him.

This is why in my first mock, I think I surprised a lot of people when i had BA&SK signing MJD. Since then several national pundits have mentioned MJD as a consideration for the Cardinals. He just fits BA's style of play because he's got such good feet, balance and an uncanny nose for the end-zone.

The combo of MJD at RB and The Juke in the slot would be very difficult for teams to defend---and it would mean taking the safeties away from bracket coverage on Fitzgerald and Floyd. Win-win.

 

[Mitch]

I imagine he'd come off late 2nd early 3rd maybe. He could possibly be there for our 3rd rd. pick. He'd be pretty good value there. He got a lot of work last year.

I think you are right on the money here. If BA&SK want him, chances are they are either going to have to take him at #52, trade up from #84 or trade back into the late 2nd, early 3rd to take him and add extra picks.

 

[PitchShifter]

I think it's a massive evolutionary step forward for the Cardinals to be talking about building the offense around someone other than Larry Fitzgerald. How good is it to finally have a young playmaker in the fold?

Floyd made great strides last season showing he can be a solid starting receiver and a good counterpoint to Ellington.

Patrick Peterson has a high national profile, is a multi-year Pro-bowler and acknowledged by commentators/analysts as one of the best at his position.

Now about next year's contract, Larry...

EDIT: Not suggesting we let Larry go, more that he's an ageing star whose contract is an real albatross that doesn't match production.

 

[B-Dogg]

I could see Dri Archer playing the Juke roll, plus you get those two guys on the field at the same time and you create all kinds of matchup problems.

 

[splitsecond]

While I don't dislike Sankey, when Arizona ran a true passing offense his numbers are better than Sankey AND he is very good in pass pro

2013 349/1885/5.4/58/19 rush 26/173/6.7/24/1

now 2013 was with a basically marginally functional passer, and sans a game and a half

look at his numbers as a soph with Matt Scott and you get a better idea hat he can do

2012 303/1929/6.4/73/23 36/303/8.4/47/1

I keep reading reports that seem to indicate that Sankey is being rated higher, which frankly is garbage. I have watched them both play many times. If BASK is considering a RB and they are both available you have to go Carey.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I could see Dri Archer playing the Juke roll, plus you get those two guys on the field at the same time and you create all kinds of matchup problems.

I see Archer more like Trevon Williams in Denver and being no more than a return specialist, albeit a good one.

 

[B-Dogg]

I see Archer more like Trevon Williams in Denver and being no more than a return specialist, albeit a good one.

if you look up his college statistics his receiving stats are superior to Ellingtons and he actually had a monster 2012, obviously against lessor comp but he also had lessor players around him.

Ellington
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/andre-ellington-1.html

Archer
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dri-archer-1.html

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

if you look up his college statistics his receiving stats are superior to Ellingtons and he actually had a monster 2012, obviously against lessor comp but he also had lessor players around him.

Ellington
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/andre-ellington-1.html

Archer
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dri-archer-1.html

Guys that small can probably only handle the ball 3-5 times a game. They'll get smashed by the bigger NFL guys. But, he could probably make something happen with those limited touches. I wouldn't draft him prior to round 6 though.