Cards Announce Two Roster Moves

[Jim O]

Cards Announce Two Roster Moves
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 4, 2003

Tempe, Arizona—Running back Joshua Rue, a
multi-talented performer at Duquesne University where
he rushed for 25 touchdowns and averaged over six
yards-per-carry in three seasons, has signed a free
agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

The 6–3, 245-pounder was a two-time all-Mid-America
Athletic Conference selection in 2000-01 and was named
the conference co-offensive rookie-of-the-year as a
freshman in 1999. In three seasons for the Dukes, Rue
rushed for 1,668 yards and 25 touchdowns on 262
attempts, caught 27 passes for 518 yards and five
touchdowns, returned 25 kickoffs for 497 yards, and on
defense collected 12 tackles, 7 quarterback sacks, and
7 tackles for loss. He did not play football in 2002.

To make room on the roster for Rue, the Cardinals
waived rookie wide receiver Lawrence Hamilton, a free
agent signee from Stephen F. Austin.

—cards—

 

[Stronso]

I guess they didn't like it when he didn't catch that 10 yd pass from Blake right in his grill

 

[Ryanwb]

Duquesne University

....that old football power house

 

[arthurracoon]

Maybe they don't like Prentice and Scobey?

 

[Ryanwb]

Originally posted by arthurracoon
Maybe they don't like Prentice and Scobey?

He is huge for a RB

 

[AZCB34]

I can hear it now:

Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue!

everytime he touches the ball.

 

[kerouac9]

Huge pickup. Bigger than Damien Anderson.

 

[pinnacle]

Hey...I commented this morning after practice that hamilton or parker were probably not long for this team..0 reps was kind of a tip off..

By the way...is the new guy a running back or fullback? if he is running back..josh scobey's time may be nearing and end..

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by Ryanwb
....that old football power house

For more info:

http://goduquesne.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/duqu-m-footbl-body.html

 

[SweetD]

Looks like he also played DE Sweet!

 

[mdsisquo]

I bet that they are going to try to convert him to a FB. With our need for another FB it makes sense and with his size he may be able to handle it. Also, it's always great to have a FB with some running skills and it seems that Blake likes to throw to the Fb a lot as well. This kid sounds like a great athelete who can run and catch. Could be a good move.

 

[AndyO]

Does this mean the end of the Steve Bush backup TE/FB experiment?

 

[SeattleCard]

early cut?

http://goduquesne.ocsn.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072103aab.html

Leigh Bodden and Josh Rue Begin Workouts on Friday


July 21, 2003

Two former Duquesne University football players are set to open training camp with their respective NFL teams this weekend as defensive back Leigh Bodden heads north to Cleveland, OH for Browns training camp and running back Josh Rue heads south to Miami, FL for Dolphins camp. Keep posted to www.GoDuquesne.com for updates on these players.


Looks like he must have been an early cut from the Dolphins training camp....

 

[JeffGollin]

Some Questions About Rue

Jim O -

- Any idea where the Cards want to play Rue? RB? DE? LB? SS?

- Any forty time?

- What caused him to sit out 2002 after 3 good collegiate years?

- When (and why) did he leave Dolphins camp?

 

[CardLogic]

Originally posted by mdsisquo
I bet that they are going to try to convert him to a FB. With our need for another FB it makes sense and with his size he may be able to handle it. Also, it's always great to have a FB with some running skills and it seems that Blake likes to throw to the Fb a lot as well. This kid sounds like a great athelete who can run and catch. Could be a good move.

Rue played fullback in college, not halfback.

This is an interesting pickup; anyone know the answers to the questions the Jeff posted?

 

[arthurracoon]

Looks like we are going to have a very versatile backfield.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Originally posted by Ryanwb
He is huge for a RB

No doubt! That's Eric Dickerson size...

 

[spanky]

This guy has impressive size. If he knows what he's doing and has any speed whatsoever, he could be scary. He'll have to be able to make the team through special teams play initially, but Scobey's/Comella's days are numbered.

With the continuing impressive play of Diamond as a bona fide TE and the addition of this guy I'd have to think that mgmt. are saying something about Bush and or Banks as well.

BTW, what do we talk about when all the guess work is behind us and we see our opening day roster "for real"?

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by spanky
...what do we talk about when all the guess work is behind us and we see our opening day roster "for real"?

Our 42-0 spanking of the Detriot Lions is my guess...

 

[spanky]

I can't find out a damn thing regarding Joshua Rue........he doesn't appear on any transaction summary as having been signed by Miami on July 21st. His college bio stops at year three.

Anyone know anything/

 

[BuckeyeCardinal]

Sounds Like

Sounds like an April Fools joke to me.

 

[BACH]

Found this on TSN's draft central about Rue.

War Room analysis

Josh Rue
Strengths: Is an impressive athlete. Did a lot at Duquesne to catch our eyes. Carried a full load as both a runner and receiver. Shows good power, base and pop as a blocker. Was versatile in college -- even played some defense and returned kicks.

Weaknesses: Was a dominant runner and blocker, but he played at a small school. Is more of an athletic runner and lacks speed. Doesn't have much experience as a blocker. Is an upright runner who doesn't play with good leverage.

Bottom line: Rue is an interesting prospect. He was a standout at Division I-AA but never faced top competition. He does it all -- running, blocking, receiving, returning kicks and even has experience as a defensive pass rusher. However, his lack of speed is a concern and he doesn’t do one thing well enough for a team to take a chance on him

 

[BACH]

Originally posted by BACH
even has experience as a defensive pass rusher. However, his lack of speed is a concern and he doesn’t do one thing well enough for a team to take a chance on him

My guess is that Graves picked up the Sporting News' yearbook, realized that every "expert" thought drafting Pace was a major reach, so he decided to do something about it...

 

[arthurracoon]

Was a MLB, DE, RB, FB in college.

MJ thinks he is just a camp body

 

[Wild Card]

Pro Football Weekly Draft Tracker

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/tracker/player?id=7101

Josh Rue
FB | (6-2, 245, 4.7)

Notes: Prop 48 in 1998. Carried 54 times for 187 yards and seven touchdowns and caught four passes for 46 yards in '99, and carried 86-565-6 and caught 16-157 with three touchdowns in 2000. Carried 122-916-12 and caught 7-115-2 in '01, when he gained 317 yards in the season finale vs. Canisius. Was declared academically ineligible before the start of the '02 season. Has returned kickoffs and has been used as a pass rusher on defense. Has seven career sacks. Will line up as a fullback, running back, H-back, tight end and as a stand-up rush defensive end.

Positives: Big, durable back who started every game from 1999 to 2001. Aggressive runner who will finish off his runs. Shows vision and feel. Looks natural catching the ball and will line up at tight end and in the slot at times.

Negatives: Did not play last year and has never faced top-level competition. Inconsistent blocker. Does not really know how to run pass routes. Sees himself more as a featured back than as a complementary player whose job is to do the dirty work.

Summary: Sleeper who could be a later pick or quality free agent and develop into an NFL starter.

My take? It wouldn't be the first time the Cardinals have found a running back as a UDFA out of I-AA (does the name Marcel Shipp ring a bell?) Doesn't seem like a position of need, however, unless the Cards have decided they really want a full-time 2nd-string FB, and they've given up on Comella.

WC