Darren Fells

[Garthshort]

He's a big TE, former BB player, who seems to be more of a blocking TE, the type that BA likes. The other day BA commented on his blocking (a positive) but added up until that time he's been disappointed in his play. I know our TE's are much improved from last year and this is how I see them going into the PS games.
1. John Carlson, only has to stay healthy to lock up the starting job.
2. Troy Niklas as the #2 draft pick is a roster lock, but injuries have pushed him down the TE depth chart.
3. Is it possible that the #3 and #4, Ballard and Housler, are fighting for one spot and that Fells captures the fourth TE spot? If so it would be a big surprise, imo.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Housler is in trouble.

 

[PACardsFan]

Housler is in trouble.

May very well be the case, but I was watching some game replays & he was very good in home games last year vs. Indy & Rams. Just 2 games, but I plan on watching more this weekend. Doesn't fit Arian's style, but if cut, he'll be a good player elsewhere.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I watched the TE's a lot at practice yesterday.

Right now Carlson is the obvious front runner. He doesn't quite have Housler's speed but Carlson runs the best routes and has the best hands. If he is over his concussion issues he will be a very good player for us! I'm all in on Carlson. Plus he wears my old football number.

Niklas is in the mix but with that big cast on his hand he's really hard to evaluate. He dropped a bunch of balls that hit him in his hands (or should I say hand and club) yesterday. It's kind of expected though since Logan Thomas was zinging fast balls at him and he has a huge club on his right hand. Niklas did look good in the few blocking drills that I saw him in. He maintains great pad level for a big guy.

Ballard isn't the most graceful route runner but he is effective and finds holes in the defense. Kind of reminds me of Jeff King in that manner.

Housler is the most fluid of the TEs. He easily is the quickest and fastest of the bunch. He just needs to be more consistent hanging onto the ball.

I didn't really pay much attention to the other two TEs much. Don't remember seeing anything negative out of them though. I do remember that they both looked fairly large.

I would say that if there is an incumbent TE on the bubble it's Housler. He isn't the best blocker so he had better become consistent as a down field threat or his days may be numbered. Although I didn't really see anything negative out of him as far as Friday's practice went.

 

[cardncubfan]

Thanks for the report MCD.

 

[Garthshort]

MCD, thanks, also. If you can put TE's into two categories, here is how I see them breaking down:
Receiving, Carlson, Housler and Hardy.
Blocking, Ballard, Niklas and Fells.

At least that is how I see it.

 

[MadCardDisease]

MCD, thanks, also. If you can put TE's into two categories, here is how I see them breaking down:
Receiving, Carlson, Housler and Hardy.
Blocking, Ballard, Niklas and Fells.

At least that is how I see it.

I think most of them are Multi-dimensional. Housler obviously leans towards the receiving end and needs to be able to block better. I wouldn't label Niklas and Ballard as pure Blocking TEs. Those guys can get out in patterns and catch balls. IMO Niklas will be a huge target and matchup nightmare once he gets his cast off. Ballard is a good blocker but like I said, he knows how to find the open spot in the defense and must be accounted for.

Arians really wants his TEs to be versatile. That makes his offense much more difficult to defend.

 

[Mitch]

MCD, thanks, also. If you can put TE's into two categories, here is how I see them breaking down:
Receiving, Carlson, Housler and Hardy.
Blocking, Ballard, Niklas and Fells.

At least that is how I see it.

I think that's accurate, Garth. And I still think Housler could command some trade interest if BA&SK want to try to acquire another LB.

 

[slanidrac16]

I watched the TE's a lot at practice yesterday.

Right now Carlson is the obvious front runner. He doesn't quite have Housler's speed but Carlson runs the best routes and has the best hands. If he is over his concussion issues he will be a very good player for us! I'm all in on Carlson. Plus he wears my old football number.

Niklas is in the mix but with that big cast on his hand he's really hard to evaluate. He dropped a bunch of balls that hit him in his hands (or should I say hand and club) yesterday. It's kind of expected though since Logan Thomas was zinging fast balls at him and he has a huge club on his right hand. Niklas did look good in the few blocking drills that I saw him in. He maintains great pad level for a big guy.

Ballard isn't the most graceful route runner but he is effective and finds holes in the defense. Kind of reminds me of Jeff King in that manner.

Housler is the most fluid of the TEs. He easily is the quickest and fastest of the bunch. He just needs to be more consistent hanging onto the ball.


I didn't really pay much attention to the other two TEs much. Don't remember seeing anything negative out of them though. I do remember that they both looked fairly large.

I would say that if there is an incumbent TE on the bubble it's Housler. He isn't the best blocker so he had better become consistent as a down field threat or his days may be numbered. Although I didn't really see anything negative out of him as far as Friday's practice went.

Housler. Hmmm. Fluid...not a great blocker...and doesn't catch the ball to well.....uh-oh.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Housler is in trouble.

No doubt about it. Arians has said he wants TE to be blockers first. I could see Housler ending up on a team like NO and having a nice career. He's just not a fit for Arians offense.

 

[PitchShifter]

Kent Somers ✔ @kentsomers
Arians compliments TE Darren Fells again. "Knocking some people back" moving up depth chart, he says

More props for Fells. Moving up or moving past?

 

[CardLogic]

More props for Fells. Moving up or moving past?

BA didn't make any statement related to Fells and the depth chart. Arians stated Fells "was knocking people back", i.e - off the line of scrimmage.

 

[Mulli]

BA didn't make any statement related to Fells and the depth chart. Arians stated Fells "was knocking people back", i.e - off the line of scrimmage.

Darren Urban @Cardschatter · 3h
Arians: TE Darren Fells is "moving up the depth chart fast." #CardCamp
ReplyReplied to 0 times RetweetRetweeted 6 times6 FavoriteFavorited 4 times4
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[CardLogic]

Darren Urban @Cardschatter · 3h
Arians: TE Darren Fells is "moving up the depth chart fast." #CardCamp

I am referring to Arians direct comments here: http://www.azcardinals.com/videos/v...crimmage/88680d18-ef8a-45bc-8cf2-bb8e07bbb92d

Also there is Urban's own blog (here: http://blog.azcardinals.com/author/darrenurban/ ) which shows the "First depth chart"; and it lists the following: 1st team - Ballard and Carlson; 2nd team - Niklas and Housler; 3rd team - Fells and Hardy.

So how exactly has Fell "moved up"?

 

[BigRedRage]

I am referring to Arians direct comments here: http://www.azcardinals.com/videos/v...crimmage/88680d18-ef8a-45bc-8cf2-bb8e07bbb92d

Also there is Urban's own blog (here: http://blog.azcardinals.com/author/darrenurban/ ) which shows the "First depth chart"; and it lists the following: 1st team - Ballard and Carlson; 2nd team - Niklas and Housler; 3rd team - Fells and Hardy.

So how exactly has Fell "moved up"?

Let's not jump to conclusions on the first depty chart.

 

[Gee!]

My favorite TE on the team this year is Ballard..

 

[Chopper0080]

Weird that blocking TEs with ok pass catching skills can be found anywhere...wait, why did we spend a 2nd rounder on Nikklas again?

 

[BigRedRage]

Weird that blocking TEs with ok pass catching skills can be found anywhere...wait, why did we spend a 2nd rounder on Nikklas again?

because he looks like a 12 year old boy that ate a bear.

 

[Mulli]

Weird that blocking TEs with ok pass catching skills can be found anywhere...wait, why did we spend a 2nd rounder on Nikklas again?

Because maybe he is good enough to stop the revolving door of mediocre TE's this team has churned out.

 

[BigRedRage]

Because maybe he is good enough to stop the revolving door of mediocre TE's this team has churned out.

if he turns into a 10 year solid starter for us it will be amazing.

 

[BigRedRage]

http://espn.go.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/7721/darren-fells-may-hit-his-way-onto-roster

 

[kerouac9]

My favorite TE on the team this year is Ballard..

Jinx.

 

[Gee!]

Jinx.

Naw. I can't jinx someone just by saying he is my favorite of the TE. I didn't say he was going to best of the bunch either.

 

[Shaggy]

I liked Ballard to. Wish we could see him play for at least one more year.

 

[Bobcat]

He's a big TE, former BB player, who seems to be more of a blocking TE, the type that BA likes. The other day BA commented on his blocking (a positive) but added up until that time he's been disappointed in his play. I know our TE's are much improved from last year and this is how I see them going into the PS games.
1. John Carlson, only has to stay healthy to lock up the starting job.
2. Troy Niklas as the #2 draft pick is a roster lock, but injuries have pushed him down the TE depth chart.
3. Is it possible that the #3 and #4, Ballard and Housler, are fighting for one spot and that Fells captures the fourth TE spot? If so it would be a big surprise, imo.

Not really Ballard retired today. to bad, if he only could of been healthy. One play and he was done. feel really bad for him.