Is Whiz comfortable with Hightower?

[Duckjake]

Tim was NOT given the same opportunity. Most of the games where he was the starter we abandoned the run because we got down on teams so early without even trying to run the ball. (Vikings, Patriots, Eagles)

Excellent point. The Cards weren't even trying, period, in those three games. All stats from them are meaningless.

Its why the national media were so surprised at our run D during the playoffs while those of us who followed the team closely all season were not.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

I'm certain TH's overall numbers (possibly excluding TDs) will be better this year, but I'm not quite bought on him being the guy. Maybe Whiz is a bit more comfortable than I'd be with TH tho.

 

[Cody]

If TH is our starting RB next season then the Cardinals seriously have no clue what they are doing!

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[PJ1]

TH definately has an important role but it won't be long into the season before he gives up the #1 rb job to whomever we draft in round 1 or 2.

 

[Evil Ash]

Does Whis have faith in Hightower? Sure, no doubt. However it should be pointed out that Whis also favors competition as it brings out the best in all participants. So I'm certain we'll bring someone else aboard to push Wright and Hightower.

That doesn't mean we'll take a rb in round 1 or 2 as the Steelers philosophy prior to this past offseason was to build from the inside out (meaning line first then go after the rb). They had a long successful run with an undrafted FA rb (Willie Parker) as well as other teams castoffs (Bettis). Whether or not they bring that philosophy here is still yet to be determined

 

[Shogun]

I'm certain TH's overall numbers (possibly excluding TDs) will be better this year, but I'm not quite bought on him being the guy. Maybe Whiz is a bit more comfortable than I'd be with TH tho.

When you're at rock bottom, the only direction you can go is up.

 

[Cody]

what does TH contract look like

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

what does TH contract look like

He makes less than 400k and is playing on a 5th rd contract. I'd say the team is getting tremendous value and upside with TH. I think it clear that will thrive in a 2 back system (which is what most teams in the league have or are moving to.)

TH was a rookie last year and scored 10-12 TDs and will only get better IMO.

 

[john h]

I think that's the main question when it comes to who the Cards draft at 31. If Whiz likes TH, and i think he does, the focus will shift to C or DE/OLB. If you remember from the pre-season on,Whiz has had nothing but good things to say about TH. He inserted him into the starting role mid-season in a comfortable position to give TH some experience. The results were mixed but you figure with a full year in the program that Hightower will improve. Most of us liked what we saw in Hightower and there's every reason to believe that,with the year experience, he will be a more decisive,patient runner. He's got the size, speed, and vision you like from a RB so i think he's our feature RB next year.

Saying that, unless a Moreno or Wells falls into the Cards lap, they will be drafting Alex Mack or the best DE/OLB(Michael Johnson?) available at 31. They will likely address the RB position in round 2 or 3,and may even take one later on, but a 1st round RB, i don't see it.

Unless we get some whiz-bang RB in the draft or trade for one then Hightower is our #1 next year. I hope we can do more running and take a little heat off Warner. If our OL can play a little better in the running game I think Hightower has the strength and heart to be a decent but not great RB. He runs with authority and like a wild man. This team however is configured to be a passing team. We will live and die with the pass. A running game will just add to our passing game. We have the best receivers in the NFL and perhaps one of the two best QB's in the NFL. Why would not have a passing game. It took us to the super-bowl. I still cannot believe we actually went to the super-bowl! The lowly Arizona Cardinals almost won the super-bowl Is that great or what? Two things I wanted to see in my lifetime have been the Cards in the super-bowl. and the Cubs in the World Series. Half way there.

 

[PoolBoy]

Unless we get some whiz-bang RB in the draft or trade for one then Hightower is our #1 next year. I hope we can do more running and take a little heat off Warner. If our OL can play a little better in the running game I think Hightower has the strength and heart to be a decent but not great RB. He runs with authority and like a wild man. This team however is configured to be a passing team. We will live and die with the pass. A running game will just add to our passing game. We have the best receivers in the NFL and perhaps one of the two best QB's in the NFL. Why would not have a passing game. It took us to the super-bowl. I still cannot believe we actually went to the super-bowl! The lowly Arizona Cardinals almost won the super-bowl Is that great or what? Two things I wanted to see in my lifetime have been the Cards in the super-bowl. and the Cubs in the World Series. Half way there.

give up hope on that one. haha. but good points. and i wouldnt mind seeing more passes go hightowers way like JJ got. I think if you give Hightower a swing pass on the outside he has the combo of speed/strength to have his way with defensive backs.

 

[Treefiddy]

I really hope that the Cardinals find a different #1 RB to play in front of Hightower. It's not that I don't trust Hightower, it's that Hightower seems to have a switch where nothing you can do will stop him. Off the top of my head, there was the 3rd quarter drive against Dallas on the 3rd and long that he took a screen pass for a first down. There was a 4th and 3rd down conversion against the Eagles in our 4th quarter drive that also ended in a 3rd down screen pass for a touchdown to TH.

I want that switch to be on everytime he touches the ball. It can't be on all the time, and if he's playing every down, it will probably be more difficult to turn it on.

 

[Big Deal]

I really hope that the Cardinals find a different #1 RB to play in front of Hightower. It's not that I don't trust Hightower, it's that Hightower seems to have a switch where nothing you can do will stop him. Off the top of my head, there was the 3rd quarter drive against Dallas on the 3rd and long that he took a screen pass for a first down. There was a 4th and 3rd down conversion against the Eagles in our 4th quarter drive that also ended in a 3rd down screen pass for a touchdown to TH.

I want that switch to be on everytime he touches the ball. It can't be on all the time, and if he's playing every down, it will probably be more difficult to turn it on.

If only he could have gotten 1.5 more yards at the end of the 1st half in the SB....

 

[Treefiddy]

If only he could have gotten 1.5 more yards at the end of the 1st half in the SB....

I had to look up the play-by-play. I think you're thinking of the wrong drive. He actually had another brilliant moment in that drive to keep it going (I don't remember the play, but the result looks awesome).

3-10-PIT 34 (1:49) (Shotgun) 13-K.Warner pass short left to 34-T.Hightower to PIT 24 for 10 yards (99-B.Keisel).

The only play that Hightower fell short of the goaline by one yard was in the fourth quarter, and Fitzgerald scored on the next play.

 

[nashman]

Think he is referring to that if TH could have gotten in from the 1.5 yrds we would not have had to try and throw it in thus no int for TD

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i think hightower has some upside, but for those of you that think he has the opportunity to explode on the scene . . . well, you just don't see many stud rb's in the league that didn't come in with a great deal of success right off the bat. yeah he was a rookie, but plenty of rookies excel. those that don't either have someone who is a stud in front of them, a timeshare, or just don't end up panning out. rarely do you see them just become a better runner due to experience. the experience side of the equation usually results in better blitz pickup, route running, etc. the ability to pick a hole, slide, make people miss, or bull them over is an innate ability in a rb. those skills don't get better with experience.

i suppose what i'm trying to say is . . . tim hightower is not a franchise back. in fact, i don't even think he's a fulltime starter. at best he's a timeshare back with a nose for the endzone.

we need someone considerably better.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

i think hightower has some upside, but for those of you that think he has the opportunity to explode on the scene . . . well, you just don't see many stud rb's in the league that didn't come in with a great deal of success right off the bat. yeah he was a rookie, but plenty of rookies excel. those that don't either have someone who is a stud in front of them, a timeshare, or just don't end up panning out. rarely do you see them just become a better runner due to experience. the experience side of the equation usually results in better blitz pickup, route running, etc. the ability to pick a hole, slide, make people miss, or bull them over is an innate ability in a rb. those skills don't get better with experience.

i suppose what i'm trying to say is . . . tim hightower is not a franchise back. in fact, i don't even think he's a fulltime starter. at best he's a timeshare back with a nose for the endzone.

we need someone considerably better.

Yeah but usually rookie runners that succeed play behind good olines (AP and Chris Johnson) or the with good run scheming coachs (Slaton).

Like many I don't think HT was given the opportunity to put up big numbers really. And his nose for the end zone is at a PB level. Many people want to discount that stat but really thats the point of the game. You don't get 14 rushings TD without being pretty damn good.

I am in the minority but with a good offseason and better run blocking and scheming I think he can be a feature back.

Saying the Cardinals would be stupid to rely on that. Its imperative to hedge your bets and bring in another guy to compete and share the load. Its a 2 back league anyway.

If TH is our definitive 2nd string RB next year we are going to be in a VERY good place. I

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I think another thing that many of us are failing to account for is TH actually getting better this upcoming. There were definitley times he was dancing rather then hitting the holes.

But players usually make the biggest leap between their first and second years. And I personally think Tim had a hell of a start. And even then what we got last year won't be the same player this season.

Again should the Cardinals rely on him getting better and put all their eggs in that basket? No way.

But I think we may be discounting him at this point too. I have full confidence if the rookie brought in doesn't have it at a starter level or gets hurt that HT would and could carry the load.

Basically I am saying if he gets better like I expect him too he could be an effective starter in this league.

 

[PoolBoy]

whats the Cardinals record for rushing touchdowns in a season?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

i think hightower has some upside, but for those of you that think he has the opportunity to explode on the scene . . . well, you just don't see many stud rb's in the league that didn't come in with a great deal of success right off the bat. yeah he was a rookie, but plenty of rookies excel. those that don't either have someone who is a stud in front of them, a timeshare, or just don't end up panning out. rarely do you see them just become a better runner due to experience. the experience side of the equation usually results in better blitz pickup, route running, etc. the ability to pick a hole, slide, make people miss, or bull them over is an innate ability in a rb. those skills don't get better with experience.

i suppose what i'm trying to say is . . . tim hightower is not a franchise back. in fact, i don't even think he's a fulltime starter. at best he's a timeshare back with a nose for the endzone.

we need someone considerably better.

i don't necessarily agree with that. The superstar RB's come in and are great from day 1 like AP and LT. But there are plenty of guys who learned the ropes for a year a two before coming on to the scene. Thomas JOnes, Willie Parker, Marion Barber, any RB from Denver,and Westbrook are guys that come to mind that weren't big hits right off the bat.
I agree we could use some help and need to urgrade. But i'm not really sure what we have in Hightower yet. I could easily see him settling into the 3rd down/short yardage back or just as easily see him put up 1000+ yards and 12 TD's in a feature role next year. The thing i like about him is that he seems like he's willing to put the time and effort into becoming an upper ecehlon back. We'll soon find out if he's has the talent to do it.

 

[JeffGollin]

The Question We Should be Asking is...

"Is Wiz totally comfortable with our RB situation?"

I think he's happy with THT's production as a rookie, but it's pretty risky going into the next season without at least one additional RB of equal or better ability.

The Edge situation, at best, looks 50-50, and it seems as if Arrington has fallen down some sort of "black hole" in free agency. (Is he still technically ours)?

Five related objectives for Wiz to focus on:

1. Making THT bigger and stronger in the off-season.

2. Retaining/adding depth and talent at RB.

3. Retaining or replacing Terrelle Smith as a lead blocker

4. Adding some physicality to our O-line.

5. Getting better run-blocking from our TE's.

 

[PoolBoy]

JJ is officially a bronco as of last week i think

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

You don't get 14 rushings TD without being pretty damn good.

marcel shipp once had 11 tds and despite everyone's delusional thoughts on this board otherwise, he was really never "pretty damn good."

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i don't necessarily agree with that. The superstar RB's come in and are great from day 1 like AP and LT. But there are plenty of guys who learned the ropes for a year a two before coming on to the scene. Thomas JOnes, Willie Parker, Marion Barber, any RB from Denver,and Westbrook are guys that come to mind that weren't big hits right off the bat.

the main difference is that whenever the guys you named WERE given the chance to shine, they did (other than tj). i wouldn't call hightower's performance last year "shining."

willie parker averaged 5.8 yds/carry as rook in limited action
olandis gary 4.2 yds/carry for 1100+ yards as a rook
barber 3.9 yds/carry w/ 139 carries as rook
westbrook 4.2 yds/carry as rook in limited action
tatum bell 5.3 yds/carry as rook in limited action and he's not what i would call a feature back
hightower 2.8 yds/carry as rook in 143 carries (similar to barber)

notice a big difference? the closest player in terms of yds/carry is barber and he's a full 1.1 yds/carry better than hightower's numbers from last year. on average the guys you want to compare hightower to averaged 4.7 yds/carry their rookie seasons. that's almost 2 yards/carry better than hightower!

 

[Arizona's Finest]

marcel shipp once had 11 tds and despite everyone's delusional thoughts on this board otherwise, he was really never "pretty damn good."

How many postseason TD's did he have again?

Those should count for something more, right?

I get the context of your point but that comparison is laughable. Hightower was a 5th round rookie pick. No matter what a rookie 5th round pick isn't set up to become the starter of a team. A 1st and 2nd rounder maybe but he worked his way up. We weren't exactly drafting for need with that pick and the round TH was taken in shows that.

As many have pointed out the game plan changed away from grinding to all out aerial attack and led to his numbers yardage wise being subpar.

And when hes running right he looks the part as many noticed right out of mini camp

I'm not saying he'll be Jim Brown but you think he will get better in year 2 right? Marcell had a fluke year and got those numbers only once ever and never really get close again.

Let's just say I don't see the same fate for Timmy.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

How many postseason TD's did he have again?

Those should count for something more, right?

I get the context of your point but that comparison is laughable. Hightower was a 5th round rookie pick. No matter what a rookie 5th round pick isn't set up to become the starter of a team. A 1st and 2nd rounder maybe but he worked his way up. We weren't exactly drafting for need with that pick and the round TH was taken in shows that.

As many have pointed out the game plan changed away from grinding to all out aerial attack and led to his numbers yardage wise being subpar.

And when hes running right he looks the part as many noticed right out of mini camp

I'm not saying he'll be Jim Brown but you think he will get better in year 2 right? Marcell had a fluke year and got those numbers only once ever and never really get close again.

Let's just say I don't see the same fate for Timmy.

right now i see timmy and marcel being a fairly good comparison. one drafted in the fifth round and not invited to the combine, the other an undrafted rookie free agent. both from smaller schools. both excelled at the smaller schools. both considered to have subpar speed. both had a single year with double digit TDs (granted it was hightower's first year, but let's not credit him with more than he's accomplished). i just think everyone wants to see something in hightower that doesn't really exist. he hasn't shown excellent vision. he hasn't shown amazing wiggle. he hasn't shown an extra gear. he has shown the ability to be a plugger, but again, that mirror's tugboat's career. i'm just not gaga over the dude. he's a nice backup imo.