Is Whiz comfortable with Hightower?

[Cbus cardsfan]

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.

 

[binkar]

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.

Of course Whiz likes TH, but I don't think that has a huge impact on wether we draft a RB at 31. Whiz and Grimm I am sure both still want to establish an efficient running game and you can't go into the season with TH as your only viable guy at RB. We would be one little ding away from making Jason Wright our starting running back. Although I like the Wright signing, that would be VERY bad news. Having 2 viable at RB has proved to be more than just a luxury in the NFL.

 

[ARZCardinals]

No he is not - that is why last year he benched HT.

Need more proof - they had planned to part ways with Edge - they haven't. They can't as HT has shown that HE CAN'T be a full time RB.

He's great at short distance when he's got a bunch of rest. He didn't have the stamina to go down after down.

He had one great full game vs. the Rams - but BIG DEAL...he couldn't get over 65 yards after that.

HT may have one or two more shots at becoming a full time player - if injuries let him the opportunity. If not he'll be a roll player...but a very good one at that.

 

[cgolden]

I've always like the "build it and then we can run" (or something like that) to the running game. The question gets asked all the time, does a RB make an OL look good or does an OL make an RB look good. I'd prefer to have a dominant offensive line and an average back instead of a dominant back and an average OL. But that's just me.

 

[PoolBoy]

He needs a better line, and he needs to get real carries.

 

[nashman]

Sorry this guy just can't get it done full time! He WAS given the carries and he was terrible behind the same line as Edge ran behind. Alot of you think Edges' 3.9 ypc was bad then TH 2.8 is flat out terrible and not starter material period. They need to get a real RB or retain Edge simple as that, which is why Edge has not been released.

 

[PoolBoy]

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)

 

[Ryanwb]

He needs a better line, and he needs to get real carries.

i agree, how can you develop a guy when you only give him fake carries?

 

[PoolBoy]

i agree, how can you develop a guy when you only give him fake carries?

i mean not 4 second delayed handoffs into the center of our line when Lyle has already been pancaked by both DT's

 

[nashman]

Thats crap he was given the opportunity he just COULDN"T DO ANYTHING with it so they had to abandon the run. His numbers were terrible except for the one game he was the surprise starter and the Rams were not able to game plan for him, after that we saw what he is just a short yardage back.

 

[Cody]

Ej > Th
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Ej > Th

 

[PoolBoy]

we see what happens if you look at the game log where he is given significant carries. Obviously the Rams game 22 car. 109 yards, TD. Bills game 7 carries 37 yards 2 tds (not starter). 11 carries 35 yards against SEA. 17 carries 76 yards against panthers. Those were the only games where we had drives that were dedicated to running the ball. Not to mention he had 10 touchdowns during the regular season and a TD in every postseason game except for the Superbowl where he was essentially kept out of the game. If we can improve our line, I have a feeling a lot of you will be eating the crow that some of you had to eat this year about Hightower.

 

[PoolBoy]

Ej > Th
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Ej > Th

maybe you should start a poll on it

it could go along with "DRC or McFadden"
what if Leinart outperforms Warner in camp

 

[Shogun]

I hope not. Breadtruck = change of pace back at best.

 

[Tony W]

Sorry this guy just can't get it done full time! He WAS given the carries and he was terrible behind the same line as Edge ran behind. Alot of you think Edges' 3.9 ypc was bad then TH 2.8 is flat out terrible and not starter material period. They need to get a real RB or retain Edge simple as that, which is why Edge has not been released.

The NFL season is longer and more brutal than college. I would suggest holding judgement till the start of the season. IMHO

 

[IAWarnerFan]

Maybe a bit more comfortable this year seeing that TH is no longer a rookie. I don't think he's comfortable enough to make him the primary RB at this point tho.

 

[nashman]

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

 

[Unsterblich856]

I seriously wonder what TH's ypc would be if it wasn't for half of his carries being the shotgun draws and another chunk being short yardage. He did great in the postseason, especially the Carolina game and his heroics in the NFC championship won the game for us. He needs to be coached out of wiggling around behind the LOS and taught to hit the holes. Remember, he was just a rookie and not everybody starts off like AD did.

 

[Proteus]

For what it's worth, Hightower averaged 3.8 yards per carry in the post season vs 3.9 for Edge.

 

[lauraw]

who is AD? do you mean AP Adrian Peterson? I wish we got a back like that and if we take a back at #31, whizz will pick a winner!

 

[Dayman]

Hightower needs to learn how to be more decisive. After that 30 yard TD run against the Rams, it seems like he was always waiting for a hole that never opened. I think Whis is very comfortable with Hightower, but not as an every down back.

 

[DoTheDew]

who is AD? do you mean AP Adrian Peterson? I wish we got a back like that and if we take a back at #31, whizz will pick a winner!

AD stands for Peterson's nickname "All-day". I wish they would just call him AP since AD is an annoying nick name IMO.

 

[Unsterblich856]

AD stands for Peterson's nickname "All-day". I wish they would just call him AP since AD is an annoying nick name IMO.

Adrian Peterson prefers to be called "AD", so that's what I'll go with.

 

[perivolaki]

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

Well that may be true but I think TH will be the starting running back next season.

For my money unless injured I think he will be fine. He looked pretty good for a rookie and a huge step up in competition. With another year under his belt, and the offensive lines belt, I think he can be an every down back.

 

[WildBB]

Well that may be true but I think TH will be the starting running back next season.

For my money unless injured I think he will be fine. He looked pretty good for a rookie and a huge step up in competition. With another year under his belt, and the offensive lines belt, I think he can be an every down back.

It's not IF they draft a rookie it's WHEN they draft the rookie , he'll wind up splitting carries at first then gradually get more and more of the load. Hightower will remain a short distance and goal line, sometimes 3rd down runner.