J.J. Arrington and Russ Grimm

[Totally_Red]

I'm just wondering what Grimm's reaction is going to be the first time he sees tape of J.J. diving for the ground to avoid a hit?!? IMO, J.J. is going to have to toughen up a little bit, or he won't be a Cardinal very long.

We have a few coaches who are products of the Bill Parcells coaching tree. I still remember the first year he was in Dallas, he wouldn't let any of the players wear the star unless or until they "earned" it. I wonder how much of that mentality is passed down to some our new coaches.

 

[cardsfanmd]

good point

 

[Goldfield]

I think the jury is still out on JJ. He had a bad rookie year, but we also had a very bad Line.

He is going into his what 3rd year? He didnt get much chance at all to run last year. I think we need to give him one more year to see what he's got. He needed to run harder & last year it looked like he did. If he pans out he would be a perfect change of pace from Edge.

 

[JC_AZ]

JJ is afraid to get hit, and as long as he continues his dives to avoid a hit, then he is not worth a roster spot...we have others who could AT LEAST do what he did on returns...he is SUPPOSED TO BE FAST... anyone witnessed that yet? Not in THREE Years...what is the point? Trade him for something...a beer maybe... who cares!?

 

[artp]

I think we need to have some competition for #2 RB, and I don't mean M Shipp.

 

[BigRedArk]

I think the jury is still out on JJ. He had a bad rookie year, but we also had a very bad Line.

He is going into his what 3rd year? He didnt get much chance at all to run last year. I think we need to give him one more year to see what he's got. He needed to run harder & last year it looked like he did. If he pans out he would be a perfect change of pace from Edge.

I am hoping he can break on through to the other side this year also. He's got potential it seems anyway. I am hoping it is only poor coaching that has held him back.

 

[JC_AZ]

I think we need to have some competition for #2 RB, and I don't mean M Shipp.

Adrian Peterson at #5

 

[1DS]

This is why I am now on the draft Adrian Peterson wagon. Edge hasn't had the same bounce in his step since he blew out his knee. Can someone find out what his longest rush was this year? How about his longest run for the last 3 years? He just can't break a long one anymore. Edge is still a very good RB, he can still put up the yards and he is extremley durable. But we really need a RB that can be more of a home-run hitter. Plus, as we stand now, what would we do if Edge went down? We have no decent #2 RB. Our offense would be forced to PASS, and even though we have two of the top WR's in the NFL, when an offense becomes one dimensional opposing defenses start to tee off. We really need to address the lack of quality depth behind Edge.

 

[Russ Smith]

JJ is afraid to get hit, and as long as he continues his dives to avoid a hit, then he is not worth a roster spot...we have others who could AT LEAST do what he did on returns...he is SUPPOSED TO BE FAST... anyone witnessed that yet? Not in THREE Years...what is the point? Trade him for something...a beer maybe... who cares!?

Really only showed speed on the TD KO return, beyond that he was hit or miss. What killed me was watching him repeatedly take the ball out from deep in the endzone and not get to the 20, how many times before you just down the ball?

I thought he looked better receiving the ball. Started the year well running the ball but never got any reps and by the end of the year was not getting much yardage per carry at all.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

This is why I am now on the draft Adrian Peterson wagon. Edge hasn't had the same bounce in his step since he blew out his knee. Can someone find out what his longest rush was this year? How about his longest run for the last 3 years? He just can't break a long one anymore. Edge is still a very good RB, he can still put up the yards and he is extremley durable. But we really need a RB that can be more of a home-run hitter. Plus, as we stand now, what would we do if Edge went down? We have no decent #2 RB. Our offense would be forced to PASS, and even though we have two of the top WR's in the NFL, when an offense becomes one dimensional opposing defenses start to tee off. We really need to address the lack of quality depth behind Edge.

Edge has never been a fast running back at any time during his career. He was always a guy that could maximize every run, but it was rare to see him get over 10 yards on one rush. That said, we definitely don't need to draft Adrian Peterson, or ever look at a running back on the first day. Haven't we learned our lesson about stocking up on skill positions when we should be focusing on the line? As soon as the line played half-way decent, Edge was playing well (about 4.4 yards per carry), and should do even better after we improve our line this offseason. Edge still has three or four more years as a starting caliber running back in this league, and it would be moronic to look for a replacement with the number five pick in the draft when we have so many glaring holes already. Shipp is a decent enough number two, and him and JJ should be able to hold their own if Edge is gone. However, if we really need a running back, we should look into a speedster like Garret Wolfe in the sixth round. Personally, I'd like us to draft the fullback from Alabama (Leron something) or Corey Anderson to help with your run blocking.

 

[phillycard]

C'mon TR. That was 2 years ago. Give JJ a break.

 

[Shogun]

Edge has never been a fast running back at any time during his career.

Blasphemy. Edge was always a threat to take it to the house before his first knee-injury. He was the ideal running back prospect. He had no weaknesses.

 

[CardLogic]

This is why I am now on the draft Adrian Peterson wagon. Edge hasn't had the same bounce in his step since he blew out his knee. Can someone find out what his longest rush was this year? How about his longest run for the last 3 years? He just can't break a long one anymore. Edge is still a very good RB, he can still put up the yards and he is extremley durable. But we really need a RB that can be more of a home-run hitter. Plus, as we stand now, what would we do if Edge went down? We have no decent #2 RB. Our offense would be forced to PASS, and even though we have two of the top WR's in the NFL, when an offense becomes one dimensional opposing defenses start to tee off. We really need to address the lack of quality depth behind Edge.

Good comments, I tend towards agreement!

Cards need that guy who can step up. I am not convinced that it is Arrington, but we will have another look at him this year. Regarding Shipp, I like his attitude, character and work ethic, but I wonder if he will be a Cardinal this coming season (FA). Although, the Cardinals might hire his former college coach, Mark Whipple as QB coach; so Shipp might want to stay.

At any rate, AP is an upgrade over both of them! And he is a guy who could become the #1 when Edge can no longer deliver.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Blasphemy. Edge was always a threat to take it to the house before his first knee-injury. He was the ideal running back prospect. He had no weaknesses.

Not really. He was faster than he was now, but he still wasn't what you'd consider a home run back like LT.

 

[cardsfanmd]

This is why I am now on the draft Adrian Peterson wagon. Edge hasn't had the same bounce in his step since he blew out his knee. Can someone find out what his longest rush was this year? How about his longest run for the last 3 years? He just can't break a long one anymore. Edge is still a very good RB, he can still put up the yards and he is extremley durable. But we really need a RB that can be more of a home-run hitter. Plus, as we stand now, what would we do if Edge went down? We have no decent #2 RB. Our offense would be forced to PASS, and even though we have two of the top WR's in the NFL, when an offense becomes one dimensional opposing defenses start to tee off. We really need to address the lack of quality depth behind Edge.

Edge has never been known as a fast guy, you very rarely saw him break off huge runs in indy. he is good because he consistantly got 5,6,7,8,9 and 10 yard gains. aside from blowing the knee out he has also been remarkably tough and durable. Now i am not saying you personally here, but it really cracks me up how the same people who were predicting a playoff run last year when we overpaid for him are the same ones who say that he has always been a bum now. look how many yards edge gains after initial contact and you will understand how good he still is and the toughness he brings to the club.

I think that we need to go after a fullback early in the draft. Look at LT and Alexander and you have to think that a good chunk of their success stems from the fact that they run behind the best two fullbacks in the game.

Almost forgot--i think it may be time for jj to break out. God knows he had an ugly rookie year , but the line was worse than bad. Edge got more rushes in the beginning of the year than jj had been getting, but his production was not much of an improvement. He didn't start playing better until the line improved. the last six games were good, but jj had never played behind a line that could make holes like that.

 

[vince56]

Edge hasn't had the same bounce in his step since he blew out his knee. Can someone find out what his longest rush was this year? How about his longest run for the last 3 years? He just can't break a long one anymore.

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/133320

2006 longest run 18 yards
2005 longest run 33 yards
2004 longest run 40 yards
2003 longest run 43 yards
2002 longest run 20 yards
2001 longest run 29 yards <-- knee injury shortened season
2000 longest run 30 yards
1999 longest run 72 yards

Contrary to popular belief, James has NEVER been a homerun threat. He's just not that type of back. He's more like a smaller Jerome Bettis or more accurately Shaun Alexander, a power back with a few moves, but more often than not just a great downhill runner.

 

[PACardsFan]

I can obviously understand the need to bolster the OL, but if Thomas isn't available at #5, then Peterson just may be the pick. James isn't getting any younger & JJ looks like a bust to me. Peterson has some durability issues, but this guy is the complete package & could be a HOF type runner. If Grimm & Whiz are as good as advertised, then draft some O-Linemen in rounds 2, 3 or 4. Don't get me wrong, if Thomas is there, I'd take him. He's a mountain of a man & will be a Pro Bowler. I'm feeling he won't be, so I think Peterson is the next best pick.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

I can obviously understand the need to bolster the OL, but if Thomas isn't available at #5, then Peterson just may be the pick. James isn't getting any younger & JJ looks like a bust to me. Peterson has some durability issues, but this guy is the complete package & could be a HOF type runner. If Grimm & Whiz are as good as advertised, then draft some O-Linemen in rounds 2, 3 or 4. Don't get me wrong, if Thomas is there, I'd take him. He's a mountain of a man & will be a Pro Bowler. I'm feeling he won't be, so I think Peterson is the next best pick.

I disagree. Edge is only 28 and can still carry the load, we won't need a future replacement for him for three more years and Marcel Shipp is a perfectly capable back up. No way we're going to try to replace a future HOFer while he still is in his twenties. If Thomas is gone, we really only have two options. Either trade down into the teens so we could get Levi Brown, or take Jamaal Anderson. Either one would be fine by me as long as we don't take AD.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

JJ is afraid to get hit, and as long as he continues his dives to avoid a hit, then he is not worth a roster spot...we have others who could AT LEAST do what he did on returns...he is SUPPOSED TO BE FAST... anyone witnessed that yet? Not in THREE Years...what is the point? Trade him for something...a beer maybe... who cares!?

Afraid to get hit???

That's weeded out by high school graduation, let alone playing major college and the NFL.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

I disagree. Edge is only 28 and can still carry the load, we won't need a future replacement for him for three more years and Marcel Shipp is a perfectly capable back up. No way we're going to try to replace a future HOFer while he still is in his twenties. If Thomas is gone, we really only have two options. Either trade down into the teens so we could get Levi Brown, or take Jamaal Anderson. Either one would be fine by me as long as we don't take AD.

This is exactly how I feel. Plus you can find runners in the later rounds.

 

[Twist18]

The only team I worry about taking Thomas is Detroit and if Jamaal Anderson has workouts the way he is capable of, he may be the Lions pick. The man is a beast, along with Alan Branch. Branch is a more athletic John Henderson, which is downright scary.

 

[Russ Smith]

I disagree. Edge is only 28 and can still carry the load, we won't need a future replacement for him for three more years and Marcel Shipp is a perfectly capable back up. No way we're going to try to replace a future HOFer while he still is in his twenties. If Thomas is gone, we really only have two options. Either trade down into the teens so we could get Levi Brown, or take Jamaal Anderson. Either one would be fine by me as long as we don't take AD.

Age is irrelevant on a RB it's mileage you have to look at, carries in particular.

He's got over 2500 carries in his career already. He's much older than 28 in football years for a RB.

Still a very good RB but expecting him to act like a normal 28 year old RB would be a mistake IMHO.

 

[AntSports Steve]

JJ's rookie year, he was gunshy and didn't want to get hit, but this year he ran much harder and looked more like what an NFL running back should be. I think he is over the getting hit problem.


For his size, I think he should be faster. On kickoffs, he looks too slow.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Age is irrelevant on a RB it's mileage you have to look at, carries in particular.

He's got over 2500 carries in his career already. He's much older than 28 in football years for a RB.

Still a very good RB but expecting him to act like a normal 28 year old RB would be a mistake IMHO.

True, Edge does have alot of carries, although guys like Curtis Martin have performed at a high level well beyond the 2500 mark. In fact I can see alot of similarities in Edge and Martin's running style (coincidentally my two favorite backs in the NFL). From what I can see, Edge still looks like he has some left in his tank, and barring any sort of freak injuries, I think that he could still go another three years in the starting role at the very least. That said, I would like to see Edge only get about 300+ carries a year, maybe get Shipp and JJ more involved in order to keep Edge in good health (unlike Hermes Edwards practically killing Curtis Martin the twilight of his career).

 

[JC_AZ]

Afraid to get hit???

That's weeded out by high school graduation, let alone playing major college and the NFL.

Watch the last 5 games if you have 'em...even on returns he was finding a landing area instead of using his so-called speed to find a hole...face it, the only reason he was even in the game was because DG's ego could not allow "his pick" to be deemed a BUST!

We have guys from our practice squad and IR from last year who could outperform JJ (Ferri and Robinson) and for KR's I would try Watkins or McCoy... at least enough speed to give the blockers a chance...JJ IS a bust!