James says there's no use complaining, just make it work
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
October 5, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Edgerrin James is averaging 3.1 yards per carry through his first four games with the Arizona Cardinals -- by far his career-low.
He says there's no use blaming his offensive line.
"A lot of people want to point fingers here and there, and I just say there's no need to point fingers because this is what we've got," James said after practice Thursday. "We're not going to have a new offensive line, a new system. We're not going to have nothing new, and we've just got to make the best of it and do what it takes."
Coach Dennis Green called out the offensive line on his weekly radio show this week, saying they should "stop whining" and get to work.
"Coach is going to speak his mind," James said. "I can't say whether he's right or wrong. Coach is one of the best coaches to coach in this league. He knows what it takes to win. Anytime he says something, he knows what he's talking about."
Green made it clear Thursday that James is not to blame for the running woes of the Cardinals, who have lost three in a row after an opening win over San Francisco.
"I think he's running his butt off," the coach said. "I know what a back looks like when he's working hard. He's working and I think he wants to be successful. I think it's on us, not him."
James had just 41 yards in 20 carries in last weekend's 32-10 loss at Atlanta. He said the problems are in the details.
"The little things are killing us right now," James said. "We've got to figure out ways to get it done. I don't want to go to them with all the cursing and all that, because everybody knows what they've got to do. You look at the film and say `OK, this is what I've got to do.' It's just a matter of going out and doing it."
Despite the addition of James, the Cardinals are 30th in the NFL in rushing at 70.3 yards per game, nearly a yard worse than their total a year ago, when they ranked last in the league.
"Details involved in the running game are crucial," Green said. "We've got an excellent line coach (Steve Loney) and he's working it and trying to get them to understand that those details are crucial. You do it on the field. You look at it on video and you hope the players are receptive to understanding why he wants to do it differently. That's called coaching."
Asked if there would be any personnel changes on the line for Sunday's game against Kansas City, Green said, "None that we're announcing."
James said the team will need to lean on the defense and keep the offense simple with rookie Matt Leinart getting his first NFL start at quarterback.
"We've got to take it like the Pittsburgh Steelers" when they started Ben Roethlisberger as a rookie, he said. "They didn't do too many pass plays. They were real basic and simple and did the things they had to. That's one thing we've got to do. We've got to be real simple until we get in a groove."
The leaning on the defense idea didn't go over too well with Green, though. "We can't ask the defense to do what they couldn't do before," he said. "I assume if they could have done that, they would have done it. They're not playing like they should be playing either."
I thought this was interesting, especially the part about not announcing o-line changes (but leaves the door open for changes).
The Shark
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
October 5, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Edgerrin James is averaging 3.1 yards per carry through his first four games with the Arizona Cardinals -- by far his career-low.
He says there's no use blaming his offensive line.
"A lot of people want to point fingers here and there, and I just say there's no need to point fingers because this is what we've got," James said after practice Thursday. "We're not going to have a new offensive line, a new system. We're not going to have nothing new, and we've just got to make the best of it and do what it takes."
Coach Dennis Green called out the offensive line on his weekly radio show this week, saying they should "stop whining" and get to work.
"Coach is going to speak his mind," James said. "I can't say whether he's right or wrong. Coach is one of the best coaches to coach in this league. He knows what it takes to win. Anytime he says something, he knows what he's talking about."
Green made it clear Thursday that James is not to blame for the running woes of the Cardinals, who have lost three in a row after an opening win over San Francisco.
"I think he's running his butt off," the coach said. "I know what a back looks like when he's working hard. He's working and I think he wants to be successful. I think it's on us, not him."
James had just 41 yards in 20 carries in last weekend's 32-10 loss at Atlanta. He said the problems are in the details.
"The little things are killing us right now," James said. "We've got to figure out ways to get it done. I don't want to go to them with all the cursing and all that, because everybody knows what they've got to do. You look at the film and say `OK, this is what I've got to do.' It's just a matter of going out and doing it."
Despite the addition of James, the Cardinals are 30th in the NFL in rushing at 70.3 yards per game, nearly a yard worse than their total a year ago, when they ranked last in the league.
"Details involved in the running game are crucial," Green said. "We've got an excellent line coach (Steve Loney) and he's working it and trying to get them to understand that those details are crucial. You do it on the field. You look at it on video and you hope the players are receptive to understanding why he wants to do it differently. That's called coaching."
Asked if there would be any personnel changes on the line for Sunday's game against Kansas City, Green said, "None that we're announcing."
James said the team will need to lean on the defense and keep the offense simple with rookie Matt Leinart getting his first NFL start at quarterback.
"We've got to take it like the Pittsburgh Steelers" when they started Ben Roethlisberger as a rookie, he said. "They didn't do too many pass plays. They were real basic and simple and did the things they had to. That's one thing we've got to do. We've got to be real simple until we get in a groove."
The leaning on the defense idea didn't go over too well with Green, though. "We can't ask the defense to do what they couldn't do before," he said. "I assume if they could have done that, they would have done it. They're not playing like they should be playing either."
I thought this was interesting, especially the part about not announcing o-line changes (but leaves the door open for changes).
The Shark
Still putting words in other people's mouths, I see. 
