James might get more touches
By Darren Urban, Tribune
October 6, 2006
A couple of weeks ago, Edgerrin James said he wanted to be a bigger part of the Cardinals’ offense. With rookie Matt Leinart starting at quarterback, James might get his wish.
The Cardinals are expected to use the running game and the short passing game more often with Leinart, which will mean more opportunities for James against a Kansas City defense ranked third in the NFL.
“Whenever they call my name, I’m ready,” James said. “If I have to carry it 50 times, I’ll be ready 50 times.”
At this rate, James may need close to that to notch his long-awaited first 100-yard game. The Cardinals have had running backs reach 100 yards only seven times in their last 100 games, dating back to the start of the 2000 season: Marcel Shipp three times, Emmitt Smith twice, and one each from Michael Pittman and Thomas Jones. Smith was the last to do it, 31 games ago.
James’ personal 100-yard drought has reached seven games, tying the longest of his career. But James still wore a smile Thursday as he talked about his rough season thus far in which he has averaged just 68 yards a game.
“I am a fighter; I don’t give up,” James said. “I know good things will happen. Good things always happen for me.
“A lot of people want to point fingers, but there is no need to point fingers because this is what we’ve got. We aren’t going to have a new offensive line, we’re not going to have a new system. This is what we’ve got this year. All the playmakers, we just have to do something extra.”
James reiterated he is loyal to his much-maligned offensive line. And coach Dennis Green is standing by his biggest free agent catch, saying that James’ troubles producing yardage have nothing to do with James.
“I think he is running his butt off,” Green said. “I think it’s on us, not him.”
DANSBY TO START?
There is a chance linebacker Karlos Dansby, who has slowly been working his way back from a toe injury, could be in the starting lineup Sunday against Kansas City. Dansby, who has been backing up Calvin Pace at strongside linebacker, has nine tackles in three games as a reserve.
“He is playing hard, but he is not as fast as he was before,” Green said.
That’s because Dansby isn’t healthy. Dansby said he was playing at only “55 or 60 percent,” although his play is still “pretty doggone good, to be honest. I am trying to be at my best when my best is needed.”
Asked about the possibility of starting, Dansby was vague.
“Whatever my role is I will do it to the best of my ability and hopefully we get a ‘W’ out of it,” Dansby said. “It’s a team thing — it’s not about me and me starting. It’s about me contributing.”
By Darren Urban, Tribune
October 6, 2006
A couple of weeks ago, Edgerrin James said he wanted to be a bigger part of the Cardinals’ offense. With rookie Matt Leinart starting at quarterback, James might get his wish.
The Cardinals are expected to use the running game and the short passing game more often with Leinart, which will mean more opportunities for James against a Kansas City defense ranked third in the NFL.
“Whenever they call my name, I’m ready,” James said. “If I have to carry it 50 times, I’ll be ready 50 times.”
At this rate, James may need close to that to notch his long-awaited first 100-yard game. The Cardinals have had running backs reach 100 yards only seven times in their last 100 games, dating back to the start of the 2000 season: Marcel Shipp three times, Emmitt Smith twice, and one each from Michael Pittman and Thomas Jones. Smith was the last to do it, 31 games ago.
James’ personal 100-yard drought has reached seven games, tying the longest of his career. But James still wore a smile Thursday as he talked about his rough season thus far in which he has averaged just 68 yards a game.
“I am a fighter; I don’t give up,” James said. “I know good things will happen. Good things always happen for me.
“A lot of people want to point fingers, but there is no need to point fingers because this is what we’ve got. We aren’t going to have a new offensive line, we’re not going to have a new system. This is what we’ve got this year. All the playmakers, we just have to do something extra.”
James reiterated he is loyal to his much-maligned offensive line. And coach Dennis Green is standing by his biggest free agent catch, saying that James’ troubles producing yardage have nothing to do with James.
“I think he is running his butt off,” Green said. “I think it’s on us, not him.”
DANSBY TO START?
There is a chance linebacker Karlos Dansby, who has slowly been working his way back from a toe injury, could be in the starting lineup Sunday against Kansas City. Dansby, who has been backing up Calvin Pace at strongside linebacker, has nine tackles in three games as a reserve.
“He is playing hard, but he is not as fast as he was before,” Green said.
That’s because Dansby isn’t healthy. Dansby said he was playing at only “55 or 60 percent,” although his play is still “pretty doggone good, to be honest. I am trying to be at my best when my best is needed.”
Asked about the possibility of starting, Dansby was vague.
“Whatever my role is I will do it to the best of my ability and hopefully we get a ‘W’ out of it,” Dansby said. “It’s a team thing — it’s not about me and me starting. It’s about me contributing.”
