JJ needs to start

[CaptTurbo]

This kid is playing out of his mind. Three times in the last few games I see him tackled 5-6 yards short of a first down and he manages to fly 2 inches off the ground to get it.

I have been saying he could be our Brian Westbrook for weeks now.

 

[DeAnna]

Wow. Considering most people were ragging on him even up to week 4 - that's surprising.

I think he's a good change-of-pace back, but not ready to annoint him the starter.

 

[TheCardFan]

This kid is playing out of his mind. Three times in the last few games I see him tackled 5-6 yards short of a first down and he manages to fly 2 inches off the ground to get it.

I have been saying he could be our Brian Westbrook for weeks now.

He is a free agent at the end of the year...coincidence?

 

[Totally_Red]

He is a free agent at the end of the year...coincidence?

Nothing wrong with extending J.J. at this point IMO. He is a reliable and decent kick returner, a solid blocker in pass protection, and he fits the no-huddle offense to a 'T.' With Edge's days in the desert numbered, we are going to need two other backs besides Tim Hightower. Rod Graves should be on the phone with his agent to see if a reasonable 2-3 deal is possible IMO. This is one decision that doesn't necessarily have to wait until the end of the season.

Whether he's extended by the Cardinals or not, he's definitely made himself some money over the last few weeks.

 

[SuperSpck]

I think whoever is in the backfield has their work cut out for them. Get the Oline figured out and split JJ and Tim 50/50.

 

[gr000000vy]

i'd love to see JJ get more touches..... every time he touches the ball something seems to happen.....

i think he has definitely started to lose that "wuss" tag he got a few seasons ago...

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Wow. Considering most people were ragging on him even up to week 4 - that's surprising.

I think he's a good change-of-pace back, but not ready to annoint him the starter.

As opposed to 2 yards and a cloud of dust Hightower?

 

[D-Dogg]

i'd love to see JJ get more touches..... every time he touches the ball something seems to happen.....

i think he has definitely started to lose that "wuss" tag he got a few seasons ago...

Started?

The tag never should have stuck that long in the first place.

He shed that easily last year.

It doesn't exist at all this year. He was banging in there.

 

[nashman]

Don't talk negative about the great Hightower Chris...

 

[SuperSpck]

Edge is consistant but has no burst to the line.

Hightower has burst, but is inconsistant and lacks experience.

JJ lacks ideal size, but has burst, we've questioned his heart a number of times.

In a power-run offense I see 3 great rotational backs. Think of when the Eagles (grrr) had Buckhalter, Staley, and Westbrook. Look at what the Steelers had with Parker and Bettis and what they wanted to do with Parker, Mendenhall, and Moore.

The problem is that the Cards aren't a power-run offense. They're a barely-run offense. In that situation only a very elite few could create opportunities.

Unless Jim Brown and Barry Sanders want to come out of retirement, quit putting so much on the RB's and look at the problems up front.

 

[TheCardFan]

Edge is consistant but has no burst to the line.

Hightower has burst, but is inconsistant and lacks experience.

JJ lacks ideal size, but has burst, we've questioned his heart a number of times.

In a power-run offense I see 3 great rotational backs. Think of when the Eagles (grrr) had Buckhalter, Staley, and Westbrook. Look at what the Steelers had with Parker and Bettis and what they wanted to do with Parker, Mendenhall, and Moore.

The problem is that the Cards aren't a power-run offense. They're a barely-run offense. In that situation only a very elite few could create opportunities.

Unless Jim Brown and Barry Sanders want to come out of retirement, quit putting so much on the RB's and look at the problems up front.

Great point. I seem to want to give the OL the benefit of the doubt because of Grimm but then I go back and watch the tape.

Reggie Wells is terrible and across the line, we don't open many holes.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Don't talk negative about the great Hightower Chris...

Hightower and Warner are the taboo criticism subjects on the board right now. If you criticize them their fans jump you.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

i'd love to see JJ get more touches..... every time he touches the ball something seems to happen.....

i think he has definitely started to lose that "wuss" tag he got a few seasons ago...

Wuss tag surrenders temporarily to "I gotta get paid" tag.

:fark:

 

[SuperSpck]

Hightower and Warner are the taboo criticism subjects on the board right now. If you criticize them their fans jump you.

Every player should be eligible for a discussion of their good and bad points. What's the point of a message board if it's homogenized?

 

[Spielman]

I think he's a good change-of-pace back, but not ready to annoint him the starter.

Yeah, that's the way I see him.

Arrington can be a good change of pace back, a good third down back. He's not a feature back.

I don't think Hightower is either. The solution isn't on the roster yet.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Two years into Russ Grimm, I was hoping for more RB production, whoever it might be.

 

[football karma]

broad Brian Westbrook comparison:

both undersized, scat back types

Westbrook came to Philly as a 3rd round draft pick and was allowed to develop over his first two season, playing in spot duty.

He blew up in his third, and really took it to another level in his fifth season -- all the while playing in the same offense and for the same coaching staff and for a team that was pretty good all around him.


I am not saying JJ is Brian Westbrook -- but rather maybe this is a guy who needed time to develop without a bunch of expectations in a more stable environment.

He now looks like the guy everyone thought we were getting out of Cal four years ago

 

[nashman]

Are people ready to admit that TH is not an everydown back yet? How many more 20 something yard games is it gonna take?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Are people ready to admit that TH is not an everydown back yet? How many more 20 something yard games is it gonna take?

I think a lot of people have. I don't think he's the answer. But I also don't think putting Edge back in there is the answer either, especially when you consider that our running game in Edge's last three starts were just as pathetic as the running game is now.

all things being equal, you go with youth because the upside is bigger IMO. But bottom line is that neither of those guys will help this rushing attack because a) they're not good enough to elevate a bad O-line and b) the O-line is just bad.

 

[nashman]

Cheese I agree Edges last three starts were not good but who were they against again? Shoot how about his last 4 which honestly were the bad games by Edge this season right? Jets only 9 carries but they have a good run D, Buffalo pretty good D and undefeated coming in, Dallas pretty good coming into AZ and only 9 carries again, and Carolina a very tough team to run on and road game and only 7 carries. So maybe the hardest stretch of our season he struggles on very few carries and he's done? Really? TH has played much easier Defenses (except Gmen) and done far worse than Edge was doing against good defenses? I don't see your logic to go with youth when he is not getting it done sorry. Edge is CONSISTANT again I don't care about the one 12-18yrd run a game TH may be able to bust because again he hasn't done it against anyone but the Rams. I will take the consistant 3rd and shorts over all the 3rd and longs we are seeing since TH took over.

 

[D-Dogg]

I think a lot of people have. I don't think he's the answer. But I also don't think putting Edge back in there is the answer either, especially when you consider that our running game in Edge's last three starts were just as pathetic as the running game is now.

all things being equal, you go with youth because the upside is bigger IMO. But bottom line is that neither of those guys will help this rushing attack because a) they're not good enough to elevate a bad O-line and b) the O-line is just bad.

 

[joeshmo]

Cheese I agree Edges last three starts were not good but who were they against again? Shoot how about his last 4 which honestly were the bad games by Edge this season right? Jets only 9 carries but they have a good run D, Buffalo pretty good D and undefeated coming in, Dallas pretty good coming into AZ and only 9 carries again, and Carolina a very tough team to run on and road game and only 7 carries. So maybe the hardest stretch of our season he struggles on very few carries and he's done? Really? TH has played much easier Defenses (except Gmen) and done far worse than Edge was doing against good defenses? I don't see your logic to go with youth when he is not getting it done sorry. Edge is CONSISTANT again I don't care about the one 12-18yrd run a game TH may be able to bust because again he hasn't done it against anyone but the Rams. I will take the consistant 3rd and shorts over all the 3rd and longs we are seeing since TH took over.

Buffalo, Dallas, and Carolina do not have good run defenses at all. All three are average to below average. Rankings in YPC of 21st, 17th and 14th.

Surprisingly 49ers run D is the second best only the Jets better then them.

YPC rankings of the last 4 teams Edge played - 4, 21, 17, 14.
YPC rankings of the last 4 teams TH played - 28, 7, 14, 9.

There was not an advantage or disadvantage in terms of caliber of run D teams faced when comparing Tim to Edge.

 

[seesred]

O line missing blocks, tight ends not blocking at all, guards not pulling !!!!! Where would you like TH to run? He has 9 TD's with not much opened. IMO the kid will be a good running back once we incourage who ever is on the line next year to block. We are always fast to pull the plug. Thomas Jones, Hearst, Johnny Jones. Give him the time and the personal and he will be find.

GBR
40

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

Are people ready to admit that TH is not an everydown back yet? How many more 20 something yard games is it gonna take?

Good grief man, get off it, I don't think anyone crowned TH as the next Walter Payton, we just knew that Edge and his 3.5 average, inability to break off a long run etc.. meant looking at someone else couldn't hurt.

Your like a broken record.

 

[seesred]

O line missing blocks, tight ends not blocking at all, guards not pulling !!!!! Where would you like TH to run? He has 9 TD's with not much opened. IMO the kid will be a good running back once we incourage who ever is on the line next year to block. We are always fast to pull the plug. Thomas Jones, Hearst, Johnny Jones. Give him the time and the personal and he will be find.

GBR
40