Per Adam Schefter: Cards reach a one year contract agreement with Mendenhall

[kerouac9]

For 2012 do those analytic's really work with such a small sample size, probably not.

Not to mention IMO a superior pass pro skill set compared to Wells, who is horrendous IMO.

Prolly not for either player in 2012, but explain away the lack of difference in 2011.

In 2010 Mendenhall was clearly the better back: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb2010

Although I'd add for those complaining about Beanie's alleged constant falling down in the backfield, even in 2010 Beanie had a superior success rate.

The reason why Mendenhall has been more productive overall than Wells isn't because he's a better back; it's because he's been in an offense committed to running the ball at least slightly more, and because he hasn't been forced into a time share before 2012.

If Beanie had been given the carries that Mendenhall has received, I expect that their statistics would be nearly identical.

As for Beanie in pass pro, I'm not sure how anyone here can evaluate that, since Whis rarely put Beanie on the field in situations where he'd have to pass block. We can infer that he'd shown that he was awful at it in practice or whatever, but there's evidence from what I've seen in film study that Wells can be a devestating pass blocker when he knows where he should go. Sounds like a failure of coaching by the previous administration.

What a surprise.

 

[Totally_Red]

Prolly not for either player in 2012, but explain away the lack of difference in 2011.

In 2010 Mendenhall was clearly the better back: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb2010

Although I'd add for those complaining about Beanie's alleged constant falling down in the backfield, even in 2010 Beanie had a superior success rate.

The reason why Mendenhall has been more productive overall than Wells isn't because he's a better back; it's because he's been in an offense committed to running the ball at least slightly more, and because he hasn't been forced into a time share before 2012.

If Beanie had been given the carries that Mendenhall has received, I expect that their statistics would be nearly identical.

As for Beanie in pass pro, I'm not sure how anyone here can evaluate that, since Whis rarely put Beanie on the field in situations where he'd have to pass block. We can infer that he'd shown that he was awful at it in practice or whatever, but there's evidence from what I've seen in film study that Wells can be a devestating pass blocker when he knows where he should go. Sounds like a failure of coaching by the previous administration.

What a surprise.

But that was part of Beanie's problem IMO. Either he wasn't healthy or Whis put him on a 'pitch count' because of his knee issue(s).

 

[kerouac9]

But that was part of Beanie's problem IMO. Either he wasn't healthy or Whis put him on a 'pitch count' because of his knee issue(s).

In 2012 this was true. It was not true in 2011 or 2010. In those two years it was because Whis doesn't know what he was doing or playing favorites with inferior talent.

 

[CardsFan88]

Definitely an upgrade over Beanie.

I agree wholeheartedly that having a talented RB that doesn't fall down as much as he is taken down is a good start. I also see Mendenhall as a tougher runner inside. He has produced more and been consistent, and while he tore his ACL, he wasn't in and out of the lineup with injuries like Kevin Kolb.

I wouldn't of minded Beanie being here. But if it's one of the other, I'd rather have Mendenhall. Still think it would have been wise to sign Mendenhall and THEN cut Beanie, but luckily it still worked out.

I actually wish it would have been a 2 year deal, but he's willing to come one year cheap, and then if worth it we can pay him more. This is the way things should be. If he proves to be worth good money, then you pay him. I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised.

I don't care what he said about 9/11, because there are a ton of things being withheld from us, and that is a fact. But I won't get into that here. Either way his job is on the football field so whether someone says something moronic or true but controversial or something in between, his job isn't talking it's toting the football, and we should make football decisions based on how well he totes the football.

 

[roland77]

Is no one else excited that we will no longer have to watch Beanie trip after getting 2 yards past the line of scrimmage?

 

[Dayman]

Mike Jurecki ‏@mikejurecki
Hearing Rashard Mendenhall one year deal 2.5 in base salary, incentives worth up to million dollars. #lowrisk

Not bad.

 

[Catfish]

You guys forget, Beanie only ran tough his first year when he used his stiff arm to push tacklers away. We didn't use him much then with Hightower aboard. After they started calling hands to the face on Beanie, he became a pushover runner. Tripped over the white line and went down anytime he was touched.

I don't know how much we paid for Mendenhall, but wouldn't think it to be a lot. He has a year to prove himself here, and played well for BA in the past so they know each other. He is a tough runner, (looks to be much tougher than Beanie was). Carries guys into the end zone. He shouldn't be any more of a head case for BA than Beanie was for Whiz.

 

[Duckjake]

You guys forget, Beanie only ran tough his first year when he used his stiff arm to push tacklers away. We didn't use him much then with Hightower aboard. After they started calling hands to the face on Beanie, he became a pushover runner. Tripped over the white line and went down anytime he was touched.

I don't know how much we paid for Mendenhall, but wouldn't think it to be a lot. He has a year to prove himself here, and played well for BA in the past so they know each other. He is a tough runner, (looks to be much tougher than Beanie was). Carries guys into the end zone. He shouldn't be any more of a head case for BA than Beanie was for Whiz.

Beanie ran tough enough. His problem was tripping too often. Normally I'd be against this swap of Beanie + $1 million for Mendenhall because I like think there are huge advantages in keeping guys who have been on the team for a while over an equal or slightly better FA. But since we have a new coaching staff it's not as big of a deal.

 

[CtCardinals78]

My only concern is he plays well and doesn't get extended past this year ala Richard Marshall

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

He has injury questions like Beanie.. Don't get the reasoning for signing him based on that.. When we had Beanie..

Beanie has missed at least a couple games every year for the last 3 years and Mendenhall had only missed 1 game in the 3 season prior to the 2012 season.

 

[kerouac9]

Beanie has missed at least a couple games every year for the last 3 years and Mendenhall had only missed 1 game in the 3 season prior to the 2012 season.

Beanie's missed 5 games in the 3 seasons prior to the 2012 season. I believe this is what they call a "distinction without a difference."

I have complete faith that if Beanie had been given the carries that Mendenhall had been given, with an equivalent offensive line and threat of a passing game, he would have been just as productive as Mendenhall.

 

[Mitch]

BA and the Cardinals deserve a lot of credit for RM's signing. One year contract for a mere $2.5M---he chose us over the Broncos, which speaks very well to his comfortability and confidence in BA's offense---and it eliminated a pressing need to spend an early pick on a RB after using a #1 on Wells and a #2 on Williams. Go Cardinals!

 

[Duckjake]

BA and the Cardinals deserve a lot of credit for RM's signing. One year contract for a mere $2.5M---he chose us over the Broncos, which speaks very well to his comfortability and confidence in BA's offense---and it eliminated a pressing need to spend an early pick on a RB after using a #1 on Wells and a #2 on Williams. Go Cardinals!

I watched some clips of Mendenhall and he looks to me like a bigger and better version of William Powell and I really liked the way Powell ran the football.

 

[Dayman]

Kent Somers ‏@kentsomers
Interesting to see how other teams evaluate Beanie Wells right knee. #azcardinals were not optimistic about it.

And there you have it.

 

[Duckjake]

Crisper reported in the FA thread that Wells is visiting teams and that one of the teams reported to have interest is Pittsburgh.

How funny would that be if Wells signed with the Steelers?

 

[oaken1]

the two backs match up fairly evenly......then you have familiarity with the system, learning curve, and attitude....and Mendenhall wins

IMO, this is a very good signing...and kind of a "big name"....

 

[red desert]

According to FootballOutsiders, Mendenhall was a worse back in 2012 than Beanie Wells: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb

In 2011 he was just slightly better: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb2011

We released Beanie Wells on a one-year deal to sign Beanie Wells. Pretty great work by the front office.

Shut up already

 

[kerouac9]

Shut up already

No problem. Clearly they're both way better than Ryan Williams, another excellent Steve Keim find.

Tank Job 2013! It's like a BJ, but the opposite.

 

[Duckjake]

A bit of trivia. The signing of Mendenhall makes it 9 consecutive years the Cards have signed a former Steeler as a Free Agent.

Oliver Ross 2005
Kendrick Clancy 2006
Rod Bailey 2007
Clark Haggans 2008
Bryant McFadden 2009
Alan Faneca and Joey Porter 2010
Nick Eason 2011
William Gay 2012
Rashard Mendenhall 2013

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

A bit of trivia. The signing of Mendenhall makes it 9 consecutive years the Cards have signed a former Steeler as a Free Agent.

Oliver Ross 2005
Kendrick Clancy 2006
Rod Bailey 2007
Clark Haggans 2008
Bryant McFadden 2009
Alan Faneca and Joey Porter 2010
Nick Eason 2011
William Gay 2012
Rashard Mendenhall 2013

But Mendenhall might be the first who is both young and talented at the time of the signing.

 

[GatorAZ]

I HATED Oliver Ross.

 

[Duckjake]

But Mendenhall might be the first who is both young and talented at the time of the signing.

To hear the Steelers fans talk you have to wonder about the talent. But if they're like the fans here who love a guy until he leaves and then he was always a bum you may be right.

 

[DakotaCardsFan]

I'm okay with the signing, especially now that we're hearing of more concerns with Beanie's knee. The thing about Mendenhall that scares me is the fumbles in 2012. 3 fumbles on only 51 carries? Watching the clip of him on NFL.com it looks like he carries the ball a foot away from his body the entire time. Not good.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Beanie's missed 5 games in the 3 seasons prior to the 2012 season. I believe this is what they call a "distinction without a difference."

I have complete faith that if Beanie had been given the carries that Mendenhall had been given, with an equivalent offensive line and threat of a passing game, he would have been just as productive as Mendenhall.

Sigh. And if we would have kept Beanie this year and let Mendehnhall sign elsewhere I am sure you would have been building this same case.

Contrairian just for contrarian's sake. Its not whether you think a move is good or bad. Its whatever the Cardinals did "How can I prove this was a dumb move". I literally have no idea what you consider the hall mark of a good player, coach, or FO because you spin spin spin dependent on the situation. I could go through hours of posts and show one contradicting K9 point with another. I believe Amorphous is the term. Lacking any real foundation.

Eventually everyone else will pick up on this I assume.

 

[kerouac9]

Sigh. And if we would have kept Beanie this year and let Mendehnhall sign elsewhere I am sure you would have been building this same case.

Contrairian just for contrarian's sake. Its not whether you think a move is good or bad. Its whatever the Cardinals did "How can I prove this was a dumb move". I literally have no idea what you consider the hall mark of a good player, coach, or FO because you spin spin spin dependent on the situation. I could go through hours of posts and show one contradicting K9 point with another. I believe Amorphous is the term. Lacking any real foundation.

Eventually everyone else will pick up on this I assume.

Good luck with that. I've been a big fan of Beanie since we drafted him. I predicted that we would on the ESPN Football Today podcast back in the day. Two summers ago, when the majority here were insisting that Beanie was just as good as Adrian Peterson and MJD, Shane and I were the two voices of reason saying that he was a good player, but he wasn't elite.

Of course, you were all in on Kevin Kolb, until you were okay with us starting John Skelton, until you were back with Kevin Kolb, until it was time for him to go.

So, I guess we can let the board decide who's intellectually honest and consistent, and who will consistently toe the party line.

It's sad to me that instead of engaging with the meat and content of an argument, you have to personally attack a fellow poster and fan of the team. But I guess that's kind of your MO. Eventually everyone else will pick up on this, I assume.