Picking a Right Tackle

[Cheesebeef]

Holy smokes, he said exactly what I had indicated in this thread numerous times!! "Redshirt year", "He would have failed had we thrown him out there." Amongst other things.

saying all that AFTER the fact could easily be spin. I mean, if this was really the plan, why not say it BEFORE to lower expectations? And the idea that "he would have failed had we thrown him out there" doesn't exactly speak highly of the guy. He wasn't a 7th round pick. I mean, if they felt all along he was going to be a failure last year, why ride the guy for apparently be the failure they expected in training camp?

 

[TJ]

saying all that AFTER the fact could easily be spin. I mean, if this was really the plan, why not say it BEFORE to lower expectations? And the idea that "he would have failed had we thrown him out there" doesn't exactly speak highly of the guy. He wasn't a 7th round pick. I mean, if they felt all along he was going to be a failure last year, why ride the guy for apparently be the failure they expected in training camp?

But they did feel that way from the beginning. It was expressed from Day 1 that this was a pick for next season, and that DJ needed time to develop. I've been simply regurgitating that in this thread with way too much resistance from other posters.

 

[Finito]

saying all that AFTER the fact could easily be spin. I mean, if this was really the plan, why not say it BEFORE to lower expectations? And the idea that "he would have failed had we thrown him out there" doesn't exactly speak highly of the guy. He wasn't a 7th round pick. I mean, if they felt all along he was going to be a failure last year, why ride the guy for apparently be the failure they expected in training camp?

THEY DID SAY IT!!!

It's like beating a dead horse. I honestly don't know what some guys here thought. Even on draft night all the "experts" said this kid was very raw and would be a project with huge upside. Nobody said he was going to come in and play right away.

Keep in mind we have a 100 year old Carson Palmer at QB now is not the time for a rookie raw RT to be learning on the job.

I don't call BA making one comment on him all year as "riding" him. You can go back and see 10 posative things the coaches have said about this kid all year but no one brings that up.

Some people just see and hear what they want to.

 

[kerouac9]

But they did feel that way from the beginning. It was expressed from Day 1 that this was a pick for next season, and that DJ needed time to develop. I've been simply regurgitating that in this thread with way too much resistance from other posters.

THEY DID SAY IT!!!

It's like beating a dead horse. I honestly don't know what some guys here thought. Even on draft night all the "experts" said this kid was very raw and would be a project with huge upside. Nobody said he was going to come in and play right away.

Keep in mind we have a 100 year old Carson Palmer at QB now is not the time for a rookie raw RT to be learning on the job.

I don't call BA making one comment on him all year as "riding" him. You can go back and see 10 posative things the coaches have said about this kid all year but no one brings that up.

Some people just see and hear what they want to.

So WHY was he inactive for 18 weeks? You know you can not play/start and still be active? Do you think that he had to be called "Knee Deep" on draft day?

We all agree that he wasn't ready to start from day 1. Many are concerned that he may not have passion for the game or be willing to sacrifice what's necessary to succeed.

EDIT: Arians says essentially in the same breath that first rounders have to play and it's a problem if they don't. I don't think this can be viewed as an endorsement that Year One of the D.J. Humphries Era went according to plan and he's probably ahead of schedule.

Right now, Arians is using the same language for Humphries as he used with why Logan Thomas didn't play ahead of Lindley. That's not a strong endorsement.

 

[TJ]

So WHY was he inactive for 18 weeks? You know you can not play/start and still be active? Do you think that he had to be called "Knee Deep" on draft day?



We all agree that he wasn't ready to start from day 1. Many are concerned that he may not have passion for the game or be willing to sacrifice what's necessary to succeed.

If it was a red shirt season for DJ, as was indicated, why does it matter? Why be tempted to deviate from the initial plan?

Again, not as cut-and-dry as saying "he can't beat out Watford/Sowell."

 

[kerouac9]

If it was a red shirt season for DJ, as was indicated, why does it matter? Why be tempted to deviate from the initial plan?

Again, not as cut-and-dry as saying "he can't beat out Watford/Sowell."

Did he beat out Watford and Sowell? Would it have been better if he had?

 

[Stout]

saying all that AFTER the fact could easily be spin. I mean, if this was really the plan, why not say it BEFORE to lower expectations? And the idea that "he would have failed had we thrown him out there" doesn't exactly speak highly of the guy. He wasn't a 7th round pick. I mean, if they felt all along he was going to be a failure last year, why ride the guy for apparently be the failure they expected in training camp?

Yep.

So WHY was he inactive for 18 weeks? You know you can not play/start and still be active? Do you think that he had to be called "Knee Deep" on draft day?

We all agree that he wasn't ready to start from day 1. Many are concerned that he may not have passion for the game or be willing to sacrifice what's necessary to succeed.

EDIT: Arians says essentially in the same breath that first rounders have to play and it's a problem if they don't. I don't think this can be viewed as an endorsement that Year One of the D.J. Humphries Era went according to plan and he's probably ahead of schedule.

Right now, Arians is using the same language for Humphries as he used with why Logan Thomas didn't play ahead of Lindley. That's not a strong endorsement.

And yep.

It is complete and utter revisionist history to simply stick our heads in the clouds and pretend that this was the plan all along. We drafted the kid, he showed up even less prepared than we thought, and the coaching staff has had to really try to light a fire under his ass. Now let's hope it works.

 

[oaken1]

http://www.azcardinals.com/videos/v...he-heart/00fbbddc-29a5-4093-af5e-0fdc389e7cf1

BA says plainly on this clip that he redshirted DJ for the year and it was intentional.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm sorry, this is all complete spin after the fact. Mouth of Sauron, Darren Urban in camp wasn't talking about a plan to "red-shirt" this kid. In fact, here's EXACTLY what he said:

"A hyperextended knee sidelined Humphries the past week, but he was back practicing with the team at training camp on Tuesday.

The Cardinals have depth at offensive line. But a first-round pick is expected to play sooner rather than later, and whether Humphries can beat out incumbent Bobby Massie or Humphries would be needed if Massie was unavailable, it’s imperative for him to be prepared. Bradley Sowell and Earl Watford have also gotten extended reps at right tackle while Humphries has been hurt."

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...On-Track/0e41faad-afaa-4766-945b-7775c238c047

NONE of the above sounds like the plan all season was to have this kid on the inactive list all season long. Urban is as tapped in as anyone covering the team and above he's not only talking about him playing sooner rather then later, but talking about whether or not he can actually beat out Massie.

And none of these comments a week later make any sense if the plan all along was to redshirt him:

"Arians said Monday Humphries will work at left tackle this week, allowing Earl Watford to get snaps at right tackle as Watford tries to battle Bradley Sowell for the starting job. Humphries needs the left-side work, Arians said, because it’ll be necessary in his immediate role.

“He’s going to be a backup tackle for us,” Arians said, “so if he’s going to dress on Sundays, he’s got to be able to play both.”

That’s a far cry from the hope that Humphries might be able to beat out Bobby Massie as the starting right tackle. The Cardinals are fortunate because they have options beyond Humphries."

https://www.azcardinals.com/news-an...umphries/edca28eb-d41d-4632-8c82-3991a63cd70e

Again, Arians is literally talking about him suiting up on Sundays... this year. And Urban is lamenting that there's no hope Humphries can beat out Massie, implying there was hope at some point in Cardinals land.

And then there's this... from min-camp:


"There’s plenty of attention on Humphries, who is not only the team’s top pick, but one making the transition from left to right tackle. It is his best shot at making the starting lineup -- Jared Veldheer is entrenched at left tackle – where he will battle incumbent Bobby Massie for the starting gig.
While the competition is sure to be chronicled closely, coach Bruce Arians isn’t overly concerned with Humphries’ development.

“In the perfect world, he’d back up this year and learn how to play in the NFL behind two quality players,” Arians said. “There’s no need for him to jump out there and start for us, but he has a great future.”

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...irst-Day/e50d1aa1-4137-4cb1-a532-57d4f0bfbae9

Again, they're talking about him possibly battling for a starting spot, but even if that's not the case, at worst, they wanted him to be a back-up.

The idea that he would never even make the active roster had to be disappointing to everyone on the team. I don't know how anyone can really believe otherwise. Believing comments made AFTER a season about the "plan to redshirt" fly in the face of what we were hearing the entire lead up and through training camp.

 

[oaken1]

I'm sorry, this is all complete spin after the fact. Mouth of Sauron, Darren Urban in camp wasn't talking about a plan to "red-shirt" this kid. In fact, here's EXACTLY what he said:

"A hyperextended knee sidelined Humphries the past week, but he was back practicing with the team at training camp on Tuesday.

The Cardinals have depth at offensive line. But a first-round pick is expected to play sooner rather than later, and whether Humphries can beat out incumbent Bobby Massie or Humphries would be needed if Massie was unavailable, it’s imperative for him to be prepared. Bradley Sowell and Earl Watford have also gotten extended reps at right tackle while Humphries has been hurt."

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...On-Track/0e41faad-afaa-4766-945b-7775c238c047

NONE of the above sounds like the plan all season was to have this kid on the inactive list all season long. Urban is as tapped in as anyone covering the team and above he's not only talking about him playing sooner rather then later, but talking about whether or not he can actually beat out Massie.

And none of these comments a week later make any sense if the plan all along was to redshirt him:

"Arians said Monday Humphries will work at left tackle this week, allowing Earl Watford to get snaps at right tackle as Watford tries to battle Bradley Sowell for the starting job. Humphries needs the left-side work, Arians said, because it’ll be necessary in his immediate role.

“He’s going to be a backup tackle for us,” Arians said, “so if he’s going to dress on Sundays, he’s got to be able to play both.”

That’s a far cry from the hope that Humphries might be able to beat out Bobby Massie as the starting right tackle. The Cardinals are fortunate because they have options beyond Humphries."

https://www.azcardinals.com/news-an...umphries/edca28eb-d41d-4632-8c82-3991a63cd70e

Again, Arians is literally talking about him suiting up on Sundays... this year. And Urban is lamenting that there's no hope Humphries can beat out Massie, implying there was hope at some point in Cardinals land.

And then there's this... from min-camp:


"There’s plenty of attention on Humphries, who is not only the team’s top pick, but one making the transition from left to right tackle. It is his best shot at making the starting lineup -- Jared Veldheer is entrenched at left tackle – where he will battle incumbent Bobby Massie for the starting gig.
While the competition is sure to be chronicled closely, coach Bruce Arians isn’t overly concerned with Humphries’ development.

“In the perfect world, he’d back up this year and learn how to play in the NFL behind two quality players,” Arians said. “There’s no need for him to jump out there and start for us, but he has a great future.”

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...irst-Day/e50d1aa1-4137-4cb1-a532-57d4f0bfbae9

Again, they're talking about him possibly battling for a starting spot, but even if that's not the case, at worst, they wanted him to be a back-up.

The idea that he would never even make the active roster had to be disappointing to everyone on the team. I don't know how anyone can really believe otherwise. Believing comments made AFTER a season about the "plan to redshirt" fly in the face of what we were hearing the entire lead up and through training camp.

so the ONLY thing you have right out of the coaches mouth is about Hump being a back up tackle.............. well guess what...that is exactly what he did...had we injured two tackles one week,..Hump would have played the next..........other than that all you have is speculation from a reporter..a journalist,..non athlete...not in the loop reporter.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

It's meaningless and some people just want argue about something. If he played and was beaten like a drum===people complain, bust. If he doesn't play =====bust. If he's active, but doesn't play=====perfect in some people's mind.

 

[Stout]

I'm sorry, this is all complete spin after the fact. Mouth of Sauron, Darren Urban in camp wasn't talking about a plan to "red-shirt" this kid. In fact, here's EXACTLY what he said:

"A hyperextended knee sidelined Humphries the past week, but he was back practicing with the team at training camp on Tuesday.

The Cardinals have depth at offensive line. But a first-round pick is expected to play sooner rather than later, and whether Humphries can beat out incumbent Bobby Massie or Humphries would be needed if Massie was unavailable, it’s imperative for him to be prepared. Bradley Sowell and Earl Watford have also gotten extended reps at right tackle while Humphries has been hurt."

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...On-Track/0e41faad-afaa-4766-945b-7775c238c047

NONE of the above sounds like the plan all season was to have this kid on the inactive list all season long. Urban is as tapped in as anyone covering the team and above he's not only talking about him playing sooner rather then later, but talking about whether or not he can actually beat out Massie.

And none of these comments a week later make any sense if the plan all along was to redshirt him:

"Arians said Monday Humphries will work at left tackle this week, allowing Earl Watford to get snaps at right tackle as Watford tries to battle Bradley Sowell for the starting job. Humphries needs the left-side work, Arians said, because it’ll be necessary in his immediate role.

“He’s going to be a backup tackle for us,” Arians said, “so if he’s going to dress on Sundays, he’s got to be able to play both.”

That’s a far cry from the hope that Humphries might be able to beat out Bobby Massie as the starting right tackle. The Cardinals are fortunate because they have options beyond Humphries."

https://www.azcardinals.com/news-an...umphries/edca28eb-d41d-4632-8c82-3991a63cd70e

Again, Arians is literally talking about him suiting up on Sundays... this year. And Urban is lamenting that there's no hope Humphries can beat out Massie, implying there was hope at some point in Cardinals land.

And then there's this... from min-camp:


"There’s plenty of attention on Humphries, who is not only the team’s top pick, but one making the transition from left to right tackle. It is his best shot at making the starting lineup -- Jared Veldheer is entrenched at left tackle – where he will battle incumbent Bobby Massie for the starting gig.
While the competition is sure to be chronicled closely, coach Bruce Arians isn’t overly concerned with Humphries’ development.

“In the perfect world, he’d back up this year and learn how to play in the NFL behind two quality players,” Arians said. “There’s no need for him to jump out there and start for us, but he has a great future.”

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...irst-Day/e50d1aa1-4137-4cb1-a532-57d4f0bfbae9

Again, they're talking about him possibly battling for a starting spot, but even if that's not the case, at worst, they wanted him to be a back-up.

The idea that he would never even make the active roster had to be disappointing to everyone on the team. I don't know how anyone can really believe otherwise. Believing comments made AFTER a season about the "plan to redshirt" fly in the face of what we were hearing the entire lead up and through training camp.

Thank you, Cheesebeef. People continue to nail replies before I get the chance, and I appreciate it

It's meaningless and some people just want argue about something. If he played and was beaten like a drum===people complain, bust. If he doesn't play =====bust. If he's active, but doesn't play=====perfect in some people's mind.

No, this isn't it at all. There's a subset of folks on this board who don't think it's a big deal at all that DJ never suited up, as if it's meaningless, and also think he'll step in and become a solid starter without any muss or fuss. I mean, people believe it as a given, and when anyone states any legitimate doubt, they get up at arms and go nuts.

He couldn't earn a helmet on game day. This is a concern. Would I be happy if he suited up but didn't ever play? No, because a 1st round pick needs to contribute in today's NFL. Would I feel better about his ability to step in this year, under those same circumstances. MUCH.

 

[GuernseyCard]

So WHY was he inactive for 18 weeks? You know you can not play/start and still be active? Do you think that he had to be called "Knee Deep" on draft day?

We all agree that he wasn't ready to start from day 1. Many are concerned that he may not have passion for the game or be willing to sacrifice what's necessary to succeed.

EDIT: Arians says essentially in the same breath that first rounders have to play and it's a problem if they don't. I don't think this can be viewed as an endorsement that Year One of the D.J. Humphries Era went according to plan and he's probably ahead of schedule.

Right now, Arians is using the same language for Humphries as he used with why Logan Thomas didn't play ahead of Lindley. That's not a strong endorsement.

If you activate him it has to be with the thought that you'll use him in a case of injury; otherwise, you're just taking up a game day spot for pointless PR. And, it's unclear to me, whether in practice he was taking reps at both tackle positions and thus in a position to sub at either. If not, we'd have had to carry two backup tackles on the game day.

 

[football karma]

interest take on offensive tackles

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/02/24/nfl-draft-combine-offensive-tackles-history

the optimist in me reads this and says:

Keim is smart -- he recongnizes that you need two OTs with great feet to protect, and DJ is supposed to be outstanding at moving his feet on speed guys.

the pessimist says: the recent history of offensive tackles just isnt good. Why is DJ going to be different

 

[cardncubfan]

Good article. Scroll down to ''Learning to block all over again''. Although I don't know why DJ would be going up against a basketball player in practice.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...ke-the-right-pick-in-the-nfl-draft/ar-BBpZlSC

 

[DutchmanAZ]

Good one. Thanks for posting this. Hard to believe the coaches understand the transition challenges more than we do.
Video game culture - be great now dammit!

 

[Cheesebeef]

so the ONLY thing you have right out of the coaches mouth is about Hump being a back up tackle.............. well guess what...that is exactly what he did...

you can't be a backup if you're in street clothes.

had we injured two tackles one week,..Hump would have played the next..........other than that all you have is speculation from a reporter..a journalist,..non athlete...not in the loop reporter.

wait... THE reporter for the Cardinals is not in the loop? Are you kidding?

 

[oaken1]

you can't be a backup if you're in street clothes.



wait... THE reporter for the Cardinals is not in the loop? Are you kidding?

silly me,...the guy writes for a living, I am sure they run everything past him... what was I thinking