April 14, 2007
Running game could be source of problems
Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
NFL minicamps are kind of like life in Las Vegas. What happens in April stays in April.
Games aren’t won or lost by what transpires on a spring morning. Story lines that seem important today will be minimized come July.
But when the Cardinals assembled Friday for the first time under new coach Ken Whisenhunt, there was one intriguing topic that could pick up speed come training camp.
Is Edgerrin James a good fit for Arizona’s offense?
It might seem a silly question.
James somehow ran for 1,159 yards last year behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. He’s in the second year of a four-year, $30 million deal. He’ll turn 29 on Aug. 1 — doesn’t it seem like he’s older? — and as he said Friday, “I’m in the good years now.”
He and Whisenhunt, who wants to re-establish Arizona’s running game, would appear to be the perfect marriage of player and coach.
There’s just one nagging detail.
They have different ideas on the best way to run the ball.
James long has preferred the zone blocking, one-back set he used in Indianapolis and last year under Dennis Green. It plays to his strengths, which are to run laterally along the line of scrimmage, wait for a hole to develop then use his superior vision and cut-back ability to pick up yards.
Whisenhunt, on the other hand, has brought to Arizona the power-running game the Pittsburgh Steelers have successfully employed over the years. He signed fullback Terrelle Smith as a lead blocker, and James, more often than not, will be asked to follow Smith into holes rather than pick his own running lanes.
The difference may appear minute. But think about it for a second: Would Barry Sanders have been as dynamic a runner had the Detroit Lions asked him to quit doing the jitterbug and get to the hole already?
James has gained 10,385 yards in his career running one way. Now he’s being asked to run another way. It’s a story worth watching.
“It’s going to be different,” quarterback Matt Leinart said. “Edge is not used to that.”
Both Whisenhunt and James, as you might imagine, say they’re not concerned.
Whisenhunt: “I think he will adjust fine to it. He’s a talented running back.”
James: “I heard a lot of people saying I’m just used to the one back, but in college (the University of Miami) I had a fullback in front of me. It’s nothing. I can go out and play however we do it. As long as we are consistent with what we do, it’s nothing to adjust to.”
There’s another wrinkle to the story. Whisenhunt reiterated Friday that he’d like to take some of the load off James, who ran the ball 337 times last season. That would mean more work for backup Marcel Shipp.
But what if the Cardinals have the opportunity to take Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson with the No. 5 pick in the April 28 draft? If they select Peterson that high, they’ll want him to play, and James might find his carries slashed more than he likes.
“They don’t need a running back,” James said. “But if you have a lot of money and you want to buy something you go buy it.”
As James laughs easily, you wonder whether he’ll be as magnanimous if the Cardinals do take Peterson.
Maybe there won’t be a story here come fall. Peterson could be gone when Arizona goes on the clock. James might pick up the offense easily and run for 1,300 yards or so.
If that’s the case, forget you ever read this column.
But if Peterson does show up in Arizona, and James does have some difficulty running behind a fullback, don’t be surprised. You’ve been warned.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/87798
Running game could be source of problems
Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist
NFL minicamps are kind of like life in Las Vegas. What happens in April stays in April.
Games aren’t won or lost by what transpires on a spring morning. Story lines that seem important today will be minimized come July.
But when the Cardinals assembled Friday for the first time under new coach Ken Whisenhunt, there was one intriguing topic that could pick up speed come training camp.
Is Edgerrin James a good fit for Arizona’s offense?
It might seem a silly question.
James somehow ran for 1,159 yards last year behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. He’s in the second year of a four-year, $30 million deal. He’ll turn 29 on Aug. 1 — doesn’t it seem like he’s older? — and as he said Friday, “I’m in the good years now.”
He and Whisenhunt, who wants to re-establish Arizona’s running game, would appear to be the perfect marriage of player and coach.
There’s just one nagging detail.
They have different ideas on the best way to run the ball.
James long has preferred the zone blocking, one-back set he used in Indianapolis and last year under Dennis Green. It plays to his strengths, which are to run laterally along the line of scrimmage, wait for a hole to develop then use his superior vision and cut-back ability to pick up yards.
Whisenhunt, on the other hand, has brought to Arizona the power-running game the Pittsburgh Steelers have successfully employed over the years. He signed fullback Terrelle Smith as a lead blocker, and James, more often than not, will be asked to follow Smith into holes rather than pick his own running lanes.
The difference may appear minute. But think about it for a second: Would Barry Sanders have been as dynamic a runner had the Detroit Lions asked him to quit doing the jitterbug and get to the hole already?
James has gained 10,385 yards in his career running one way. Now he’s being asked to run another way. It’s a story worth watching.
“It’s going to be different,” quarterback Matt Leinart said. “Edge is not used to that.”
Both Whisenhunt and James, as you might imagine, say they’re not concerned.
Whisenhunt: “I think he will adjust fine to it. He’s a talented running back.”
James: “I heard a lot of people saying I’m just used to the one back, but in college (the University of Miami) I had a fullback in front of me. It’s nothing. I can go out and play however we do it. As long as we are consistent with what we do, it’s nothing to adjust to.”
There’s another wrinkle to the story. Whisenhunt reiterated Friday that he’d like to take some of the load off James, who ran the ball 337 times last season. That would mean more work for backup Marcel Shipp.
But what if the Cardinals have the opportunity to take Oklahoma tailback Adrian Peterson with the No. 5 pick in the April 28 draft? If they select Peterson that high, they’ll want him to play, and James might find his carries slashed more than he likes.
“They don’t need a running back,” James said. “But if you have a lot of money and you want to buy something you go buy it.”
As James laughs easily, you wonder whether he’ll be as magnanimous if the Cardinals do take Peterson.
Maybe there won’t be a story here come fall. Peterson could be gone when Arizona goes on the clock. James might pick up the offense easily and run for 1,300 yards or so.
If that’s the case, forget you ever read this column.
But if Peterson does show up in Arizona, and James does have some difficulty running behind a fullback, don’t be surprised. You’ve been warned.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/87798
