john h said:
Many people praise Green while others think he should be fired. Some say he recognizes talent very well. You cannot have it both ways when it comes to JJ. Some think he should start him each game and give him a lot of carries. I assume this is the group that wants Green fired not the ones that think he is great at recognizing talent. Unless he is a complete idiot you have to think he is playing and starting the guys he thinks will give us the best chance to win. So he must think Shipp is a better runner than JJ. I have no idea which is best. I am not thrilled with either one of them. Some say Shipp will be gone next year? If this is so then perhaps JJ should be getting more carries and we then can see if this guy is the real deal or just another highly hyped RB out of college. Other young RB's from last years draft are doing very well. C. Williams, Brown, Jackson and others. JJ should be gaining more yardage by this time if he is going to be a stud RB. We continue to be one of the worst if not the worst running team in the NFL. It is not all the OL fault. Some of this is certainly due to the runners lack of ability. Actually we are in the top half of passing yds in the NFL which should make it easier for our runners as the defense thinks and does stop our running with minimum number of lineman while the other defenders protect against the pass.
There was no rookie RB drafted this year named Jackson I assume you mean Steven Jackson of the Rams he's not a rookie.
Brown and Cadillac went much higher than JJ, they were supposed to be better, and clearly are. Barber is probably the only other rookie RB outplaying JJ right now. Benson was before he got hurt and too went way before JJ. So right now Barber is the only rookie RB I can think of taken after JJ and outperforming him.
I don't think Green is an idiot but yes I do think he plays guys who aren't necessarily the best guy to play. Case in point naming JJ the starter right away when at the time SHipp outplayed him. He rectified that early on starting Shipp, but has been very slow to adjust the carries now. case in point does anybody still think Step is better than Leckey?
In the last 6 games, Shipp is averaging 2.2 YPC, and that's up because he's 3.8 in each of the last 2 games. Shipp has apparently hit a wall, worn down or something likely due to the injury last year.
In that same 6 games JJ is averaging 4.7 YPC and has runs of 32, 15 and 26 yards. He's proven he can rip off a decent run. In that same span Shipp's longest run is 19 followed by 2 for 12 each. Shipp is the better power runner but he can't turn the corner like JJ can and right now the Cards simply don't block well enough to consistently run inside, we almost have to run outside and try to trick the defense with misdirection and delays, which Shipp is too slow to run.
Power back would be nice, no question. Green has pretty consistently said the problem with the run game is there are no holes. Fix the ol, get a power RB, get JJ more work the rest of this year and by all means if we luck into a Bush, DeAngelo Williams, Lendale White, take them.