Which RB will premier?

[AsUpRoDiGy]

The Cards, needless to say, weren't a very good rushing team last year, in fact, they were the worst in the league, by far. Some personnel changes might change the outcome, with Edge and Arrington leaving, the cards drafted 'Beanie' Wells in the 1st round, and signed 3rd down specialist Jason Wright to replace Arrington. It's pretty obvious that Wells and Hightower will be competing for the #1 spot, but Hightower is more of a goal line/short yardage back, while Wells is a rare combination of size, speed, and strength. So, in your opinion, which RB will start, and how many yards do you expect?

 

[PoolBoy]

beanie will start and slowly get more carries. id say around 1,000 yards is reasonable.

 

[IAWarnerFan]

The answer better be the 1st round draft pick.

 

[Duckjake]

Should have "both" as a 3rd choice as I'm thinking we'll use more of a 2 back rotation similar to what we saw in the post season against Carolina.

 

[Shane]

I think they will both get 12-15 carries per game. Ultimate 2 headed monster.

 

[DieHardFromMO]

I will be disappointed if Beanie Wells isn't the starter come game 1. I think if Beanie is the featured back he will put up about 950 yards. I think he could get more but I just can't see the Cardinals becoming a run oriented team with the likes of Warner at QB and Fitz, Q and Breaston at WR.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I don't care about the amount of yards but the quality of yards as in can Wells grind the ball for some yards and eat some time of the clock when we have a lead to secure and can some of those runs likewise be first downs. Can he give us the occasional big gain to keep the defense in the box so Warner can play havoc with our stud WRs and a realistic use of playaction passing to our advantage. Hightower? He might not be a everydown back but we know he has what it takes to get that tough short yardage, has a nose for the endzone and he does not fumble (I have never seen a rookie look like such a vet in short yardage situations or a coaching staff believe in a rookie so much when the game was on the line and constantly see that faith pay off (a steal for a late round pick)

 

[40yearfan]

Hightower will be the starter when the season begins. Because of Wells late start at training camp, he won't be ready to start during the early season. Whether or not Wells moves into the starting position later in the season depends on how our running game is going and how Hightower is running.

I think coach Whis will ease Wells into the starting rotation to give him a chance to orient himself to the faster and bigger defensive players he will have to adjust to.

I agree with Shane. Both Wells and Hightower will get carries and whomever is doing the better job or running during an individual game will get the majority of the carries.

Hopefully, it won't make any difference who he starter is.

And don't forget Jason Wright. That young man is a star waiting to be born.

 

[joeshmo]

Love Timmy "TD" Hightower. He will score you TD's all day long inside the red zone. But, outside of the redzone dude just doesn't not have "it". The "it" that starting running backs should have and show even as a rookie. The "it" that RB's either have right away or they never will.

Timmy in the red zone = TD's
Timmy not in the red zone = negative rushing plays or 2 yards and a cloud of dust.

So with that Beanie better be the starter come opening day.

I don't think we will see a two headed monster. I think we will see guys who fit into their roles but the bulk of the carries going to one running back for the most part and that will be Wells.

If we continue to run the ball like the last 5 games of the year last year including the playoffs. We will run the ball on average 28 times a game.

Wells - Bulk of carries, (18-22 carries).
Hightower - short yardage, goalline, and rest for Wells, (6-8 carries).
Wright - Pass blocker, 3rd down back, reciever, (2-3 carries a game but the bulk of his work will be receptions, screens, draws, and pass blocking).

As for Wells missing the OTA's, as long as he is learning the playbook on his own him missing glorified walkthroughs isn't really going to hurt a RB IMO. As long as he comes to training camp in shape with his head in the playbook he will be up to speed within a day or two.

 

[Duckjake]

Just for reference here are the carry #s for the three NFC playoff games:

Atlanta: James 16 Hightower 6
Carolina: James 20 Hightower 17
Eagles: James 16 Hightower 11

 

[SuperSpck]

Wells - Bulk of carries, (18-22 carries).
Hightower - short yardage, goalline, and rest for Wells, (6-8 carries).
Wright - Pass blocker, 3rd down back, reciever, (2-3 carries a game but the bulk of his work will be receptions, screens, draws, and pass blocking).

While this is roughly the same system they ran with Edge/Hightower/Arrington I do worry about telegraphing and I think it's been an issue with the team for a while.

We can guess about Wells strengths, but even after watching a lot of his colelge games, he's still an unknown at the pro level.
Also, Hightower was a D-I player and a rookie. To say he doesn't have "it" is still premature. A lot of rookie RB's do show their potential out of the gates, but didn't have the talent gap to get over like D-I guys do.
Hightower the pro looks a lot quicker than his college version and became a more polished (but still much work needed) reciever.
There's no reason to expect he can't grow more and become a full-time starter, until/if he's ready to share with Wells (and every team NEEDS a two back system, the days of one back is gone).

So Hightower's the defacto starter until Wells rightfully unseats him.

 

[joeshmo]

Also, Hightower was a D-I player and a rookie. To say he doesn't have "it" is still premature. A lot of rookie RB's do show their potential out of the gates, but didn't have the talent gap to get over like D-I guys do.

Sorry but history tells us different. No matter what school the running back came from 9 times out of 10 the Running back either shows us something as a rookie or they never will. Sure they might get better at things they never did in college such as pass blocking or receiving, but running the football is natural ability and you either have it or you don't. That is just the nature of the running back position. Not very many running backs suck their rookie season only to show something later on down the road, and Timmy sucked between the 20's, his negative rushes percentage was the worst of any running back with more then 100 carries last year. Not saying it cant happen but history tells us the odds of it happening are very slim.

Timmy is what he is a good maybe even great goal line and short yardage guy and nothing more, until proven otherwise I will deem the even though he is a rookie Wells as a better "starting" RB option. Because even a marginal improvement from Hightower between the 20's would still be below average.

 

[seesred]

HIghtower had a great 1st year. Most backs of his quality get betterin the second year as the game tends to slow down. He has a great body and legs and was buit to run. Beanie will have to show how special he will be during camp to beat HT for the starting job.

Depending how games are going in the running game especially YPC will dictate if during the season Beanie can take the job away as HT did to James mid season.

GBR
40

 

[lauraw]

I hope Beanie starts, but I like hightower alot! I also think that by the end of the year, Beanie will avg. about 18 carries and TH about 6-8 carries per game.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I think Wiz will remain loyal to Tim because of his hard work and production last year by having him be opening day starter. For the talk of not having "It" he had more TDs then any other rookie and actually played better in the post season.

Beanie has more raw talent but I see HT getting alot better in Year 2 as well. As long as Wells doesn't blow him out of the water in TC (which I don't see happening - I think Tim is a player too and the late start will have Beanie playing a little catch up) so my thoughts are HT will be the starter come opening day. And I don't think that should disappoint anybody. I think thats just ultimately Wiz's grand plan and that he is really going to make Beanie earn it.

At the onset of the season Wells will be mixed in and maybe break a couple runs in the first few games and his talent will be too apparent and too hard to keep off the field. And ultimately by game 5 Wells will be the starter.

But Hightower is no slouch and I am betting by the end of the year we will look at Tim and think while Beanie's a stud Hightower could probably start for 15 other teams himself.

 

[Shane]

I think Wiz will remain loyal to Tim because of his hard work and production last year by having him be opening day starter. For the talk of not having "It" he had more TDs then any other rookie and actually played better in the post season.

Beanie has more raw talent but I see HT getting alot better in Year 2 as well. As long as Wells doesn't blow him out of the water in TC (which I don't see happening - I think Tim is a player too and the late start will have Beanie playing a little catch up) so my thoughts are HT will be the starter come opening day. And I don't think that should disappoint anybody. I think thats just ultimately Wiz's grand plan and that he is really going to make Beanie earn it.

At the onset of the season Wells will be mixed in and maybe break a couple runs in the first few games and his talent will be too apparent and too hard to keep off the field. And ultimately by game 5 Wells will be the starter.

But Hightower is no slouch and I am betting by the end of the year we will look at Tim and think while Beanie's a stud Hightower could probably start for 15 other teams himself.

I could see that scenario. But any particular reason you refer to him as HT?

 

[Mulli]

High Tower?

 

[Shane]

High Tower?

Since that is one word wouldn't it just be H?

And since his name is Tim Hightower wouldn't it make more sense to switch the two around and just type TH?

 

[Mulli]

Since that is one word wouldn't it just be H?

And since his name is Tim Hightower wouldn't it make more sense to switch the two around and just type TH?

I think it would, but we are talking about Az Finest.

 

[40yearfan]

Since that is one word wouldn't it just be H?

And since his name is Tim Hightower wouldn't it make more sense to switch the two around and just type TH?

Picky, picky, picky. You must be related to my wife.

 

[Mulli]

Shane, I will now refer to you as SN. For Sha ne H.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I could see that scenario. But any particular reason you refer to him as HT?

HT = Hightower

I am going to give you a very weird answer as I never thought about it until you asked. My ex girlfriend from a couple years ago worked at "Hollywood Tans" so when ever I would communicate over text I would write HT so I didn't type the whole thing out.

How does this relate to Tim Hightower? He's really tan I guess?

Probably just liked how those two letters sounded together like some like TJ or JB. More sub-councious then anything.

Sounds pretty good for short hand though, right?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I think it would, but we are talking about Az Finest.

Actually this post sums it up better then my own

 

[Assface]

It's hard to imagine the stud 1st round pick they just drafted not being the starter. TH is the complementary player, not Wells.

 

[Shzm13]

You must be registered for see images