Hightower comes to camp 15 pounds lighter (1 Viewer)

[TheFanatic]

Link

Sure, he may have a serious challenger for his starting job in just a couple of days, but Tim Hightower is feeling confident. The running back has got a year under his belt – which the rookie won’t – and he feels like he is in much better shape. Talking to him recently, I mentioned to him that he looked like he had bulked up a little. Hightower acknowledged that he had been working hard – and that at this time last year, that had been impossible.

If you remember, Hightower had not been invited to the scouting combine. So when he participated in his pro day about a month before the draft and did pretty well, teams suddenly took an interest. Because draftees can’t make visits to teams within a week of the draft, Hightower said he had to make 11 visits in a three-week span (and had to turn down a couple of others because of time constraints). That doesn’t do much for a guy trying to work out.

“I was here to there, Kansas City to San Diego to Green Bay to Philadelphia, and they are feeding you filet mignon and going to Flemings and Ruth’s Chris and all that stuff,” Hightower said. “You are trying to work out in hotels on treadmills. I wasn’t in shape at this time last year. I tried. I tried to be committed, but come on.”

Hightower wouldn’t say what his weight had been. “I ain’t telling on myself, but (strength and conditioning coach) John Lott knew. I walked in and he called me Baby Huey or something. ‘You’ve got about 10 pounds to lose.’ I am down 15. The difference a year makes.”

All along Hightower has said he will be in a better position to succeed in his second year because he is, in his mind ahead of the curve. And certainly ahead of any drafted running back.

The Cards are taking a RB first day. Of that I have no doubt, but it seems that Timmay is not ready to take his 15 minutes of fame and go home...

 

[Day Drinker]

Talk about a guy whose fantasy stock is really dependent on this Saturday. I don't think the Cards will take a RB at #31 like many seem to think, but if they get a lower pick in the first through a Boldin trade they may be forced to grab Moreno or Beanie. Maybe they throw everyone for a loop and wait till later on day 2 to find Timy's compliment. This report is encouraging, but it is also a bit of a homer puff piece by the Cards paid beat writer.

 

[cstu]

HE'S IN THE BEST SHAPE OF HIS LIFE!!!

 

[MAC_32]

I'm not sure this is necessarily a good thing.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I'm not sure this is necessarily a good thing.

I was thinking the same thing. I doubt he makes him that much faster if at all - and if it does he goes from very slow to slow. With his game predictaed on power how does losing bulk help him?

 

[Phurfur]

I'm not sure this is necessarily a good thing.

I was thinking the same thing. I doubt he makes him that much faster if at all - and if it does he goes from very slow to slow. With his game predictaed on power how does losing bulk help him?

Not that I think Hightower is a speed demon but what is your idea of very slow?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I'm not sure this is necessarily a good thing.

I was thinking the same thing. I doubt he makes him that much faster if at all - and if it does he goes from very slow to slow. With his game predictaed on power how does losing bulk help him?

Not that I think Hightower is a speed demon but what is your idea of very slow?

I don't know his timed speed but he looks very slow on the field compared to most NFL backs.

 

[Phurfur]

I'm not sure this is necessarily a good thing.

I was thinking the same thing. I doubt he makes him that much faster if at all - and if it does he goes from very slow to slow. With his game predictaed on power how does losing bulk help him?

Not that I think Hightower is a speed demon but what is your idea of very slow?

I don't know his timed speed but he looks very slow on the field compared to most NFL backs.

His timed speed before the draft was 4:56. I agree that he looks slower than most RBs but I think it may be a matter quickness and not straight ahead running speed.

 

[mikel0254]

I'm not sure this is necessarily a good thing.

I was thinking the same thing. I doubt he makes him that much faster if at all - and if it does he goes from very slow to slow. With his game predictaed on power how does losing bulk help him?

Not that I think Hightower is a speed demon but what is your idea of very slow?

I don't know his timed speed but he looks very slow on the field compared to most NFL backs.

His timed speed before the draft was 4:56. I agree that he looks slower than most RBs but I think it may be a matter quickness and not straight ahead running speed.

Let me preface by saying I'm not expert at running back speed so if I'm off base then tell me, but I think people put way too much stock in a 40 time. I mean if he came in at 4.4, people would say he was fast, right? So how much does .16 seconds difference really make? That's a blink of an eye difference. All of a sudden he is "very slow"?

 

[lyon812]

I donno. I watched a lot of Cardinals games last year and think people are underestimating his speed. It's deceptive, but it's there. He's not an All-Pro, but he's not dragging a piano, either. He's shown he possesses good acceleration. This is seen well in the passing game. I think he has a future even if he's relegated to third down duty, because it seemed like "screen pass to Hightower for 8" was one of their best plays. He accelerated well and had some thump at the end, as well as the ability to make some defenders miss. He showed breakaway ability on a couple of long runs. The problem is they were few and far between.

His problems are mostly mental. He was billed as a one-cut runner, and he can be, which is why he's pretty solid as a short-yardage back. When there's an obvious hole available, he gets through it quickly and can effectively cut and get past the initial defender. When there isn't, he's powerful enough to get 1-2 yards, which is fine on 3rd and 1 but crap on 1st and 10. He hasn't seemed to adjust to how much faster holes close in the NFL. It's not physical slowness, it's that he's unable to process and improvise. He makes his decision because he sees the hole (which isn't always the best on the Cards line), then it's gone and he's running up the back of his lineman or dancing behind the line wondering wtf to do. His inability to improvise and his indecision when the plan doesn't run as designed leads to a lot of lost yards and opportunities.

I think this is why he works well as a passing game option. He does well with designed plays, when he's out in space and able to simply accelerate and go. It's when he's forced to anticipate and react to the development of the play that he sucks.

He's a high effort player, and I think he's useful, particularly in short-yardage where the defense won't know if he's running for 2 yards or running a route. I don't know if he'll ever develop the mental acuity to be a starter, though.

 

[massraider]

He'll make a lovely handcuff to whoever they get this weekend.

 

[gianmarco]

His timed speed before the draft was 4:56.

For what? The mile?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

IIRC, Hightower was listed at 226 prior to the draft last year, then 216 when the Cards released their roster. So it could be that he's just down a few more pounds from 216 to, say, 211 - 15 overall from when he first got to camp last year. I don't like that for him at all on a terrible running team like the Cardinals.

 

[Toads]

Now if he could just figure out a way to trade that bye week #4 for......

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Let me preface by saying I'm not expert at running back speed so if I'm off base then tell me, but I think people put way too much stock in a 40 time. I mean if he came in at 4.4, people would say he was fast, right? So how much does .16 seconds difference really make? That's a blink of an eye difference. All of a sudden he is "very slow"?

I wasn't talking about timed speed though. I'm talking about how he looks on the field. Maybe lacking "quickness", "burst" or "explosiveness" are better terms than "slow". Watching him try and get through holes or take it outside he seems to lack the gear necessary to be anything more than a "stop gap" type staring back or a role player in the backfield. Personally I'm not very excited about his futre prospects outside of being a goal-line/short yardage back and a CoP option.

 

[TheFanatic]

Let me preface by saying I'm not expert at running back speed so if I'm off base then tell me, but I think people put way too much stock in a 40 time. I mean if he came in at 4.4, people would say he was fast, right? So how much does .16 seconds difference really make? That's a blink of an eye difference. All of a sudden he is "very slow"?

I wasn't talking about timed speed though. I'm talking about how he looks on the field. Maybe lacking "quickness", "burst" or "explosiveness" are better terms than "slow". Watching him try and get through holes or take it outside he seems to lack the gear necessary to be anything more than a "stop gap" type staring back or a role player in the backfield. Personally I'm not very excited about his futre prospects outside of being a goal-line/short yardage back and a CoP option.

This is the way I see the guy too. He's fun to watch run IMO. Sorta like Marion Barber in his intensity, but he lacks a bit of speed. Not sure if he could be anything more than a GL back, but I like to watch him run when he gets into space...

 

[Enforcer]

As opposed to adding 15 pounds of muscle? I hate these fluff headlines.

 

[Day Drinker]

Let me preface by saying I'm not expert at running back speed so if I'm off base then tell me, but I think people put way too much stock in a 40 time. I mean if he came in at 4.4, people would say he was fast, right? So how much does .16 seconds difference really make? That's a blink of an eye difference. All of a sudden he is "very slow"?

I wasn't talking about timed speed though. I'm talking about how he looks on the field. Maybe lacking "quickness", "burst" or "explosiveness" are better terms than "slow". Watching him try and get through holes or take it outside he seems to lack the gear necessary to be anything more than a "stop gap" type staring back or a role player in the backfield. Personally I'm not very excited about his futre prospects outside of being a goal-line/short yardage back and a CoP option.

I'm not completely sold yet either, but the kid has potential. Check out the run at the 6:17 mark on the biggest play of the season at that point. He doesn;t get this, the Cards don't go to Tampa. He seems to have enough burst to get outside to me.Timmmaaayyyyyyy!

 

[Captain_Apocalypse]

Let me preface by saying I'm not expert at running back speed so if I'm off base then tell me, but I think people put way too much stock in a 40 time. I mean if he came in at 4.4, people would say he was fast, right? So how much does .16 seconds difference really make? That's a blink of an eye difference. All of a sudden he is "very slow"?

I wasn't talking about timed speed though. I'm talking about how he looks on the field. Maybe lacking "quickness", "burst" or "explosiveness" are better terms than "slow". Watching him try and get through holes or take it outside he seems to lack the gear necessary to be anything more than a "stop gap" type staring back or a role player in the backfield. Personally I'm not very excited about his futre prospects outside of being a goal-line/short yardage back and a CoP option.

I'm not completely sold yet either, but the kid has potential. Check out the run at the 6:17 mark on the biggest play of the season at that point. He doesn;t get this, the Cards don't go to Tampa. He seems to have enough burst to get outside to me.Timmmaaayyyyyyy!

I don't think that link leads where you meant it to.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Let me preface by saying I'm not expert at running back speed so if I'm off base then tell me, but I think people put way too much stock in a 40 time. I mean if he came in at 4.4, people would say he was fast, right? So how much does .16 seconds difference really make? That's a blink of an eye difference. All of a sudden he is "very slow"?

I wasn't talking about timed speed though. I'm talking about how he looks on the field. Maybe lacking "quickness", "burst" or "explosiveness" are better terms than "slow". Watching him try and get through holes or take it outside he seems to lack the gear necessary to be anything more than a "stop gap" type staring back or a role player in the backfield. Personally I'm not very excited about his futre prospects outside of being a goal-line/short yardage back and a CoP option.

I'm not completely sold yet either, but the kid has potential. Check out the run at the 6:17 mark on the biggest play of the season at that point. He doesn;t get this, the Cards don't go to Tampa. He seems to have enough burst to get outside to me.Timmmaaayyyyyyy!

The link is broken but I'll assume you're talking about the first down against Philly in the NFC Championship game. He also later scored the winning TD on a reception. Yes he was able to turn the corner there but generally its not the case. I think he was very good in the beginning of the season and once they wnet back to James at the end. As a feature back he was exposed a little. He's not useless in fact he was and could be a valuable part of a RBBC.

 

[FBGPoker]

Maybe he'll be able to break 3 YPC this season.

He looked awful in most situations outside of short yardage/goaline. He's a role player, not a feature back and that was made very clear last season.

2.8 YPC with a decent sample size (143 carries).

That's laughable.

 

[TheFanatic]

As a feature back he was exposed a little. He's not useless in fact he was and could be a valuable part of a RBBC.

Considering that more and more teams are using the RBBC, I would say that he may be a pretty valuable RB to have since he seems to be a TD hawk.

 

[bcr8f]

NO

 

[3C's]

someone traded away braylon and a 2nd for hightower. boy is he gonna be pissed late tomorrow.