Tim Hightower - Beanie Wells - RBBC? (1 Viewer)

[HITMANMVP96]

How do you project this battle turning out. Many are high on Beanie, and justifiably so... He is a specimen that can blow-up a defense. Although Hightower floundered when given the rock last year, I think he just hit the wall. I still think he can be a viable component of this offense (or what is left after the aerial show). Anybody else believe Hightower might hold his own and force a RBBC with fairly equal shares?

 

[CalBear]

How do you project this battle turning out. Many are high on Beanie, and justifiably so... He is a specimen that can blow-up a defense. Although Hightower floundered when given the rock last year, I think he just hit the wall. I still think he can be a viable component of this offense (or what is left after the aerial show). Anybody else believe Hightower might hold his own and force a RBBC with fairly equal shares?

RBs who average less than 3 yards per carry do not force RBBC with fairly equal shares. The best-case scenario for Hightower is that they use him as a goal line vulture.

 

[jurb26]

How do you project this battle turning out. Many are high on Beanie, and justifiably so... He is a specimen that can blow-up a defense. Although Hightower floundered when given the rock last year, I think he just hit the wall. I still think he can be a viable component of this offense (or what is left after the aerial show). Anybody else believe Hightower might hold his own and force a RBBC with fairly equal shares?

I think Hightower should focus on being a short yardage back. I don't see him as capable of beating out Wells in any other aspect. Even the short yardage may not be attainable.

 

[David Yudkin]

It remains to be seen if they will have to play Hightower to pass protect.

 

[TheWheel]

Here is what could happen:

A) if Wells stays healthy he gets 1st and 2nd down snaps. Jason Wright gets 3rd down/passing situation snaps. Hightower gets short yardage/goal line snaps.

B) Wells gets injured. Hightower and Wright share carries. Add in whoever is behind them on the depth chart for about 10% of carries. Cards will be passing a lot more if this happens.

A few Notes:

-Whisenhunt looks like he is trying to reproduce his old Steelers backfield. Bettis, Parker and Staley (had his signing worked out) are pretty similar in skill set to Hightower, Wright, and Wells.

-don't count Hightower out yet. The Cardinals O-line is just as important to a runningbacks success as his own skills. If Hightower can average 3.5 per rush, he will get more and more carries. A consistent ball mover is a very important thing to have (just look at the Eagles goal line and third down efficiency without a player that can grind it out).

-Jason Wright should be more efficient then Arrington was. Whisenhunt inherited Arrington, let him go and then went out and got Jason Wright as soon as FA stated. Whisenhunt saw him when they were both in the AFC North so he has to be part of their offensive gameplan.

 

[Ray_T]

It remains to be seen if they will have to play Hightower to pass protect.

These are the key situations where I expect hightower to get the call ahead of Beanie Wells. Rookie RB's tend to be less effective on their blocking assignments. So Early, I expect a bit of a RBBC, but once Beanie picks up the game a little better, I expect Hightowers contributions will be limited to passing situations and he will step in for Beanie to keep him fresh now & again.

 

[Billy Ball Thorton]

It remains to be seen if they will have to play Hightower to pass protect.

These are the key situations where I expect hightower to get the call ahead of Beanie Wells. Rookie RB's tend to be less effective on their blocking assignments. So Early, I expect a bit of a RBBC, but once Beanie picks up the game a little better, I expect Hightowers contributions will be limited to passing situations and he will step in for Beanie to keep him fresh now & again.

Hightower has a chance of fill blown rbbc weeks 1-3 nut after that barring injury Wells will show he's a much better back. Next year I doubt you even hear Hightowers name much more than someone like Betts, Rick Willliams this year and thats not much.

 

[footballman_696969]

It remains to be seen if they will have to play Hightower to pass protect.

My guess is that Hightower will be in on 3rd down. He can block, catch the ball, and is good in short yardage situations.

 

[Knobs]

Hightower is garbage. But if Wells can't block they'll have no choice but to plug him in sometimes.

 

[Maven]

IMO Hightower is garbage.

Taken from FOA2009:

For at least the first part of 2009, expect Wells to back up incumbent Tim Hightower. NFL rules forbid

Wells from participating in voluntary workouts until Ohio State’s academic period ends on June 13, so he missed two weeks of practice time in May and June.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt noted that Wells would have a lot of catching up to do when training camp began. Since both Wells and Hightower do their best work running up the middle behind a bruising fullback, it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals alter their philosophy and use more power formations in 2009.

 

[dapunisher]

I'm not a Big 10 guy, so I didn't see much of Wells in college. Why is there the suggestion that he can't pass protect? Is it simply b/c he's a rookie, or is there something more?

 

[FreeBaGeL]

How do you project this battle turning out. Many are high on Beanie, and justifiably so... He is a specimen that can blow-up a defense. Although Hightower floundered when given the rock last year, I think he just hit the wall. I still think he can be a viable component of this offense (or what is left after the aerial show). Anybody else believe Hightower might hold his own and force a RBBC with fairly equal shares?

He hit the wall? On carry number 60?I'm not sure that would be any less damning than him just being a bad player...

 

[Sinrman]

If you only average 2.8 YPC in an offense THAT dynamic, that spreads the defenses like it does, then I can't help ya. I think AZ is sending a clear message to him with drafting another RB in the 1st round. It's not to say he can't, but it doesn't bode well for him...

 

[cvnpoka]

i really dont understand why hightower would get goal line carries. wells is a prototypical goal line back. if anything it will be hightower that rolls with the regular offense and then wells gets the short yardage plays. esp if it happens that wells cant block.

 

[HITMANMVP96]

NFL Total Access had Whisenhunt on set and they were talking about the changes to the offense this year. The crew had Edge as the RB replaced by Wells. They did not even mention Hightower. Wiz said he has another young back in Tim Hightower that they are very excited about and compared it to the Warner/Leinart competition last year and that it inspired better play. He said he is pleased with the talent he has at RB. Obviously he is saying that the best will play, but I thought it was interesting that he interjected this comment when the Access crew all but left Hightower out of consideration. ??

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

NFL Total Access had Whisenhunt on set and they were talking about the changes to the offense this year. The crew had Edge as the RB replaced by Wells. They did not even mention Hightower. Wiz said he has another young back in Tim Hightower that they are very excited about and compared it to the Warner/Leinart competition last year and that it inspired better play. He said he is pleased with the talent he has at RB. Obviously he is saying that the best will play, but I thought it was interesting that he interjected this comment when the Access crew all but left Hightower out of consideration. ??

Is Hightower Leinart or Warner?

 

[Multiple Scores]

Edge had 3.9 per carry, Hightower had 2.8 per carry, add the fact that with Edge the defense was more keyed in on him than Hightower and Hightower is not a threat at all, 2.8 with 6 to 7 in the box isn't cutting it.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

i really dont understand why hightower would get goal line carries. wells is a prototypical goal line back. if anything it will be hightower that rolls with the regular offense and then wells gets the short yardage plays. esp if it happens that wells cant block.

Well, as bad as Hightower was he was solid at the goaline. I think that has more to do with Arizona STILL somehow spreading defenses out even in the redzone, but either way if they can get similar production down there they might be willing to save the wear and tear on Wells.That said, points are what actually wins football games so if Wells is better down there I think the points are definitely worth the extra wear down there.