January 30th, 2009 11:15pm PST
Cardinals: Sharpening the Edge.
James prepares for the Final Dance...
When the 2008 season opened up there was some speculation around "The Watercooler" that the Cardinal's running back Edgerrin James could be running on his last legs in the Arizona desert. After all, James was entering his 10th season in the NFL and lets face it, for a running back, that's a lot of years.
Another factor that made the obvious and eventual transition more apparent was the team's drafting of rookie running back Tim Hightower, who many figured at some point during the season, would take over the rushing duties. A fifth round selection, the team was very impressed with Hightower heading into the season, as were the football critics who pegged him a starter at some point and at the very least a major contributor in the running game.
In week one of the 2008 season against the Niners, no one in the league carried the ball more times than James, who finished the game with 100-yards on 26 carries in his first start of the season. While this was a good start for the Edge, it may not have been sharp enough to deter the detractors that felt the team would be more successful going in another direction. James continued to start the next seven weeks, but with diminishing carries and decreasing numbers it was evident that change was coming.
James prepares for the Final Dance...
When the 2008 season opened up there was some speculation around "The Watercooler" that the Cardinal's running back Edgerrin James could be running on his last legs in the Arizona desert. After all, James was entering his 10th season in the NFL and lets face it, for a running back, that's a lot of years.
Another factor that made the obvious and eventual transition more apparent was the team's drafting of rookie running back Tim Hightower, who many figured at some point during the season, would take over the rushing duties. A fifth round selection, the team was very impressed with Hightower heading into the season, as were the football critics who pegged him a starter at some point and at the very least a major contributor in the running game.
In week one of the 2008 season against the Niners, no one in the league carried the ball more times than James, who finished the game with 100-yards on 26 carries in his first start of the season. While this was a good start for the Edge, it may not have been sharp enough to deter the detractors that felt the team would be more successful going in another direction. James continued to start the next seven weeks, but with diminishing carries and decreasing numbers it was evident that change was coming.
In Week 9 against the Rams, the Cardinals made the change official with Hightower as the starter and James on the sideline. As a matter of fact, Edgerrin didn't even see any action on Sunday. He stood on the sideline and watched in frustration as his time in the sun had passed. This certainly wasn't what the former Miami Hurricane was used to being a part of.
James was drafted by the Colts in 1999 and started every game in Indianapolis his rookie season. In his first NFL season, the Edge would carry the ball 369 times and rush for 1,553-yards (led the NFL) and score 17 touchdowns. The Edge would lead the NFL in rushing his first two seasons in the NFL and go on to start his first 38 games in Indy, until Week 7 of the 2001 season, when he tore his ACL.
It wasn't until 2003 when completely healed from his injuries that James would bounce back with a strong productive season, rushing for 1,259-yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. In 2004, the Edge was back rushing for over 1,500-yards and helping lead the Colts reach the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
James would complete his final year (2005) in Indianapolis with his fourth season rushing for more than 1,500 yards and adding another 14 total touchdowns. For his career with the Colts James would finish with 9,226-yards rushing, 75 career total touchdowns (including 64 rushing), and 356 receptions for another 2,839-yards.
While his time with the Colts was fruitful James was allowed to leave Indianapolis and was signed by the Cardinals in 2006. When he arrived in the Arizona, he was expected to be the team's main rushing threat, something that had been sorely missed. In 2006 and 2007, James saw his production dip from his earlier years, indicating that maybe his best years were behind him and that time could be catching up.
As the Cardinal's running back started out the 2008 campaign, he appeared to be back in the saddle, but after a poor week 4 performance, nine carries for 29-yards against the Jets, things began to go south quickly. With just nine carries against the Cowboys (Week 6) and seven carries against the Panthers (Week 8), the writing was on the wall.
Without question, this was a difficult time for a competitor like James. Having comeback from an ACL injury earlier in his career, Edgerrin was accustomed to facing adversity, but could he overcome Father-time?
The move to go with a younger running back with fresher legs seemed to make sense, but as one of the NFL's more explosive offenses, it didn't take long before they soon became one dimensional and struggled on the ground. Through weeks 10 to 16, the Cardinals ground game sputtered averaging just 46-yards per game with James spending most of his time being an observer, rather than ball carrier.
James was drafted by the Colts in 1999 and started every game in Indianapolis his rookie season. In his first NFL season, the Edge would carry the ball 369 times and rush for 1,553-yards (led the NFL) and score 17 touchdowns. The Edge would lead the NFL in rushing his first two seasons in the NFL and go on to start his first 38 games in Indy, until Week 7 of the 2001 season, when he tore his ACL.
It wasn't until 2003 when completely healed from his injuries that James would bounce back with a strong productive season, rushing for 1,259-yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. In 2004, the Edge was back rushing for over 1,500-yards and helping lead the Colts reach the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
James would complete his final year (2005) in Indianapolis with his fourth season rushing for more than 1,500 yards and adding another 14 total touchdowns. For his career with the Colts James would finish with 9,226-yards rushing, 75 career total touchdowns (including 64 rushing), and 356 receptions for another 2,839-yards.
While his time with the Colts was fruitful James was allowed to leave Indianapolis and was signed by the Cardinals in 2006. When he arrived in the Arizona, he was expected to be the team's main rushing threat, something that had been sorely missed. In 2006 and 2007, James saw his production dip from his earlier years, indicating that maybe his best years were behind him and that time could be catching up.
As the Cardinal's running back started out the 2008 campaign, he appeared to be back in the saddle, but after a poor week 4 performance, nine carries for 29-yards against the Jets, things began to go south quickly. With just nine carries against the Cowboys (Week 6) and seven carries against the Panthers (Week 8), the writing was on the wall.
Without question, this was a difficult time for a competitor like James. Having comeback from an ACL injury earlier in his career, Edgerrin was accustomed to facing adversity, but could he overcome Father-time?
The move to go with a younger running back with fresher legs seemed to make sense, but as one of the NFL's more explosive offenses, it didn't take long before they soon became one dimensional and struggled on the ground. Through weeks 10 to 16, the Cardinals ground game sputtered averaging just 46-yards per game with James spending most of his time being an observer, rather than ball carrier.
In a move to try to spark a running attack, in Week 17 head coach Ken Whisenhunt put the Edge back into the ground game and suddenly it found life. In the team's finale, Arizona rushed for 111-yards against the Seahawks, led by James' 100-yards on 14 carries.
Heading into the playoffs, there were two things apparent, to be successful the Cards would need Warner to play well and Warner would need the ground game to run effective. Through three post season games the ground game has been just that, effective. In their three games led by James, the Cards averaged 111-yards rushing per game and 3.3-yards per carry.
While this does not seem like a significant number or statistic, with careful examination the proof is in the puddin. Through weeks 10-16, the team averaged just 16 carries per game and a meager 2.8-yards per carry. The offensive play calling had become lopsided with less than 28% of their offensive play calls being a run play. The Cardinals explosive offense had become predictable and vulnerable.
With James locked and loaded back in the saddle, the Cardinals are flying at new heights. Since Week 17 the team is still averaging a pedestrian 3.7-yards per carry, but the effectiveness has been their 111-yards rushing and 29-carries per game (47% of their play calls). The team has found balance and seems to be riding the razor's edge!
While this does not seem like a significant number or statistic, with careful examination the proof is in the puddin. Through weeks 10-16, the team averaged just 16 carries per game and a meager 2.8-yards per carry. The offensive play calling had become lopsided with less than 28% of their offensive play calls being a run play. The Cardinals explosive offense had become predictable and vulnerable.
With James locked and loaded back in the saddle, the Cardinals are flying at new heights. Since Week 17 the team is still averaging a pedestrian 3.7-yards per carry, but the effectiveness has been their 111-yards rushing and 29-carries per game (47% of their play calls). The team has found balance and seems to be riding the razor's edge!
Just as he did in Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season, the Edge started strong with 100-yards and in Week 17 he started his second wind with another C-note. This will be Edgerrin's first trip to the Super Bowl, an unlikely prospect for this 10-year veteran when the season opened, but here he is and caught smack in the middle of what could be a "Hollywood ending" considering all things.
James is not a stranger to his own controversy, voicing his frustrations during the controversial move by Whisenhunt earlier in the season. The Edge was dulled by playing the role of a back-up and revealed his expectation that he would be released in the off-season. He even went as far as requesting being released following his benching in Week 9.
James is not a stranger to his own controversy, voicing his frustrations during the controversial move by Whisenhunt earlier in the season. The Edge was dulled by playing the role of a back-up and revealed his expectation that he would be released in the off-season. He even went as far as requesting being released following his benching in Week 9.
The 2008 season has not been a smooth ride for the Cardinal's leading rusher, but he's back where he started and now standing on the biggest stage of his career. When the 30-year old veteran running back takes the field on Sunday, he'll have a chance and perhaps his only chance at magic.
The Cardinals have been riding a wing and a prayer through 21 weeks and have found sweet emotion singing a song of football poetry. With one more rhyme and reason, the stage will be set for the Cardinal's and Edgerrin James to complete one of the most thrilling and unexpected finish to a whirlwind of adversity and perseverance.
The Cardinals have been riding a wing and a prayer through 21 weeks and have found sweet emotion singing a song of football poetry. With one more rhyme and reason, the stage will be set for the Cardinal's and Edgerrin James to complete one of the most thrilling and unexpected finish to a whirlwind of adversity and perseverance.
Perhaps one of the least talked about players on Sunday's filed could turn out to be the biggest hero? Whether or not that comes to fruition, one thing to note, if James has fresh legs and is sharp he could cut the defense like a knife and the Steelers could be facing the blade of the Cardinal's "Edge."
Keep checking back for more football....
By David G. Ortega
Keep checking back for more football....
By David G. Ortega
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