Training Camp Battles: Arizona RBs

 


It's July and the 2021 NFL Season is rapidly approaching. As it does, I'm going to be looking at some key position battles throughout the league each Monday as a preview of the upcoming NFL Season.

The Cardinals were led last season by a pair of Top 25 backs, Chase Edmonds, the pass-catcher, and Kenyan Drake. Drake had a surprisingly good season, rushing for more than 900 yards and finishing as RB16. But Drake moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders this off-season, leaving a void in the Arizona backfield.

Edmonds is back, and the Cardinals also signed free agent James Conner, from Pittsburgh. Edmonds was RB25 last season, rushing for 448 yards and a touchdown on 97 carries. He also added 53 receptions for 402 yards and four TDs. He figures to be a decent pass-catcher, but he's never had 100 or more carries in a season.

Conner has had big seasons in the past, but struggled with injuries the past few seasons. In 2020, he rushed for 721 yards and 6 TDs on 169 carries. He also had 35 receptions for 215 yards. Conner has the ability to carry a big load, but the question is if he will in Arizona.

The Cardinals best rusher will likely remain quarterback Kyler Murray. And the team has a robust passing attack, but I suspect both Edmonds and Conner will play a role. I think Edmonds will get more of a chance to rush, but will be the main pass-catcher. Meanwhile I think Conner will tote the ball mostly on early downs and be a bigger factor in the Red Zone.

As a result, I think Edmonds ends up the higher scoring option, but both will be a factor in Arizona.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve
Read more