What is the deal with Edmonds

Jetstream Green

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I get they like Drake more than David Johnson for good reason but why Edmonds has not seen more involvement coming off the injury after he has shown a playmaking ability is a mystery... everyone constantly talks about DJ now not seeing snaps but what about Chase, or is this some kind of approach to assure what they have in Drake while already knowing what they have in Edmonds for next season
 

Russ Smith

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I get they like Drake more than David Johnson for good reason but why Edmonds has not seen more involvement coming off the injury after he has shown a playmaking ability is a mystery... everyone constantly talks about DJ now not seeing snaps but what about Chase, or is this some kind of approach to assure what they have in Drake while already knowing what they have in Edmonds for next season


I think it's odd too but I guess it's that he's not a good receiver and they want that dual threat? he's a better runner than DJ.

To his credit he's playing ST and doing what's asked of him but it's gotta be tough he had taken the starting job by injury, he had a 3 game stretch of 40 carries over 230 yards and 4 TD's rushing 1 TD receiving before he got hurt.
 

Russ Smith

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I can't understand why anyone thinks Edmonds is anything more than a pretty pedestrian complementary back. He's a dime a dozen player in the NFL.


Fair enough. He had 3 games as the primary RB and put up 40 carries for over 230 yards 4 TDs on the year 5 Td's in 71 touches(12 receptions 1 TD). he's averaging 5.2 YPC and 8.8 YPCatch.

Drake on the year has 5 TD's on 109 touches(22 catches). So in roughly 40 more touches same number of TDs and that's coming off a 4 TD game. he is averaging 4.8 YPC and 5.9 YPC.

So Chase has a higher YPC and a higher Yard per catch in the same offense. Now my gut tells me Drake is probably more durable since he's bigger but we have no proof, he's never had more than 133 carries in an NFL season.

I like them both is my point I'm not saying we should bench Drake to play Chase but when Chase was healthy and getting the bulk of the reps he was actually better than Drake, he just got hurt and the timing was perfect for Drake to come in and he played really well.

I think it's pretty simple DJ is by far the best receiver of the 3 so he's getting the backup reps for that reason, or playing together some with Drake. I thought Drake was terrific yesterday I also think if he had been the #3 RB and Chase was the starter, Chase would have had 4 TD's yesterday too because they were all pretty well blocked TD's, none of those runs were any more difficult than the 3 TD's Chase had against the Giants.
 
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Jetstream Green

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I can't understand why anyone thinks Edmonds is anything more than a pretty pedestrian complementary back. He's a dime a dozen player in the NFL.

Because pretty pedestrian backs do not blow up the stat sheet and score on big plays like he did when he was given a majority of the carries. I am not saying he should be the bell cow back (hence complimentary as you accurately regarded him) because he does not seem built to be so but to say he's a dime a dozen does not equate from what he has done this season when given a chance unless you want to make the assumption that our OL is elite... 'pedestrian' is totally insulting for what he did when playing and actually scoring on big plays which seems to elude a lot of our players when they get a major gain
 

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Thought it was very strange Edmonds had no touches in the game. Is not a good receiver but is a tough runner and deserves some carries. Had a real nice run on the fake punt vs. Steelers.
 

Solar7

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Fair enough. He had 3 games as the primary RB and put up 40 carries for over 230 yards 4 TDs on the year 5 Td's in 71 touches(12 receptions 1 TD). he's averaging 5.2 YPC and 8.8 YPCatch.

Drake on the year has 5 TD's on 109 touches(22 catches). So in roughly 40 more touches same number of TDs and that's coming off a 4 TD game. he is averaging 4.8 YPC and 5.9 YPC.

So Chase has a higher YPC and a higher Yard per catch in the same offense. Now my gut tells me Drake is probably more durable since he's bigger but we have no proof, he's never had more than 133 carries in an NFL season.

I like them both is my point I'm not saying we should bench Drake to play Chase but when Chase was healthy and getting the bulk of the reps he was actually better than Drake, he just got hurt and the timing was perfect for Drake to come in and he played really well.

I think it's pretty simple DJ is by far the best receiver of the 3 so he's getting the backup reps for that reason, or playing together some with Drake. I thought Drake was terrific yesterday I also think if he had been the #3 RB and Chase was the starter, Chase would have had 4 TD's yesterday too because they were all pretty well blocked TD's, none of those runs were any more difficult than the 3 TD's Chase had against the Giants.
Because pretty pedestrian backs do not blow up the stat sheet and score on big plays like he did when he was given a majority of the carries. I am not saying he should be the bell cow back (hence complimentary as you accurately regarded him) because he does not seem built to be so but to say he's a dime a dozen does not equate from what he has done this season when given a chance unless you want to make the assumption that our OL is elite... 'pedestrian' is totally insulting for what he did when playing and actually scoring on big plays which seems to elude a lot of our players when they get a major gain
I appreciate the insights, and you guys bring up decent points, but I just don't see it with the eye test. I see a mediocre blocker that doesn't have a great ability to catch or any kind of extra burst or second gear.

He reminds me of like... Michael Pittman. Not in size or gameplay style, just like a guy who I guess looks okay sometimes and is welcome on the team, but we'd forget in less than a season if he was cut.
 

Russ Smith

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I appreciate the insights, and you guys bring up decent points, but I just don't see it with the eye test. I see a mediocre blocker that doesn't have a great ability to catch or any kind of extra burst or second gear.

He reminds me of like... Michael Pittman. Not in size or gameplay style, just like a guy who I guess looks okay sometimes and is welcome on the team, but we'd forget in less than a season if he was cut.


I think that's simply because he's small. Yes he's not a great blocker, neither is Drake, put drake on the punt team and I bet he can't block well there either. Both are better blockers than DJ.

I actually think as the starter that Edmonds was better than Drake, I think the concern was he got hurt and the Cards had probably always assumed at his size, that would be an issue.

I think if he were as good a receiver as Drake, he'd actually be the starter, but he's not so Drake starts.
 

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He's a limited back - he can run, and he does that well - but so did Kerwynn Williams.

Anyways, Drake was churning out 7-10 yards a clip to start the game, and didn't slow down, Kliff was smart enough NOT to give up those reps to DJ or Chase. I also think Kliff thought we could bully our way with the run game and use 6 OL or multiple TE sets - which means less RBs - and it worked.

Let's see what the next two games bring.
 

JeffGollin

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No rap on Edmunds - it's just that the guy they signed when they were stripped of depth turned out to be the "hot hand" of the running attack and KK opted to ride that hot little pony.

In Edmunds, the Cards have the benefit of having a fresh, explosive 3rd down back to bring in when needed. Ideally, we'd want to be 2-deep in (1) bell cows and (2) passing down specialists, with a big 5th guy who could be available for short yardage situations.

Bell Cows = Drake, D Johnson

Passing Down RBs = Edmunds and one other guy

Short Yardage Specialiist - a big blocker/RB (possibly an OG)
 

cardsfanmd

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Fair enough. He had 3 games as the primary RB and put up 40 carries for over 230 yards 4 TDs on the year 5 Td's in 71 touches(12 receptions 1 TD). he's averaging 5.2 YPC and 8.8 YPCatch.

Drake on the year has 5 TD's on 109 touches(22 catches). So in roughly 40 more touches same number of TDs and that's coming off a 4 TD game. he is averaging 4.8 YPC and 5.9 YPC.

So Chase has a higher YPC and a higher Yard per catch in the same offense. Now my gut tells me Drake is probably more durable since he's bigger but we have no proof, he's never had more than 133 carries in an NFL season.

I like them both is my point I'm not saying we should bench Drake to play Chase but when Chase was healthy and getting the bulk of the reps he was actually better than Drake, he just got hurt and the timing was perfect for Drake to come in and he played really well.

I think it's pretty simple DJ is by far the best receiver of the 3 so he's getting the backup reps for that reason, or playing together some with Drake. I thought Drake was terrific yesterday I also think if he had been the #3 RB and Chase was the starter, Chase would have had 4 TD's yesterday too because they were all pretty well blocked TD's, none of those runs were any more difficult than the 3 TD's Chase had against the Giants.
When Edmonds got the bulk of the carries, he got hurt a game and a half in.
 

Russ Smith

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When Edmonds got the bulk of the carries, he got hurt a game and a half in.


Yeah but a pulled hammy is not exactly an injury due to lack of size, it's just one of those things. He played the week before 27 carries in a bad weather game and held up just fine, then the next week he pulled a hammy.

Drake was injury prone in college and missed enough games that apparently several NFL teams lowered him on their draft boards out of fear he'd get hurt. He's actually not had any major injury history in the NFL.

I'm fine with Drake as the starter he's been good my point is so far edmonds has actually put up higher yards per carry and catch than Drake. Drake is obviously a better receiver but not nearly as good a receiver as DJ is. None of the 3 is a good blocker, I'd guess Drake the best of the 3.
 

cardsfanmd

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Yeah but a pulled hammy is not exactly an injury due to lack of size, it's just one of those things. He played the week before 27 carries in a bad weather game and held up just fine, then the next week he pulled a hammy.

Drake was injury prone in college and missed enough games that apparently several NFL teams lowered him on their draft boards out of fear he'd get hurt. He's actually not had any major injury history in the NFL.

I'm fine with Drake as the starter he's been good my point is so far edmonds has actually put up higher yards per carry and catch than Drake. Drake is obviously a better receiver but not nearly as good a receiver as DJ is. None of the 3 is a good blocker, I'd guess Drake the best of the 3.
Who said anything about size? Terrible argument. 300 pounders get hurt every week.
 

Russ Smith

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Who said anything about size? Terrible argument. 300 pounders get hurt every week.


I'm not following your argument then. Are you saying Chase Edmonds is injury prone then because he had ONE pulled hamstring?

He had one injury in college, during his senior year, Drake was injured 3 of his 4 years at Alabama it's why he never played more there he was always hurt.

in the NFL so far Drake has been relatively healthy, and edmonds got one pulled hammy. You're post seemed to imply that Edmonds can't handle carries and if he gets them, he'll get hurt. He had over 900 carries in college, and he has less of a history of injury than Drake does.
 

cardsfanmd

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I'm not following your argument then. Are you saying Chase Edmonds is injury prone then because he had ONE pulled hamstring?

He had one injury in college, during his senior year, Drake was injured 3 of his 4 years at Alabama it's why he never played more there he was always hurt.

in the NFL so far Drake has been relatively healthy, and edmonds got one pulled hammy. You're post seemed to imply that Edmonds can't handle carries and if he gets them, he'll get hurt. He had over 900 carries in college, and he has less of a history of injury than Drake does.
I’m just saying that he got his chance to be the lead back this year and it didn’t work. I’m not saying he’s anything other than unlucky. He had his shot, it didn’t work and another guy stepped up in his absence.
 

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Drake and Johnson are better than Edmonds, so he ends up on the bench is probably true. But, in my opinion, Johnson's huge contract also has something to do with it. If DJ is to have any trade value, they need to keep playing him and hope he shows more flashes of the old DJ.
 

Russ Smith

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If DJ goes and we resign Kenyan Drake, Edmonds goes from #3 to #2.


I think the thing to remember is unless we somehow by miracle get out from under DJ's contract or get value in return for him, we're going to have his contract next year. If we want to keep Drake, and he seems pretty clear he expects a big raise, we're going to have to pay him too. I have no idea what Drake is expecting or worth on the open market, Freeman got over 8 last year and that was coming off a year he barely played due to injury but had (2) 1000 yard seasons and an 865 the prior 3 years. So Drake has never put up the rushing stats Freeman did, but isn't injured going into FA. So let's just throw out 5 million a year.

I agree Drake is the better back but when you're already paying DJ that much and Edmonds costs only 660K next year do you want to pay Drake that much? You're going to have nearly 20 million tied up at RB. When we made the trade for Drake the talk in the media was it was a one year rental, 6th rounder that will probably become a 5th and the hope was he played well enough that on the open market we'd get a 5 in return as a compensatory pick when someone else signed him. If we've decided to keep him the money becomes a big consideration, if we're convinced he's our everydown guy then we desperately need to get out from under David Johnson's contract somehow.
 

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1-Chase is a limited player. He isn't great in the passing game, but is a very instinctive runner.

2-We go fast which can limit a team's ability to switch RBs in drives.

3-We are desperate to get things going offensively so when something works, we tend to stick with it.
 
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