Arizona RB Tim Hightower traded to Redskins.

[tomsawyer]

i lost a lot of respect when he came out with the bamboozled and hoodwinked crack during the lockout.really did'nt think he needed to broadcast that to the whole world.

[tryfuhl]

[Ruhskins]

Is that Hightower?

[Stuck in TX]

I have been raving about Hightower since he was in college. This is my favorite move of the offseason so far. Not only do we have a darkhorse starter/stud, young RB, but we also have something for Torrain that he has not had since coming here: competition. I see a RB by comitee in our future!

[Ruhskins]

"Grant Paulsen
Shanahan on Holliday for Hightower deal: "As far as I know the deal is already done." Said TH's blocking stood out. #Redskins"

Good to know.

[MTK]

How has he fallen off exactly?

Tim Hightower, RB for the Arizona Cardinals at NFL.com

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

How has he fallen off exactly?

Tim Hightower, RB for the Arizona Cardinals at NFL.com

Yeah nevermind.... im way off. I remembering hearig about a little bit of a fumble problem though. 5 seems kind of high for 150 carries, 1 in 30 he fumbles. Anyone knows the average carries per fumble?

[SirClintonPortis]

Judging by the fact that he averages less than ten carries a game in his career, it's safe to say that he can only function as a part of a committee. He better be the finest 3rd down back ever.

[Monkeydad]

Keep in mind, Arizona has had one of the worst running games in the league for a few years. Hightower was not the only RB having trouble producing in that system...look at Wells' numbers too.

They'd run maybe 15-20 times a game as a team when Warner was still there...last year was just ugly all around for them. Hightower only had more than 15 rushes ONCE last two seasons, and went for 148 yards that game (vs. Denver).

But, when Hightower did get the ball in space...look out. He's a TD machine too. Look at his limited touches and his TD totals:

2010 - 153 rushes, 5 TDs
2009 - 143 rushes, 8 TDs
2008 - 143 rushes, 10 TDs

We needed some red zone help!

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

Keep in mind, Arizona has had one of the worst running games in the league for a few years. Hightower was not the only RB having trouble producing in that system...look at Wells' numbers too.

They'd run maybe 15-20 times a game as a team when Warner was still there...last year was just ugly all around for them. Hightower only had more than 15 rushes ONCE last two seasons, and went for 148 yards that game (vs. Denver).

But, when Hightower did get the ball in space...look out. He's a TD machine too. Look at his limited touches and his TD totals:

2010 - 153 rushes, 5 TDs
2009 - 143 rushes, 8 TDs
2008 - 143 rushes, 10 TDs

We needed some red zone help!

TDs were deliberately inflated by the 'Zona coaching staff because he was their "goal line back". That doesn't prove that he's even that good. Just look at Lendale White.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

TDs were deliberately inflated by the 'Zona coaching staff because he was their "goal line back". That doesn't prove that he's even that good. Just look at Lendale White.

Coches do not "deliberately inflate stats".

This only means he's trustworthy and capable at the goal line, like McClain (Baltimore) was a few years ago, McGahee and yes, LenDale White.

Beanie Wells could not be trusted in the RZ...Hightower was. Hightower is also a great blocker and can pick up blitzes too. Good news for us!

Tim Hightower will get his share of touches for the Arizona Cardinals even with Beanie Wells as the main back - Fantasy Football - ESPN

However, there's a huge monkey wrench in the works for those fantasy owners looking to make Wells their No. 2 running back. His name is Tim Hightower. Hightower has some skills that Wells simply does not possess. He's a far better pass-catcher -- 63 receptions, as opposed to only 12 for Wells -- and also is much better at overall pass protection and picking up the blitz. While the Cardinals may not be throwing the ball as often with Warner gone, they're certainly not going to give up the pass completely, especially when they still have a weapon like Larry Fitzgerald at their disposal. Not only that, but with Leinart's relative inexperience, having a little more time to make the proper decision is essential to his success. Hightower is definitely going to see a lot of third-down snaps to try to give Leinart that one extra block and those few extra seconds.

Camp Confidential: Arizona Cardinals

A number of key names from the past couple of seasons are gone, but there's hope that players like Matt Leinart and Joey Porter can maintain their recent winning tradition. Story


More than that, Hightower has proved himself to be a goal-line vulture of enormous proportions. Last season, he had twice as many carries inside the 5-yard line as Wells, and eight of his 10 rushing touchdowns (including two in two playoff games) were from inside the 3. Wells certainly has the size to be able to pound the ball home from in close by himself, but with his general noninclusion on passing plays, it probably makes more sense for Ken Whisenhunt's offense to pull him for Hightower, in order to leave the defense guessing.

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by Monkeydad

Coches do not "deliberately inflate stats".

This only means he's trustworthy and capable at the goal line, like McClain (Baltimore) was a few years ago, McGahee and yes, LenDale White.

Beanie Wells could not be trusted in the RZ...Hightower was. Hightower is also a great blocker and can pick up blitzes too. Good news for us!

Tim Hightower will get his share of touches for the Arizona Cardinals even with Beanie Wells as the main back - Fantasy Football - ESPN

Your quoted report does not say that he was better at the goal line. It said that his pass-catching skills were what probably made Wisenhunt decide on him over Wells at the goal line.

And his stats were inflated, because it was a concious decision by the staff to use him over Wells. Whether or not this was due to him he was better is irrelevant.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Your quoted report does not say that he was better at the goal line. It said that his pass-catching skills were what probably made Wisenhunt decide on him over Wells at the goal line.

And his stats were inflated, because it was a concious decision by the staff to use him over Wells. Whether or not this was due to him he was better is irrelevant.

That is one of the more nonsensical things I've read on this board in a while. His stats are inflated because the coaches use him more? Yeah, you tend to have better stats than the next guy if you play more. Also, wouldn't the coaches use the better player more often? Not really irrelevant.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Your quoted report does not say that he was better at the goal line. It said that his pass-catching skills were what probably made Wisenhunt decide on him over Wells at the goal line.

And his stats were inflated, because it was a concious decision by the staff to use him over Wells. Whether or not this was due to him he was better is irrelevant.

Look at his stats (that I posted above). His TDs were all RUNS, zero receiving TDs.


Also, if you've even watched a game with him in it, you would see he's an explosive back. I've been watching him for a few years (and owning him in fantasy leagues).

I don't know why you and other members work so hard to talk down EVERY acquisition this team makes.

Skins sign any one, the knee-jerk reaction is "oh, bad deal, he's a bad player, the team is making bad decisions again!"

Sure...cut Hightower and give Betts a call. Might as well bring Randel El back too...goodbye Gaffney.

Originally Posted by GMScud

That is one of the more nonsensical things I've read on this board in a while. His stats are inflated because the coaches use him more? Yeah, you tend to have better stats than the next guy if you play more. Also, wouldn't the coaches use the better player more often? Not really irrelevant.

It really is!

Reminds me of the famous Madden quote - ""Usually the team with the most points wins the game!"

[vallin21]

Look, IMO he's a pretty decent RB. He's never had a chance to be a full time starter. IMO He's more than just a "goal line back" or a "3rd Down back". He started 13 of the 16 games despite spliting time with Wells last yr. We've all echoed that he's young, durable, explosive, and can catch out of the backfield. Fumbling is an issue but tht can be corrected. If anything this move says that Torain is not a lock to start Wk 1, and that the RB spot is open.