What Does Edge Bring?

Written by Chris Sullivan

Monday, 24 August 2009 16:00

ESPN and NFL Network are now both confirming that Edgerrin James is indeed a member of your Seattle Seahawks. The question remains, what does Edgerrin James bring to the table that the Seahawks have been missing?

One of the best running backs of all time. Well, that's easy enough, right? Edgerrin James is currently 11th all time in the NFL for rushing yards, but he's two good games from being 7th. He is consistently solid, though he rarely breaks one for more than 10-15 yards. Still, he always falls forward and has a career average of 4.1 yards / carry; in Arizona he averaged between 3.4 (2006) and 3.9 (2008) ypc.
Durability. Julius Jones missed a game on Saturday for reasons unknown, but presumably tied to the injury that had pestered him last week. He is somewhat durable, historically, but something about him feels... delicate. That's not a good quality for a running back to have. I still imagine that the Hawks keep Jones and cut Duckett, but that's not a certainty. I do think a Jones - James backfield looks better than a James - Duckett backfield though.
Leadership. Hasselbeck is the leader of the offense. Housh is the leader of the WRs. Who is the leader of the backfield? Neither Jones nor Duckett stood up last year to take the reins, and they haven't had a history of doing so. Owen Schmitt and Justin Forsett aren't likely to take that role, and Justin Griffith is likely the backup FB. The running / full backs need a leader (to a degree), and James can be that guy. By all accounts he is a team player, eager to do what ever is necessary to improve the team. He also has the veteran experience (like Housh and Hasselbeck) to teach the players under him; Tim Hightower has routinely credited him as a mentor.
Blitz Pickup. As good as Edge has been as a runner, one of his biggest strengths is his ability to pick up the blitz and control blockers - regardless of whether it's a CB, LB or defensive end. He has good football knowledge and understands where the play is supposed to go and how he is supposed to fit into that, but he also has enough experience to know how to adjust on the fly to save a play from certain death.
A Veteran with a Chip on his Shoulder. Edge was cut, and he wasn't cut politely, he was cut by a team that he felt had disrespected him mightily. He was cut only after the April draft, well after teams with a clear need at running back had already filled it either through the draft or through free agency. Since April, Edge has sat around, stewing in rage at the Arizona Cardinals. Something tells me he's not going to fumble twice in the first half when he gets his chance at redemption.
The Second Coming of Alexander the Great. Well, this is what Edge ain't. He's not going to save this franchise, he's not going to run for 1,800 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's not, you don't expect him to, and I don't expect him to. Edgerrin James is a stop-gap, because this team needs to compete today. The backfield as it has been was not a threat, it was sloppy and undisciplined. James will help that. He signed a one-year contract and, for all we know, will be brought in simply to compete for the third-roster spot (though I don't think thats the case). To me, the signing of Edge suggests that, yes, the Seahawks have a need at Running Back and yes, they plan to address it next year.

What do you guys think he brings to the table? Loving all the comments, they've been a bit scarce since we moved over to the Bloguin platform. Why is that? haha

Comments (25) Add Comment

Hmmm
written by JimAK, August 24, 2009

I'm not wild about the signing of James ....... but Mora is refusing comment so maybe there is more to the story.

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written by Kilo Sierra, August 24, 2009

Why not?

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written by MMF, August 24, 2009

from Sando espn.............The Seahawks are getting a supremely motivated player from a division rival............I think thats huge our run game looked to need motivation.Now we need the line to come together or..Is there someone out there?

Edge
written by JoshManRock, August 24, 2009

I think this is a great pick-up. Not only does Edge have a strong running style, but he is also known as a smart football player. I would love to believe that a Jones-Duckett backfield would be good, but I think a Jones-James would be better. The fact is that the Seahawks would be better suited with Edge as the enforcer, emotional leader, and 3rd down back. Jones will compliment nicely with a burst of speed Edge doesn't have. Both Edge and Duckett have a power running style with the "Edge" going to James(sorry, I couldn't help it), not Duckett.

Plus anybody that wants to clobber Arizona is cool in my book! smilies/grin.gif

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written by Briankk, August 24, 2009

Don' understand this singing. They should fix the broken pieces on the OL first!

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written by Finley, August 24, 2009

Edge is definitely a step up for us, but in hindsight, it makes me a little frustrated. If only we could have anticipated letting Duckett go, then we could have made a stronger effort to retain Leonard Weaver and kept our short-yardage game strong.
If we cut Duckett, or somehow manage to conjure up a trade, do you think Edge will be able to pick up the slack in the short-yardage game, or will we revert back to the short yardage being a big thorn in our side?

Experience with crappy offensive lines!
written by Timbr!, August 24, 2009

Yep. Edge has had plenty of experience with offensive lines completely unable to give him good holes to get through.

That's what I see him bringing, being sarcastic about it.

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written by meanneongreen, August 24, 2009

you fix one piece at a time briankk, one piece at a time

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written by @seahawksfan, August 24, 2009

There has to be a trade coming. right?

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written by omarlittle, August 24, 2009

Maybe we use Griffith or the Beer Truck on those short yardage situations. I mean Schmidt was great at that in college, as physical as he is a yard or two shouldn't be that tough.

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written by Tony Trinh, August 24, 2009

just a little side note, but james and jones both have the same agent drew rosenhaus

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written by SeanHawk, August 24, 2009

I hope he has enough tread left on the tires. You get that magic age of 30 or that magic number of 300+ carries for several seasons and the drop-off can be severe. But I like him for a one-year stop-gap, then we'll see.

GO HAWKS!

Because...
written by Wally Hambone, August 24, 2009

I hate the Bloguin network.

(love the site/writers, just hate the network)

Seahawks rushing
written by DaHawksRule, August 24, 2009

It's all about the big men up front. The Hawks have done little to help their OL since Alexander had his big numbers during Seattle's superbowl run. Seattle should have pointed the finger at the OL when Alexander's numbers fell off a cliff. Would you rather be the running back that is ten yards down field before a defender touches you or the one hit in the backfield. Just look at Seattle tapes and see where that first contact was in 2005 and then look at it since then, right up to and including the two preseason games this year.

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written by cousin tam, August 24, 2009

for what its worth, i am not a big fan of the new blog network either, too many bells and whistles for my simple taste. was never a big fan of the forums either. sorry parker, i know we are boys, but thats how i really feel.

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written by RBeau1954, August 24, 2009

Think about this, the Edge was cut by both the Colts and the Cards, we play both those teams this year, if the guy goes into those games with a something to prove, he could take them both to the cleaners. All we need from him is one more good year and let him take it all out on the teams that have cut him and we have a good running game along with a great passing game.

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written by nightwulf, August 25, 2009

I'm thinking that Ruskell and Mora looked at the OL as currently constituted (w/o Jones and Spencer) and found it wanting (to put it politely) I thank that, after looking around at all the likely available personnel to help the OL, they realized that the cupboard was pretty bare...enter one of the best pass blocking RBs in the game...not only that, but he's very good at getting the outlet pass, and is a better runner than Duckett to boot...This looks to me like a combination of RB upgrade/ life insurance policy for Hass...this could actually work...or I could actually be dead assed wrong...

This move have to be completed ...
written by mang'hawks, August 25, 2009

Our short-yardage game is now a concern to me. Besides, when you try to strengthen your O-line with a RB, that smells like winter is coming i guess ...
I'm waiting for something new in the next few hours.

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written by JBaci, August 25, 2009

I think he's lost a step, but he's a savvy veteran and I think he runs forward and gets the yards he can. I still love his head down, hit the hole(if there is one) style and I feel better about him as a short yardage back then Ducket. 2 mills is nothing for a year and he can pass protect and catch out of the backfield better than any of our backs (except maybe Forsett) The only thing I don't like is I wanted to se what Forsett could do, but I've been saying this move makes sense for awhile now

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written by cysco, August 25, 2009

I personally love the signing. Veteran leadership with a chip on his shoulder. There still seems to be some fuel left in his tank.

I would suspect that Jones gets the start on opening day, but he's a couple fumbles or a bad game away from giving up the spot to James.

With the OL the way it is, whatever back is in there is going to have to fight for every yard as well as help protect Hass. James fits that role better than Jones.

Go Hawks!

cysco

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written by S.TTBM, August 25, 2009

This is a joke, right?! Please tell me this is only a bad dream!

Edge has NOTHING left at all. He is old, slow, and broken down. This confirms that Ruskell WAY overpaid for Duckett and Julius Jones. Jones was supposed to be our new feature back, better than Mo Morris. For almost 6 million a year, those two were nowhere near as good as Weaver and Morris.

Anyone want to tell me how Jones and Duckett, or now Jones and Edge, are a better combo than Weaver and Morris?! Especially considering that with bonus money Jones and Edge will make 6 million or so this year, while Mo and Weaver could have been had for 3-5 million.

This also confirms that Ruskell made big mistakes dumping Morris and Weaver and bringing in Jones and Duckett. What a joke. Seriously, even Warrick Dunn has more left in his tank then Edge.

To me, the only thing Edge brings is toughness, smarts, and the ability to catch passes out of the backfield. What that means is Coach may have little faith in our WR's and our passing game at this point, as James wont vastly improve our running game. I guess they plan on throwing to Edge 35 times a year...

Duckett looked slow this year, its as if he aged just like Alexander did in the offseason. Too bad, he was a nice guy, and if only he hadnt lost that little bit of speed...still, James is just as slow!

Crap! This sucks! Our running game is now the laughing stock of the NFL. And dont we need another corner and a LT more than another washed up RB?!

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written by S.TTBM, August 25, 2009

If Mora is not talking, it sounds like he's pissed, and this move was made against his wishes by Ruskell. Just as Ruskell brought Duckett in when Holmgren didnt want him, now he's dumping him when it appears his coach doesnt agree. What a Soap Opera!

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written by Steve S., August 25, 2009

James brings a 31 year old body that has taken several thousand NFL hits to the table. This is Ruskell trying to cover one of his blunders with a band-aid, nothing more. I don't expect the run game to suck but neither will it excel, and since there are about a hundred legitimate receiving targets on the roster I think we can guess which way the offense will trend in '09.

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written by Citizen K., August 25, 2009

Yawn.

A once great RB but whose smallish body at 31 has absorbed the poundings attendant with 2982 carries and 430 receptions. His last great season was in 2005, which was also the last time he averaged four yds/carry (4.2). That the Hawks would sign James with the expectation that he will improve the ground game just shows how weak they think it is.

Let's face it: This team has problems that the schedule exacerbates. It's hard to see them doing better than 8-8, and we could be looking at 5-11.

Wow
written by Nate G 2002, August 25, 2009

I'll be the first one to tell anybody that I have doubts about some of the things that have taken place as well as some of the decisions made by the seahawks personel, and how it MAY negatively affect this season. The injuries are defineltely concerning however; I feel like almost every so-called fan of this team is set on the idea that this team is going to blow hard this year...seriously? Go root for the Patriots if your so sure this team is going down in flames....otherwise, give it untill the first regular season game before you begin writing this team off. try to have just a tiny bit of faith that this team might do better than expected. If the Hawks go down hard this year.....THEN start throwing a "Pissy fit" about the decisions made by Ruskell Just my opinion, thats all. Go Hawks!