Arizona Cardinals Sign RB Chester Taylor, Claim More Players Off Of Waivers
by Tyler Nickel on Sep 4, 2011 12:08 PM MDT
in General Arizona Cardinals News
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According to NFL reporter Jason La Canfora, the Cardinals have come to terms on a one-year deal with former Bears and Vikings running back, Chester Taylor. Taylor has been brought on to provide depth after rookie Ryan Williams went down with an torn patellar tendon during the preseason.
Taylor will likely play the role of a third down back and a guy who can pick up the blitz very well on passing downs. His release from the Bears was one that was expected and many speculated he would end up with the Cardinals. As a vested veteran, Taylor was not forced to waivers and was able to sign with whatever team he chose.
Also of note, the Cardinals have claimed cornerbacks Crezdon Butler and former Bengal corner, Korey Lindsay. Butler is coming from the Steelers, so he may have some familiarity with the defense Arizona is looking to run under defensive coordinator Ray Horton.
Isaiah Williams is also in the process of signing a contract to be on the Cardinals practice squad, according to his agent Joshua Stevens. Isaiah played pretty well during the preseason, but there were too many players ahead of him on the depth chart for him to make the final 53.
One thing to keep in mind is that with the signing of these three players, three other players already on the roster must either be cut or placed on the practice squad. The limit is 53 and Arizona presently has 56, so more changes will be coming.
More news is sure to come out, stay tuned.
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Aggressive!
Cards continuing to be aggressive! I love it!!
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Taylor should make a good complimentary back
to the bowling bean, but I would much rather prefer we got someone with a higher ceiling.
It's a one year deal
That higher ceiling player you speak of is Ryan Williams and he will be back next year.
by Tyler Nickel on Sep 4, 2011 12:17 PM MDT up reply actions 4 recs
Agreed
This is a short term move made necessary by the fact Wells can pass block on known pass downs and has had durability problems the last two years. Also if there was a higher ceiling guy the Cards could cut Smith and add them that way. But at this point landing Taylor was a great move considering what’s out there and the needs of the team.
Do you like Taylor over Nance?
I was hoping for Nance, as he would continue to push Beanie and continue the competition next off season when Williams returns.
Section 103, Row 19
nice signings on the 2 CBs
steelers fans loved butler in the preseason. and bengals fans wanted lindsey on our practice squad. good moves from the cards.
" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe
what about
LaSH though? his deal wont last forever
What about him?
He isn’t a key cog to this team. His size won’t allow him to be an every down back, so he will play a limited specialty role.
by Tyler Nickel on Sep 4, 2011 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions
Good moves
Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
Leading the NFL in swagtangibles
agreed. I was hoping the cards would sign joselio hanson who was recently cut by the eagles.
Crezdon Butler seems like a good corner who already is familiar with the Cards/Steelers defesive scheme.
by CardsDefense on Sep 4, 2011 12:29 PM MDT up reply actions
Taylor
Taylor is a good move and one they need to make and suprises no one. The rest are just PS moves and added depth in case Adams is slow returning from his scooped knee. I would say with these moves he’s on the bubble.
Getting Taylor is a waste
LSH can play the 3rd down back. Taylor serves no purpose on this team other than to take touches away from LSH. Smith has to be the #2 back now, because LSH can’t handle that and either can Taylor.
No more night. I have seen the light. Let it shine on bright.
HANG HIM HIGHER!!!
by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Sep 4, 2011 2:52 PM MDT reply actions
LSH / Taylor
I’m a fan of LSH and I think he can be and is a weapon for the team and can fill a Darren Sproles role. But I have to say asking a 5-7 185lbs RB to block on know passing down is a stretch. I think Taylor is a good signing. It’s a one year deal if he flops cut him and you are in the same spot you were before you signed him with Wells, Smith, LSH, and Sherman. Also if a better option comes along or you need a solid #2 to take carries from Wells than cut Smith or Taylor and bring them in. It’s not like either is going to be a pro bowl back this year. Smith couldn’t even play the last two preseason games so he doesn’t have a huge resume after Williams got hurt. So I’m not sure where the confidence in Smith is coming from, most of his work has been done against 3rd team defenses. I’m not saying he won’t get it done I’m just saying he is more of a question mark than people are saying. I think things will be fine Wells (starting back), Taylor (3rd down back/special teams), LSH (return man/ Change of pace back), Smith (Special teams/change of pace back to take some of the load from Wells), and Sherman (FB). I don’t see any RB’s out there that fit like Taylor does. Once again it’s a one year deal that adds depth. To me it’s a good sign.
by Txcardsfan on Sep 4, 2011 3:27 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I like the moves
You need another RB and Taylor fits the bill. You have to have a back up to Beanie and LSH who is not an every sown back.
by Cardzfan on Sep 4, 2011 3:06 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
I could see the Taylor signing being a big flop but I'm hoping that he's got at least one year left in him.
"The point is, by my standards, I won fair and square."
-Bender
With Taylors age it is probably best to not give him a huge workload
Beanie should get a ton of carries this year, and somewhere around the 100 carries Taylor got last year should be his ceiling. The Bears were one of the few teams with a worse O-Line than us last year so I’m hoping that was part of his problem although Forte had over 1000 yards last year with a 4.5 YPC average.
Beanie did look better at pass protection in the Preseason so hopefully he can become more reliable in the passing game as well compared to how in 09 and 10 the opposing Defense would know that we were going to run because the Cards didn’t trust Beanie in pass protection yet.
Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
Leading the NFL in swagtangibles
100 carries is way too many
Beanie, should hopefully get 300 to 350 carries, and another 25 or so catches (provided he’s healthy for 16 games). Smith as the #2 back should get around 100 carries. LSH playing 3rd downs and some 2nd and short or 2nd and long, should get maybe 70 combined carries and catches. Any plays that Taylor is in for can only take away from LSH.
No more night. I have seen the light. Let it shine on bright.
HANG HIM HIGHER!!!
by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Sep 4, 2011 3:35 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't really like giving any back over 300 carries
I like between 250 and 275 for Beanie
I highly doubt that we will run the ball 450/520 times too when there ware only 320 runs last year. With the 120 million dollar man out wide, I just don’t see it.
Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
Leading the NFL in swagtangibles
last year we sucked..and couldn't get any 1st downs, which cut down the total # of plays
we were 3 & out more than any team (and more than any I can remember in my lifetime).
300 carries is only 19 per game. (at 4.2 per carry—that’s 1260 yards) Not a huge or unreasonable amount for a starting RB.
No more night. I have seen the light. Let it shine on bright.
HANG HIM HIGHER!!!
by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Sep 4, 2011 3:48 PM MDT up reply actions
Smith
Smith couldn’t even play the last two preseason games so he doesn’t have a huge resume after Williams got hurt. So I’m not sure where the confidence in Smith is coming from, most of his work has been done against 3rd team defenses.
I only thought that Smith was our only option as # 2 RB
LSH can’t handle that job. He’s too small to run up the middle. As a 3rd down back, he wouldn’t be asked to pass block as much as catch swing passes.
A #2 RB should get maybe 100 carries (6 or 7 per game).
It would be great if we signed a good #2 RB (better than Smith)
but Taylor isn’t that. He’s just a lesser version of our current #3 (3rd down) back (LSH).
No more night. I have seen the light. Let it shine on bright.
HANG HIM HIGHER!!!
by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Sep 4, 2011 4:00 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Smith is the only option I see to fill in for Beanie.
Isn’t even a question of confidence. The other two just can’t do it. Smith we don’t know about. Looks like he might be good. Would have been nice to see him in the last two games. Third game especially.
Beanie should get 20 carries a game at least.
Taylor has declined steadily as a runner. His best contribution will be in pass protection. He will have to get enough carries to keep defenses from assuming pass every time he comes in. Personally I think he’s washed up. Hope I am wrong.
The way that Stephens-Howling was being used in preseason was not very effective. He is dangerous in the open field. They need to scheme ways to get him the ball. I don’t see him faring well staying back in protection.
i trust beanie about as far as i could throw him.
they needed another back that could handle a workload- Lash isn’t that. Taylor was a good pickup.
Kenwo4life=ratings. Just call me Mr. USA Today.
you made my point better than me
Taylor replaces LSH.
Who doesn’t need to be replaced.
No more night. I have seen the light. Let it shine on bright.
HANG HIM HIGHER!!!
by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Sep 4, 2011 4:11 PM MDT up reply actions
I don't even think he does that.
Taylor is essentially a pass block specialist. He doesn’t provide much other benefit. Stephens-Howling however is a scary man when you get him the ball and some space to move. He is not a proto-typical runningback and should not be used that way.
LSH is a sapce runner. Ask him to block, he sucks (Seriously go watch some plays where he has tried), ask him to run up the middle he really struggles. I think LSH’s best value on this team is as a gunner and return man. He was 7th round pick to get that kind of value out of him is good, but he is not a feature runner, nor will he ever be nor has he ever been.
Last year for the Bears
Forte carried 237 times (15 per game) for 1069 yards 4.5 per carry
Taylor had 112—7 per game for 267 yards. Only 2.4 per carry.
Why does anyone thin he’s any good?
No more night. I have seen the light. Let it shine on bright.
HANG HIM HIGHER!!!
by Cuckoo for Coco Puffs on Sep 4, 2011 4:07 PM MDT reply actions
Taylor's average has steadily gone down.
The last four years – 5.4, 4.0, 3.6, 2.4. He is 32 years old. A few years ago Taylor would have been good to have. Now he is highly suspect.
Great stats but...
All I will say is last year the Bears O line was pretty bad and he was used mostly on passing downs. I think he is a spot player and he will be on a short leash this year with the one year deal.
The Jet's waived OLB Maybin
I wonder if the Cards are interested in him, he played 3-4 and was a high first round pick in 2009. Has issues keeping his weight up though.
No thanks.
"The point is, by my standards, I won fair and square."
-Bender
by az78true on Sep 4, 2011 6:55 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
Maybin couldn't cut it in Buffalo.
Couldn’t stick with the Jets. He isn’t a better option than guys we just cut. Issues with weight is only part of the story. Got to be better choices out there than Maybin.
Good pick up with Crezdon Butler.
He was the victim of a logjam of young corners on our team, we took the two rookies from this class over him as their upside seems to be higher.
I don’t’ think he’s an all-star waiting to happen, but he should be a serviceable reserve even if he never develops from where he is now. He coudl still turn into a very good starting corner, and we really are sad to see him go, especially with us keeping Willie Gay again.
Good signing of Ray Horton as well, he was a really good DB coach, hope he does well at DC.
We are all hoping the same thing with Horton.
So far all positive signs from him. Just need to put all the right pieces in place.
Sturdivant and Spach were released.
Wonder if Sturdivant will make it through waivers and get to the practice squad. Apparently they put in for Brandon Tate too but the Bengals had a higher claim.
People are missing the point with the Taylor signing. His is going to be a spot player who might get 50 carries. Maybe.
He is going to be a 3rd down back used as a pass blocker (Of which he is among the two or three best in the NFL at doing) and a pass catcher (Of which he is also very solid). It is almost full circle for Taylor, and will take him back to the role he had when he backed up Jamal Lewis in Baltimore. Lewis was taken out on 3rd downs for Taylor who blocked and caught passes.
LSH is a horrible blocker, and he will be used more as the spell back if we want to get Beanie some rest.
You do not plan for your #1 back to get injured. You plan to put together a unit that will produce as a unit and adding Taylor does that.
He averaged 40 catches a season in Minnesota. And has over 250 career receptions.
by khodder on Sep 4, 2011 7:38 PM MDT reply actions 2 recs
Not missing the point at all.
I understand what they are doing with bringing in Taylor. Doesn’t change my opinion that he is probably washed up. I liked Taylor when he was with Minnesota but at 32 and with declining numbers I question how much he has left.
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