Second Time Around

[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://blog.denverbroncos.com/mrice/second-time-around/

Before the 2009 season, the Broncos signed running back J.J. Arrington (JJ) as a free agent. Unfortunately, he missed the entire season because of a knee injury.

The Broncos stayed in contact and have brought Arrington back again. This time around, things figure to be different. Arrington is healthy and ready to make a difference with the 2010 Broncos.

Recently during mini-camp, we caught up with J.J.

850 KOA: How good does it feel just to be on the field again?

JJ: It feels great. Words can’t express how good it feels to be out here with my teammates, smelling the grass, putting cleats on. It’s been so long but I’m thankful everything is coming together.

850 KOA: How does the knee feel?

JJ: The knee is about 80, 85 percent. I’m just working the kinks out. Before I was just running straight. Now I’m doing some turns and stuff so the kinks should be out.

850 KOA: Are there any doubts you’ll be full strength for training camp?

JJ: No doubts. I’ll be pretty good in about two to three weeks.

850 KOA: How frustrating was it to miss last season with the knee injury?

JJ: Oh man. It was hard for about the first two months, sitting on the couch, going to rehab every morning and then seeing the team come out and go 6-0. It hurt, man. It hurt so bad. I just learned to take it as it was and sat back and watched to see what I could learn by watching.

850 KOA: Was it gratifying that the Broncos kept in touch and kept an interest in you?

JJ: Oh yeah, definitely. I wanted to come here all along. That’s why I signed here last year. I was excited about Coach (McDaniels) being here, a first-year coach, and being with him in his first year. I’m glad he kept in touch with me, checking on me and seeing how I was doing. It means a lot to me.

850 KOA: What kind of work have you and the team done during these offseason workouts? Assess the progress.

JJ: I think we’ve been doing pretty good. We’ve come off the offseason conditioning and coming out here and putting the helmets on and cleats, everybody has been looking good right now. We have a lot of high expectations for the season coming up.

850 KOA: Do you look at this year as a new start for you?

JJ: Definitely. You take a year off (and) it’s starting all over again pretty much. But once I get back in and get to see the defenses, I’ll be fine.

850 KOA: Thanks, J.J.

As always, thanks for reading. Feel free to post your thoughts about how you think Arrington might fit in this year.

We’re getting close to the countdown to training camp. It won’t be long. I hope you’re all enjoying the summer.

I’ll have another installment of the interview series next week.

Sincerely,
Mike

[Northman]

Sadly, the guy has been injury plagued his entire career. But here's to hoping he can contribute something this year.

[TXBRONC]

Sadly, the guy has been injury plagued his entire career. But here's to hoping he can contribute something this year.

I wonder what kind of role they would have in mind for him? :ponder:

He's been a ok return specialist in the past but if I'm not mistaken but right now it looks like Royal might be called on to handle those duties once again.

[Bosco]

Sadly, the guy has been injury plagued his entire career. But here's to hoping he can contribute something this year.

Huh? Fact check much?

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/ArriJ.00.htm

2005: 15 games
2006: 16 games
2007: 16 games
2008: 11 games

[Bosco]

I wonder what kind of role they would have in mind for him? :ponder:

I imagine they want him to be their Kevin Faulk.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FaulKe00.htm

[dogfish]

good lord, it's the 1st of july and his knee's at 80%?

:tsk:

anyone know the last time he went under the knife? guy had an entire year off and he's still not healthy? sheesh. . . i try not to complain about trivial shit, and i know we haven't even started camp yet, etc etc. . . but investing in players with either significant injury history and/or current injury problems was something shanahan did that always irked me, and i don't want to see mcD go down that road. . .

we really need arrington, d. thomas and decker all healthy and ready to go by the start of camp. . . we need to get those guys up to speed this year if we don't want this thing to turn into one of carl peterson's five year rebuilding projects. . . of course no coach or front office can realistically be held "responsible" for injuries that happen during the course of the season, but these are guys you acquired during the offseason, knowing full well that they weren't completely healthy. . . different story. . .

i do understand that pretty much every organization is going to take a chance on some guys with injury concerns at some point, it's part of the game. . . it's a great way to find potential draft steals, or sometimes get a free agent on the cheap who still has some productive years (rodney harrison as a prime example, even though i can't stand the bum). . . typically you'd prefer to take chances with your later round picks, though-- i'm not particularly wild about the thought of consistently doing it with your higher draft picks. . .

i'm not freaking out or anything. . . at least arrington wasn't particularly expensive, so it's not like it'll hurt us much if he doesn't come back enough to make the team. . . the worse part is that we're probably counting on him to fill certain roles. . . although, signing kolby smith-- a guy who at least gives us an option for a competent third back, even if he doesn't have the 3rd-down back skillset that arrington does-- does make me feel a little better about our depth there. . . hopefully perrish cox or syd'quan thompson can contribute in the return game. . .

i guess the arrington thing just irks me because we signed the guy last year, he wasn't healthy enough to play, we come back and sign him again after a year out of football. . . and now he's still not healthy? WTF? i don't know if he has some type of degenerative condition or what, but i really have to wonder how he's going to hold up under live game action when his knee is at 80% after well over a calendar year off. . .

[Denver Native (Carol)]

This article is dated June 10, 2010

http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_15264900

His knee was sutured, his career on hold, shrouded in doubt. But the pain, the real pain, came from the silence.

"In this game, when you're hurt, when you have something, you realize who your friends are," said Broncos running back J.J. Arrington, who played four years with the Arizona Cardinals. "That was one of the things that hurt the most. You realize how important you are to some people. That's what hurt the most.

"(Only) a couple guys out of 60 that you played with four or five years call you, you're kind of shocked by it, but life is learning and it's all about the learning."

Today will mark one year since Arrington had extensive surgery on his right knee to repair what he called severe cartilage damage. He previously had surgery on the knee after the 2008 season, causing him to arrive for a free-agent visit with Denver in March 2009 on a pair of crutches.

The Broncos released him last May and re-signed him this year in March. He continues to pursue "the feeling that I'm 100 percent."

"I'm getting closer all the time," said Arrington, 27. "I'm about 80, 85 percent. I get better every week. Last week I could only run a straight line, this week I can make turns. By training camp, I'll be ready to go."

If things go well, Arrington will be a third-down back for the Broncos and a candidate to be a kickoff returner. The former California star is back with the Broncos because of the interest coach Josh McDaniels showed before and after the most recent knee surgery.

"I checked in on him after his procedure," McDaniels said. "Personal side, I guess, because I knew what he was going through. Showing him we were supportive of him."

Said Arrington: "He called every few weeks, just to see how I was doing, how I was coming along."

McDaniels said the Broncos wanted to keep the line of communication with Arrington open during his recovery.

After the surgery, Arrington spent six days a week for two months at Dr. James Andrews' clinic in Birmingham, Ala. He returned to the Phoenix area to continue his rehab work and watched every Broncos game last season on television with his satellite package.

"When they started 6-0, I was right there," Arrington said. "I saw them all. I didn't hide from football. It's what I've been doing since I was 6. I knew I would do everything I could to get back and I'm almost there."

"We did get to spend some time with him last year and get to know him really well," McDaniels said. "He had an opportunity to make an impression on us. Then ultimately (the knee) just never healed the right way. I don't think you can ever make promises when that situation comes up. But I think everybody left on good terms, which is the most important thing."

Arrington joined the Broncos' full-team workouts last week on a part-time basis.

The Broncos open training camp July 24, when the team's rookies are scheduled to report. The veterans will report five days later and Arrington said he plans to be 100 percent, or at least feeling as well as he did when he last played in an NFL game in December 2008.

In his four seasons with the Cardinals, the 5-foot-9, 212-pound Arrington made eight starts and rushed for 654 yards in 58 games, averaging 3.6 yards per carry.

"I wanted to come here all along," Arrington said of Denver. "It means a lot to me.

"But just to be out here with my teammates, smelling the grass, putting my cleats on, I'm thankful things are coming together."

[TXBRONC]

I imagine they want him to be their Kevin Faulk.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FaulKe00.htm

He's not like Kevin Faulk besides that we'll have to see if even makes the team.

[Bosco]

He's not like Kevin Faulk

How is he not? They're both relatively small, quicker backs who work an all purpose role.

[TXBRONC]

How is he not? They're both relatively small, quicker backs who work an all purpose role.

Faulk is a productive between the tackle runner who can give you 50 or more carries consistently and a very reliable pass catcher that just about year in and year out can gives you 35 or more catches consistently. Arrington hasn't been able to do that to this point.

[Bosco]

Faulk is a productive between the tackle runner who can give you 50 or more carries consistently and a very reliable pass catcher that just about year in and year out can gives you 35 or more catches consistently. Arrington hasn't been able to do that to this point.

That's the exact same skillset Arrington has. They are alike in just about every way possible except for age.

[T.K.O.]

"rushed for 654 yards in 58 games".....huh ?:confused:
that does'nt seem right

[HORSEPOWER 56]

I don't really have an expectations for him. If he makes the team and contributes, fine. I have a feeling that the only reason he's even here (brought back for round 2) is the hope he'll finally become that returner we've lacked. Eddie Royal is just too valuable as a WR to continue to risk his health taking shots on STs.

[EMB6903]

That's the exact same skillset Arrington has. They are alike in just about every way possible except for age.

and ummm....... production?

[TXBRONC]

That's the exact same skillset Arrington has. They are alike in just about every way possible except for age.

You missed the point having a similar skill set doesn't mean he'll be as productive. I made that crystal clear in my previous post but you avoided it for whatever reason.

[TXBRONC]

and ummm....... production?

Exactly and I made that clear.

[Tempus Fugit]

Faulk is a productive between the tackle runner who can give you 50 or more carries consistently and a very reliable pass catcher that just about year in and year out can gives you 35 or more catches consistently. Arrington hasn't been able to do that to this point.

Faulk runs almost exclusively off of draws at this point in his career, so that "between the tackle runner" assertion really doesn't fit.

Also, in his career, Arrington has

25
8
29
29

catch seasons while playing in a much different offense, so pointing to 35 receptions as a benchmark isn't really all that out of line with what Arrington has shown he can do.

Faulk's last 6 seasons:

26
29
43
47
58
37

There's some wiggle room for a player like Arrington to get there.

Where Faulk really shines is that he's a phenomenal pass blocker for someone of his size. He's only about 200-205 lbs, but he's tremendous at picking up the blitz and at general protection. That's the area where a player like Arrington is more likely to fall short.

[Bosco]

You missed the point having a similar skill set doesn't mean he'll be as productive. I made that crystal clear in my previous post but you avoided it for whatever reason.

You challenged me on my claim that he would play the Kevin Faulk by saying he was "nothing like Faulk". Once I addressed that then you shifted towards production which as Tempus pointed out, is not that much different, especially considering that Arrington played in an offense which is much less reliant on passes to the running backs as New England's.

If production is what you wanted to argue from the start then you need to be clear about that.

[broncofaninfla]

I'm convinced Arrington won't even be on the team when Denver plays it's first game in Jax. He had a WHOLE season off and his knee is only 85%??? How is it supposed to get better during camp? He wasn't that good at Arizona when he was healthy, now that he has a bum knee odds are he'll contribute even less if at all.

[TXBRONC]

I'm convinced Arrington won't even be on the team when Denver plays it's first game in Jax. He had a WHOLE season off and his knee is only 85%??? How is it supposed to get better during camp? He wasn't that good at Arizona when he was healthy, now that he has a bum knee odds are he'll contribute even less if at all.

But hey he's just like Kevin Faulk. ;)

[Tempus Fugit]

I'm convinced Arrington won't even be on the team when Denver plays it's first game in Jax. He had a WHOLE season off and his knee is only 85%??? How is it supposed to get better during camp? He wasn't that good at Arizona when he was healthy, now that he has a bum knee odds are he'll contribute even less if at all.

You may be right. I'm just talking about his past numbers and how he'd likely fit into the Broncos scheme. I'm not seeing him out on the field every day, and I'm not at Invesco watching how his rehab is going.

However, his past does suggest that he's capable of catching the ball out of the backfield, and he certainly wasn't brought in to push Moreno or Buckhalter, so that leaves the 3rd down RB spot. Personally, I think that there's a certain other former Eagle RB who could do quite well in that role, but the Broncos haven't signed him to this point. If Arrington doesn't work out, I expect that McDaniels & Co. will put in another call to Mr. Westbrook.

[TXBRONC]

You may be right. I'm just talking about his past numbers and how he'd likely fit into the Broncos scheme. I'm not seeing him out on the field every day, and I'm not at Invesco watching how his rehab is going.

However, his past does suggest that he's capable of catching the ball out of the backfield, and he certainly wasn't brought in to push Moreno or Buckhalter, so that leaves the 3rd down RB spot. Personally, I think that there's a certain other former Eagle RB who could do quite well in that role, but the Broncos haven't signed him to this point. If Arrington doesn't work out, I expect that McDaniels & Co. will put in another call to Mr. Westbrook.

That's not how is numbers look to me. His receiving stats are ok but rushing stats don't suggest that's been successful.

[Lonestar]

You may be right. I'm just talking about his past numbers and how he'd likely fit into the Broncos scheme. I'm not seeing him out on the field every day, and I'm not at Invesco watching how his rehab is going.

However, his past does suggest that he's capable of catching the ball out of the backfield, and he certainly wasn't brought in to push Moreno or Buckhalter, so that leaves the 3rd down RB spot. Personally, I think that there's a certain other former Eagle RB who could do quite well in that role, but the Broncos haven't signed him to this point. If Arrington doesn't work out, I expect that McDaniels & Co. will put in another call to Mr. Westbrook.

I suspect that you may be correct here.

There is a very good chance he will be a strong PUP cabdiate to give him the extra time to prove it one way or the other.

He is a verstile guy that can return the ball but then we picked up a couple of those in the draft also.

But odds are PUP for now it give Josh the most flexibilty.
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[Bosco]

That's not how is numbers look to me. His receiving stats are ok but rushing stats don't suggest that's been successful.

His YPC is not that far off of Faulk's career average.

[Tempus Fugit]

That's not how is numbers look to me. His receiving stats are ok but rushing stats don't suggest that's been successful.

Arrington's last season was 2008, where he played in 11 games

29 catches at 8.8 y/c
31 carries at 6.0 y/a

I'm just not seeing a problem with those numbers for a 3rd down back over an 11 game period.

[Lonestar]

Arrington's last season was 2008, where he played in 11 games

29 catches at 8.8 y/c
31 carries at 6.0 y/a

I'm just not seeing a problem with those numbers for a 3rd down back over an 11 game period.

Whoops another logical post destroys assumptions agaIn.
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[TXBRONC]

Arrington's last season was 2008, where he played in 11 games

29 catches at 8.8 y/c
31 carries at 6.0 y/a

I'm just not seeing a problem with those numbers for a 3rd down back over an 11 game period.

Of course you would just cherry pick 2008. Up until his best out ypc was around 3.5.

[nevcraw]

I imagine they want him to be their Kevin Faulk.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FaulKe00.htm

Based on his ability he will play the TD/Eddie Mac/John Elway roll in Denver.

[Tempus Fugit]

Of course you would just cherry pick 2008. Up until his best out ypc was around 3.5.

This is what you posted:


That's not how is numbers look to me. His receiving stats are ok but rushing stats don't suggest that's been successful.

How is pointing to a player's last season in response to someone talking abut that player's numbers regarding being successful supposed to be "cherry picking"? His numbers in his last season suggest that he was successful that year. You didn't see me citing to Faulk's 3.4 ypc and 3.4 ypc, or his 9 fumbles, from his first two seasons during this discussion, did you? That would be cherry picking. Players don't enter the league the same as they are years down the road, after all.