So who is this Russ Grimm character and what has he done to my fantasy team?
On Monday night, I went way out on the branch and grabbed Edgerrin James against the judgement of just about every analyst in the bloated world of fantasy football at #12 in a ten team league. Go ahead, take a second and let that sit. What was my reasoning? You're looking at him - Russ Grimm.
Russ Grimm is the Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach/assistant head coach and the catalyst for my gutsiest fantasy decision of this season. Grimm has been donned with the task of revamping the Cardinals' offensive line for the 2007 season and he seems up to the task. I for one am pickin' up what he's puttin' down. Grimm is not just any run of the mill offensive line coach riding on the wave of his success as a player, which by the way includes 4 super bowl rings, a spot on the NFL's '80s All-Decade Team, and a featured spot as a legend in NFL 2K8 (This last one is a questionable honor as Andre Ware is also a legend - it's gotta be a joke). On the contrary, Grimm is a highly coveted coach in the NFL. He was a finalist for the Bears head coaching job 3 years ago and was more recently a finalist for the head coaching job of the Steelers.
Despite reports that Arizona is going to be a pass first team in 2007, Grimm explained his offensive philosophy in an interview with the Arizona Republic, "Build a solid running attack and pass when you want to, not when the defense dictates it." That doesn't spell pass-first to me, but rather Pittsburgh smash mouth.
Grimm's task is no easy feat, but he is making solid traction. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt has been singing high praises of Grimm's style, "He has a great way of categorizing the responsibilities, so the linemen can be more aggressive." Whisenhunt also complimented Grimm's ability to simplify the playbook, so that the linemen can easily recognize their assignments in each situation. Finally, experts, fellow coaches, and players alike acknowledge that Grimm is a firm believer in the idea that the offensive line is a team in itself and that they must learn to work together and function together. He seems to have a great sense for building chemistry within his programs. While most people look at the rebuilding effort and see just one player returning to his same role as 2006 (Deuce Lutui), I see a man who knows what was wrong and how to fix it.
Despite Grimm's arrival, there have been some speed bumps in the healing process in Arizona. For starters, starting right tackle, Oliver Ross, is done for the season. Ross was expected to fill a big hole in the line, but the team is optimistic, because it pushes first round draft pick (#5 overall), Levi Brown, into the fold as a starter. Also, Edgerrin James has suffered a minor hamstring injury as was held out of the preseason game against the Chargers on Saturday night. While neither of these are necessarily positives, they both have silver linings. Edge seems to have a fire in his belly and wants to prove himself more than ever and Levi is expected to be a franchise lineman, so this could be good in the long run.
Maybe I'm just a sucker for a comeback, but I have a good feeling about what Grimm can do and my pickup of Edgerrin James is my way of showing it. So this goes out to all the owners who took a gamble on Edgerrin James this year. We all know what Edge is capable of with a little run support and this season he must just get it. So, if anyone tries to demean you for your selection of a fantasy flop, just tell them Russ sent you.
Sources
Arizona Cardinals Homepage
Arizona Cardinals Homepage #2
Wikpedia
Arizona Republic
Hog Heaven
Pittsburgh Steelers Home Page
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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10 comments:
As much as I love Russ Grimm, I'll believe AZ has o-line improvement when I see it, and I say this as a fellow Edge drafter.
O-line improvement might be full of more pre-season hot air than new coaches who say a defense is going to be 'more aggressive this year.'
thats good & all except for the fact that u still could have gotten him a round later
Good, gutsy decision. You're sending a message to the league: don't push you because you're close to the Edge.
As a Steeler fan, I can tell you that Grimm is going to run the ball. He coached our line into a great unit over and over again during his season with us. I expect Edge to do better than last season, but you still might have picked him a little too high.
grimm isn't in the hall
I just traded the Edge + Roy Williams for Kellen Winlsow and Wes Welker....I was sold on the hype for about a week on Edge, but it's the Cardinals....they'll find a way to screw up....I know it's a borderline insanity trade
It might've be too early, but I don't think I could have gotten him in the third, b/c my next pick would have been #26. He'll probably blow an ACL in practice anyway.
Bartles, I must say that sounds like about the dumbest trade known to man.
I got him in the 9th round of my 8 team league. I only chose him because the next 10 RB below him on my RB chart were all scratched off. Thanks for giving me false hope, though.
to the dude who traded Roy Williams and Edge for Soldier and Welker, prepare to be mocked all season long. that is the worst trade I've ever heard.
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