A Fourth Chance At C.J. Anderson?
February 2nd, 2019
Serious NFL fans hear the one-liner every damn year. “Guys like that aren’t walking around on the street.”
Of course they are — and it really doesn’t matter the position. You just the need the right general manager and coaching staff to find them, evaluate them, and adjust to them.
This brings Joe to Rams running back C.J. Anderson.
For some reason, it appears Tampa Bay was among the teams that had no interest in Anderson during free agency last year and then again after he was cut by Carolina late this season. Back in April and coming off a 1,000-yard season, the Broncos released Anderson as a salary cap move and a few weeks later he went to the Panthers on a one-year, $1.7 million contract, plus incentives.
But Anderson barely played for the Panthers and was cut in November. Per Anderson, he had multiple teams interested but went to the Raiders because he always wanted to play for Chucky, whose energy and style he loved.
Well, Chucky cut him in a hurry and Anderson turned into an absolute instant star for the Rams. He churned out 422 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 66 carries in his first three games, including one in the playoffs.
Joe begged for the Bucs to sign Anderson last April and to draft a running back. They settled on Ronald Jones, Shaun Wilson and rolling over about $5 million on unused salary cap dollars.
So what about another crack at undrafted Anderson, who turns 28 next week with low mileage on his tires? He’s also got a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl appearance. And he’s an elite-level community guy who has proven his passion for the game on multiple fronts.
Maybe, just maybe, the poor running back evaluators at One Buc Palace have studied why they thought Anderson couldn’t help the Bucs. Or maybe they’re willing to go there in secret conference room near Team Glazer’s cone of silence.
Forget whatever Anderson might do in tomorrow’s Super Bowl, Joe would love to see Anderson on the Tampa Bay depth chart when he likely hits free agency next month.
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:21 pm
“it’s about put’n a f#@$& ring on your finger”. It’s about friggin time we got a coaching staff not afraid to bring in anyone that is or was successful in the league recently,vafter all ” no risk it no risk biscuit” go bucs!
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:22 pm
He has almost reached hero status in LA, already. They probably keep him. His demand would be too high, driving up his value and $.
Oh yes, the great Walter Payton would fail behind this O-line!
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:27 pm
I was all for signing CJ Anderson too Joe, but the Bucs decided to go the rookie route instead with RoJo (could’ve had Anderson for $1.75 mil for 2018 but instead opted to give RoJo a $7.0 mil contract with $4.5 mil guaranteed … it’s a Bucs life).
CJ’s had a very productive career (mostly with Denver obviously) and has a career AVERAGE of 4.5 yards/carry (and Denver’s rushing offense was nothing to write home about). Have a suspicion though that the Rams will work hard to hold onto him (he’s averaging 7.0 yards/carry for them … not too shabby).
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:46 pm
I was also in favor of signing Anderson at that time.
Just another Gaffe by Jason Licht
February 2nd, 2019 at 9:47 pm
Does he come with the Rams offensive line?
Our backs are hit way too often in the backfield for anyone to consistently be successful running the ball
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:02 pm
3 Olinemen and Anderson sounds great. Walter Payton would have a hard time running behind this so called line. Arians will grant our wishes soon
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:08 pm
I 100% disagree with you Joe. We don’t need a guy like C.J.
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:14 pm
C.J. Anderson is legit…was very good on Denver. I agreed with Joe about signing him in the offseason. His ship has likely sailed as the price and number of pursuers have no doubt gone up. That Ronald McDonald Jones pick has left a mark. A few picks after the Bulldogs Michel & Chubb. Feels like a panic move a la the drafting of another 2nd round “speedster” Dexter “Inaction” Jackson…soiling his namesake and Super Bowl MVP! 🙂
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:43 pm
Kareem Hunt
February 2nd, 2019 at 10:49 pm
Gotta say ,Joe CJ would have been one of your best picks of all the free agent candidates you have suggested on this site.
February 2nd, 2019 at 11:06 pm
The Joes wanted Manziel drafted here ever since those posts their personnel pleas are ignored by me
February 3rd, 2019 at 12:05 am
kareem hunt…enough said
February 3rd, 2019 at 12:05 am
f$%^k the politics, this guy can flat out play. Just win baby! haha
February 3rd, 2019 at 12:06 am
some times a ho needs smacked…haha
February 3rd, 2019 at 12:14 am
We should have got Carlos Hyde in the offseason. Then C.J. Anderson when he got cut. The Ameer Abdullah when he got cut.
It’s not like we even played Rojo, so we basically passed on all these guys for Jajizz Rogers.
Maybe we can make up for it and get Darrell Henderson in the 4th. I doubt it though.
February 3rd, 2019 at 12:14 am
I agree on Hunt, assuming he just messed up and isn’t a human piece of garbage.
February 3rd, 2019 at 12:52 am
I like how Cj Andersonwas supposedly beloved by all the faithful JBF aficionados. Bull crap. I remember being on this board last year pounding the CJ Anderson drum and the only one I remember jumping on board was Joe. The fact is CJ is a bruiser and he’s a horse back there. I don’t know why we wouldn’t be interested. He can be had for peanuts.
February 3rd, 2019 at 2:26 am
The dude got cut by Carolina, he’s absolutely not better Barber, he’s just playing on a team with a fantastic offensive line. There’s no way I’d want him as anything other than a 3rd string backup.
February 3rd, 2019 at 4:01 am
Put Barber behind the Rams o-line and Joe would be pining for Barber then. CJ was released by 3 teams in one season before he landed on the Rams, so what does that sort of tell you? Are the 3 other teams bad evaluators or could anyone put up numbers behind that Ram line?? Maybe even Todd Gurley is overrated.
February 3rd, 2019 at 7:22 am
Need an OLine
Need an OLine
You can put anyone back there you want, with no holes being made, no RB will make any yards
February 3rd, 2019 at 10:47 am
IMO…if you watch the run blocking scheme and seamless fit of the group up front led by Saffold (UFA btw..) and Havenstein, etc… of the Rams, that has largely been the majority of the success for any Rams RB there. Even the backup RB’s who got hurt, and before Anderson was signed, performed fairly well when Gurley was off the field. Gurley is Gurley, so he makes his, and plays out wide more.
Kareem Hunt is the better add, and can be signed anytime by any team, even before the length of suspension is announced by the NFL, likely 2-4 games because the “time served” idea seems to be getting some traction, after the games that Kareem missed at the end of last season.
Sign Kareem, and draft a 3rd round RB of choice.
February 3rd, 2019 at 6:03 pm
ATrain: amen, brother.
February 3rd, 2019 at 6:14 pm
Hunt or CJ Anderson just make it happen
February 4th, 2019 at 10:21 am
Bring that biscuit eating RB here! The Rams needed to run him more last night because Gurley wasn’t doing squat! I hope they sign C.J.!