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Cardinals RB coach James Saxon breaks down RBs on roster

Arizona Cardinals running backs coach James Saxon was recently a guest on the “Big Red Rage,” the team’s weekly radio show. In his segment of the show, he spoke about the running backs on the roster.

Check out what he had to say about them.

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Chase Edmonds

Edmonds is projected to be the Cardinals' starting running back after three years of playing a smaller and complementary role. Saxon is impressed by Edmonds as a person and a player. "Probably one of the smartest guys we've ever been around," he said. "The guy's not only a phenomenal above-the-neck person and just a personable human, just being around him and talking to him. "He's an excellent athlete. The self-confidence, it just oozes out of him. Everybody around the building kind of gravitates toward him and it's good for our team." Saxon spoke to the necessity for all players to be healthy and available, but knows Edmonds has the ability to carry the offensive load. "We feel like this guy is capable of doing those things," he said. "He's ready. It's going to be fun to watch."

James Conner

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Saxon coached Conner in 2017 and 2018 when Conner first entered the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He loves Conner. "This guy is a pro," he said. "There are no words I can use to describe how I feel about the kid. I'm extremely excited that he chose to be here with us. It's going to be a good thing and it's going to fun to watch." The 6-1, 233-pound running back has the skills to do everything, but Saxon makes no bones about the type of back Conner is. "He's exactly what he's advertised to be," he said. "He's a downhill runner. There's no B.S." He is able to catch the ball, but that probably won't be how he is used. "Oh yeah (he can catch), but I don't think you want to ask an elephant to ride in a sailboat," he said. That said, "the guy's capable of doing whatever you ask him to do."

Eno Benjamin

Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK

Benjamin is a second-year pro who was inactive for all 16 games of his rookie season after getting drafted in the seventh round. "He's got great ability," he said. "It's going to be time for him. He's just going to have to take advantage of whatever opportunity he gets. Maybe it's one play here, maybe it's 10. He's going to have to be prepared to be available, No. 1, and, No. 2, to be able to execute properly the thing we're going to ask him to do. He's an exciting young player."

The rest of the guys

(AP Photo/Matt York)

The rest of the backs on the roster are Jonathan Ward, Tavien Feaster and Khalfani Muhammad. Ward played some last year. Saxon called him an "extremely exciting young player." Saxon noted that offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler knows Muhammad from his time with the Denver Broncos in 2018.

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