For decades, it seems the Arizona Cardinals have struggled to find quality running backs.
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A healthy roster gives the Cardinals a good chance to bounce back from a disappointing loss last week to the Rams. Jermaine Gresham has been getting significant playing time at that spot, too. This year, he’s on pace for 1,200 yards while spelling nominal starter Ellington, who has been out since suffering a knee injury in Week 1.
Everyone from coach Jim Caldwell to offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, as well as many players, lauded the offense for its progress in the offseason. “I’ll be ready to go”. Fifth in the National Football League in rushing yards, Johnson has averaged five-plus yards per carry in back-to-back games. He can put his foot in the ground like Chris, but he also can just shake somebody down in the middle of the field.
After a ho-hum run with the New York Jets, the former speed king was shot in his shoulder during a terrible March incident in Florida that left one person dead. “I think (Stafford) is one of the best in the business”. Carson (Palmer) does a great job offensively, Frostee (Rucker) and Calais (Campbell) and Pat (Peterson) defensively.
Palmer raved about how quickly he picked up the offense and how good he is at protections and reading defenses.
“We came into today with the right mindset, from the attention to details this morning, to sticking around after practice and going through a few stuff that we worked on today”, Palmer said Wednesday. He’s as good a receiver as he is a back….
David Johnson continued his stellar rookie season in Week 4.
He had a rough game in Sunday’s 24-22 home loss to St. Louis, fumbling the opening kickoff and dropping a touchdown pass. A completion would have set up an attempt for a game-winning field goal.
Carson Palmer has been so impressed by the top three Cardinals running backs this season he believes each of them deserves to start and get 25 touches a game.
Specifically, “the zone plays and the hard dive plays are what he’s really good at”, Arians said.
Whether that really will be the case remains to be seen.
How the Cardinals play Sunday will tell a lot about the team and its prospects going forward.
Remember, it was not long ago – 2012, to be exact – when the Cardinals won their first four games before reeling off 10 consecutive losses.
“We can’t dwell”, he said. For me, they just look like they don’t quite understand the system yet. “Obviously now you throw in the crowd noise and that issue and we’ll be ready for it. We’re prepared”. The fans, though, are another matter. “You go out for a 33-yard extra point, you’ve got to be in that moment every time”. “They (the fans) have to go work and cry – and rightfully so until they get another win – and drink a lot of beer”.
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The Lions haven’t scored 30 points all year, and haven’t scored more than 16 in any of the past three weeks.
