TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona Cardinals will enter this season with the best running game Bruce Arians has seen in his three years as head coach in the desert.
“Better than it’s ever been,” Arians said.
The reason is twofold. One, he said, the Cardinals improved the right side of their offensive line. Two, the backfield is as deep, talented and experienced as it’s been under Arians.
Gone are right tackle Bobby Massie, guards Ted Larsen and Jonathan Cooper, and center Lyle Sendlein. In their places are right tackle D.J. Humphries, right guard Evan Mathis and center A.Q. Shipley.
“That’s one thing D.J. brings, he brings great run-blocking ability to run both directions,” Arians said. “Evan has been a great run-blocker for a long time. We really upgraded our running game because of our right side of our line.”
And it’s not like the Cardinals’ run game was bad last season. The team finished eighth in the league in rushing with 1,917 yards and sixth with 16 touchdowns.
Had Chris Johnson not fractured his tibia in Week 12, he likely would’ve rushed for close to 1,200 yards, if not more. As a rookie, David Johnson replaced Chris and was the NFL's third-leading rusher over the last five weeks of the season.
David Johnson is slated to take over the primary ball-carrying responsibilities this season, but Arians wouldn’t commit to a set number of carries or a percentage of carries for his backs.
“I’ll be a game-time feel, and game planning, making sure we have the best guys in doing the things they do best,” Arians said.
By rotating the backfield between David, Chris and Andre Ellington, with a sprinkle of Stepfan Taylor, Arians said David won’t “have to play tired whatsoever.”
With a backfield that had an entire offseason to learn the offensive scheme, compared to a truncated spring last year for David Johnson and just part of training camp for Chris Johnson, Arians sees touchdown potential every time they get a carry.
“The way they keep preparing and going, each time they touch the ball, it looks like they’re going to break it to the house,” Arians said. “So that’s a beautiful thing.”