Cards rank LAST in rushing attempts

[azsouthendzone]

For the mind boggling stat of the day, the Cardinals rank dead last in the NFL with average rushing attempts per game with 19.6. They are the ONLY team in the NFL to average less than 20 attempts per game. They also have the fewest rushing attempts with 196. Dallas is next at 227. The fact that this team has two capable running backs and probably the worst QB in the modern era makes this stat all the more puzzling.

Trust the system

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Playing from behind all season long. Not surprising and also mindboggling at the same time.

 

[kerouac9]

Yeah, when you go down so much so early, you're kind of forced to pass. It's a shame that we're not rushing the ball more early in the game or in the close ones (only rushing 13 times against Minnesota was probably a mistake; 20 rushes against Tampa was probably still to few; 20 rushes at Seattle was an immense blunder).

 

[CaptTurbo]

Even when we are not behind we pass first.

We have Mike Martz part deaux calling plays.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Even when we are not behind we pass first.

We have Mike Martz part deaux calling plays.

This. Beanie Wells speaks up again....Article on KTAR.com.

 

[desertdawg]

I can understand a losing season after losing Warner, I can appreciate the wins Whiz got even while having DA and Hall blowing it up like a bathroom.

But if you have DA or Hall running the game, you better be running in said games. A lot of people have been saying this all year.

Whats the difference between first and ten, and third and one? No difference, you line up shot gun and live or die with DA.

Last in the league in rushing attempts with DA as your QB is coo coo.
Sorry, I love some Whiz, but some times you have to run the rock.

 

[john h]

For the mind boggling stat of the day, the Cardinals rank dead last in the NFL with average rushing attempts per game with 19.6. They are the ONLY team in the NFL to average less than 20 attempts per game. They also have the fewest rushing attempts with 196. Dallas is next at 227. The fact that this team has two capable running backs and probably the worst QB in the modern era makes this stat all the more puzzling.

Trust the system

Our RB's cannot seem to stay healthy is more than just a minor problem. We are last in the NFL in several other important areas.

 

[Hypothesis]

There's quite a few reasons we haven't run the ball more actually.

1) As mentioned, we fall behind..usually early

2) After we have relative success early running the ball, teams cram 8-9 guys in the box and focus almost solely on our run. Notice how we have a penchant for the 0 to 1 yard runs. Teams completely sell out against our run because they know our QB can't beat them through the air.

3) Beanie Wells said in a radio interview last week that the game against KC is the first time he's been healthy since the preseason.

4) Tim Hightower's fumbilitis. (Although I will say he seems to protect the ball better now; Perhaps he wasn't getting more runs until he could earn Whis' trust back)

5) LSH has been banged up and isn't, even when healthy, going to carry the ball much.

6) And lastly, if we had a QB that could just simply go through his progressions and throw with the slightest bit of accuracy, we wouldn't have opposing teams putting much emphasis on our running game. My word...we have a wide open receiver on almost 95% of all our passes and either DA overthrows him or doesn't see the open receiver at all.

Just as the "threat" of a running game can open the passing game up, conversely, the "threat" of a passing game can open up our running game. Right now, we severely lack that "threat" when it comes to our passing game

 

[john h]

I can understand a losing season after losing Warner, I can appreciate the wins Whiz got even while having DA and Hall blowing it up like a bathroom.

But if you have DA or Hall running the game, you better be running in said games. A lot of people have been saying this all year.

Whats the difference between first and ten, and third and one? No difference, you line up shot gun and live or die with DA.

Last in the league in rushing attempts with DA as your QB is coo coo.
Sorry, I love some Whiz, but some times you have to run the rock.

I am still puzzled by the call Whiz made a couple of weeks ago. We were on the five yard line of the opponent and it was 4Th down. He called a run up the middle and we gained zero yardage. I guess we sure fooled the opposition. Even with DA out there that was a dumb call before and after the play. I wonder if a OC would have made that call? Michael Bidwill needs to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with Graves, Whiz and all the coaching staff after this season is over. He also needs to do a bit of self introspection.

I see a lot of good suggestions from fans on this board. Mr. Bidwill might get some ideas worth considering if he can stand the heat we put out there with our names on it. Some of us may not be very bright but as a group we come with some stand-up ideas. Even Mitch who seems to be a notch above the rest of us. Owners need to stay in touch with their fan base. We are here in the good times and bad times. We buy gear. We pay a ton to Direct TV to watch the games and most of this money goes back into the pockets of the owners. What we think does matter even if it is outrageous sometimes. Go Cards! After all is said and done we want the players and coaches to succeed more than anyone.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Go Cards! After all is said and done we want the players and coaches to succeed more than anyone.

Well said.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Even when we are not behind we pass first.

We have Mike Martz part deaux calling plays.

This. Beanie Wells speaks up again....Article on KTAR.com.

Saw a stat recently that showed that on First Downs for the year, the Cards have run the ball the exact same number of times they have passed the ball!

 

[82CardsGrad]

For the mind boggling stat of the day, the Cardinals rank dead last in the NFL with average rushing attempts per game with 19.6. They are the ONLY team in the NFL to average less than 20 attempts per game. They also have the fewest rushing attempts with 196. Dallas is next at 227. The fact that this team has two capable running backs and probably the worst QB in the modern era makes this stat all the more puzzling.

Trust the system

Seriously?? Is this really a shock for a team that possesses the 2nd largest negative point differential in the NFL??

 

[kerouac9]

Saw a stat recently that showed that on First Downs for the year, the Cards have run the ball the exact same number of times they have passed the ball!

There is no way that this is the case. Can you provide evidence of that? Even when games are still close, the Cards in the games I charted were throwing the ball 15% more on first down than when they passed.

 

[Shane]

This. Beanie Wells speaks up again....Article on KTAR.com.

Beanie Wells and his fragile self as well as his 3 YPC needs to just ****.

 

[Catfish]

What is even more sad, that we don't have to get behind and pass pass pass. We can still run the ball then, and it will keep the other team from scoring while we hold the ball. It also gives our defense a chance to rest. Poor coaching got us into this, and it is keeping us there.

 

[azsouthendzone]

http://ktar.com/category/cardinals-...e-Wells-wants-the-ball-on-a-consistent-basis/

 

[82CardsGrad]

There is no way that this is the case. Can you provide evidence of that? Even when games are still close, the Cards in the games I charted were throwing the ball 15% more on first down than when they passed.

Well, I heard Wolf make this statement last week. He actually gave the exact # of runs and pass attempts on First Down. Not sure where to find the stat, but Wolf sure seemed pretty darn sure of himself.

 

[82CardsGrad]

http://ktar.com/category/cardinals-...e-Wells-wants-the-ball-on-a-consistent-basis/

Good to see he has a heart after all... Any RB in the NFL should want the rock as much as possible. It's what you do with it once it's in your hands that matters most.

 

[kerouac9]

Well, I heard Wolf make this statement last week. He actually gave the exact # of runs and pass attempts on First Down. Not sure where to find the stat, but Wolf sure seemed pretty darn sure of himself.

Against the Seahawks, we passed on first down in 5 of 7 drives. Wolf is an idiot who falls all over himself to make excuses for the organization. According to Wolf, nothing is wrong with the Arizona Cardinals. Sadly for him, he knows tons of what's going on with losing teams, but very little about how you win in the NFL.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

I can't remember the exact stats or who called in, but it was a couple weeks ago on one of those programs someone called in and broke down the percentages of passing on first down at different parts of the game and the cardinals were one of the lowest teams in the league in rushing attempts

There was a thread on it .... and here it is

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/interesting-cards-1st-down-stats-159656.html?highlight=pass

this goes back a few weeks so the #s may of changed a little .... but I doubt a ton

 

[82CardsGrad]

Against the Seahawks, we passed on first down in 5 of 7 drives. Wolf is an idiot who falls all over himself to make excuses for the organization. According to Wolf, nothing is wrong with the Arizona Cardinals. Sadly for him, he knows tons of what's going on with losing teams, but very little about how you win in the NFL.

Just reviewed the first 2 games of the year...

Rams: 16 Pass Attempts, 16 Rush Attempts

Falcons: 11 Pass Attemtps, 10 Rush Attempts

I might have some time later this afternoon to review the rest of the season, however, these two games seem to suggest Wolf might have been onto something...

 

[kerouac9]

I thought I'd chart this out:

FIRST DOWNS PLAY CALLS PASS/RUN (INCLUDING 1ST DOWNS REPEATED BY PENALTY)
@STL: 17/17 (NB: One series featured 5 straight runs all for first down)
@ATL: 11/11(NB: Four runs against four passes before score became 24-7, includes clock-killing run by Wright to end game)
OAK: 9/18 (NB: Includes 1 run by THT to end 1st half)
@SD: 13/8 (NB: 8/5 until game got out of hand at 31-7)
NO: 9/12
@SEA: 12/12
TB: 17/14
@MIN: 11/11
SEA: 18/8
@KC: 20/13

TOTAL: 117 passes, 112 runs. It was about even up until the last quarter of the Chiefs game.

One thing that you notice charting these is that the Cards pretty much alternate run and pass every series on first down. It's like a metronome. No wonder we have a hard time consistently running as the game goes along; opposing defenses know what's coming. It even happens when the score goes crazy.

If we're running about the same amount of time as we're passing on first downs, how pass-wacky are we getting on 2nd and 3rd down? We're averaging 4.3 YPC rushing the ball; half the time we're looking at second-and-five and STILL passing with our terrible quarterback(s).

The playcalling for this team is just mystifying.

 

[Duckjake]

Aren't the Cards always last in rushing attempts?

If they finish there this season it will be the third consecutive year they've been 32nd in rush attempts. Also were 32nd in 2005 so that would be 4 of the last 6 seasons.

I don't think the Cards were playing from behind too often last year. In fact at least half the time they were up by 14 or more by early 3rd quarter.

 

[nashman]

Whiz has proven himself to be a terrible playcaller and even scarier a terrible judge of talent! Can't wait to see what the joker has in store for us! Freaking idiot I knew as well as many others the season was lost the minute he decided to latch the fare of this team on a proven loser in Derek Anderson ! You have to be blindly loyal to whiz not to question his ridiculous decisions this year.

 

[desertdawg]

Whiz has proven himself to be a terrible playcaller and even scarier a terrible judge of talent! Can't wait to see what the joker has in store for us! Freaking idiot I knew as well as many others the season was lost the minute he decided to latch the fare of this team on a proven loser in Derek Anderson ! You have to be blindly loyal to whiz not to question his ridiculous decisions this year.

If everything you are saying is true, how did we get to the superbowl. If he is so lousy, how did he turn it around here? I am not going to pack it in with Whiz, you can type what ever you like but what were you typing when we were winning?

I wasn't around this forum then so I honestly don't know and am too lazy to look it up. If you were bashing Whiz while we were winning, I will listen to your views all day, if not, it sounds like the blame game. I still blame DA so I am guilty of the blame game as well.

Side note, if you design me a avatar with a cardinal on a dogs head in the desert, I will be for ever indebted to you.