Running game

JCSunsfan

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I was looking for a thread on this. The think I found most encouraging on offense was BA's willingness to go to the running game even in the 4th quarter. I honestly thought that Whiz's philosophy was that running was only for the first half.

A bruising running back in the 4th quarter can be very effective against a tired defense and helps with both pass protection and the ability for receivers to get open.

I love that Mendenhall doesn't juke and jive too much. He finds the best hole and then powers through it. Bell did the same thing for the Lions-pushing through the contact for an 2-3 yards per play.

Edit: In fairness to Whiz, its hard to run when ALL of your rb's are injured.
 
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Shane

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Mendenhall is a sight for sire eyes the way he runs. No slipping and falling issues either.
 

CHAPTER 7

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I just can't believe we had Beanie...Go Beanie, Go Beanie, Go Beanie...wait he fell behind the line of scrimmage...Doh!
 

MrYeahBut

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Mendenhall has bounced it outside pretty nicely a few times too. Great to see.
 

juza76

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mendenhall the best back for cardinals in 10 years.i would like to see ellington get more run.
he seems chris johnson the way he run..and looking for blocks
 

BigRedArk

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So far I am impressed with Arians and the mix he has between the run and the pass. Or I should say at least there seemed to be a good balance between the two in his play calling.

It kinda seemed like the Lions D was playing on their heels at opportune times yesterday....trying to figure out if he was gonna run or pass. It seemed like there may have been some slight hesitation. Or at least they didn't have their ears pinned back on a beeline for Palmer every time he dropped back to pass. Or so it seemed to me.

If this holds up shouldn't play action passes hold potential to be effective as the season progresses? I wonder how many of those we ran yesterday?
 

desertdawg

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Running game is fun to see, Mendy was a work horse and Ellington looked good too. Our offense wasn't figured out by the fourth quarter either, Bruce and the gang switched it up often and kept the Lions guessing. On the flip side our defense did figure out something, and they didn't let up with that cushioned prevent "but we have the lead" we had grown used to, pre Horton. I love Horton as much as the next guy but it looked as if Carlos and the boys were all about the bowel movement so that's good.

New schemes and things take a while as we all know, we saw a little of that with Calvin getting separation from PP with the pick and roll type joints. The one play where Suh came in untouched was disturbing, and Palmer's Skelton/D-Wreck impersonation on that one horrible play made me puke in my mouth, I understood how Christina Applegate felt in Dodgeball, for really though.

But a balanced game solidified with a real ground attack is what helps guys like Larry, those other two, and even Kerry Taylor get open. And we still get our down the field shots in as well, Palmer seems to dig that.

I aint saying we can bang with the chickens right now, the Saints game coming up is going to be hard to the core. But we are off to a running start.
 
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NashDishesDimes

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I am astonished at the running game so far. Fanaika, Sendlein, and Colledge are squash in the middle of the line IMO, but I must be wrong. cards were able to manage close to 5.0 YPC vs Suh and Fairly. Its very refreshing but at the same time im dissapointed because of the now potential of having had Cooper healthy.
 

Shane

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I am astonished at the running game so far. Fanaika, Sendlein, and Colledge are squash in the middle of the line IMO, but I must be wrong. cards were able to manage close to 5.0 YPC vs Suh and Fairly. Its very refreshing but at the same time im dissapointed because of the now potential of having had Cooper healthy.

Fairly didnt play. Plus I dont get the hype with him. You aint **** if you aren't on the field and he rarely is.
 

Covert Rain

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I knew what player RM could be. He had an explosive run with the Steelers but didn't seem to be the same after he was hurt. Now he is looking like his old self. This might just be one of the biggest offseason steals.
 

NashDishesDimes

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I knew what player RM could be. He had an explosive run with the Steelers but didn't seem to be the same after he was hurt. Now he is looking like his old self. This might just be one of the biggest offseason steals.

Im an eternal Cards optimist but Mendenhall has his flaws. He seems to pick holes nicely and has patience. He fights for yards and falls forward. Those things are far more than I can say for the Bean. That being said, he lacks some explosiveness in the open field. Ive also noticed a few times that he runs with his head so far forward because he thinks hes going to get hit, then he just kind of falls forward even if hes not hit.

RW has a bit more explosiveness and needs to find a way to see the field. Id like to see a 13-7 snap split between the two with Mendi getting the bulk.
 

MaoTosiFanClub

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Can we never mention Beanie Wells again?

RM has looked good thus far as has Ellington in his limited snaps. Like what we have back there although like much of the rest of the NFL I don't expect us to be a very run-oriented team.
 

Duckjake

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More news of the weird for Arizona. They've gone from 5th in pass yards allowed to 21st and from 28th in rushing yards allowed to 3rd.

You gotta love Cardinals football.
 

earthsci

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RM has looked good thus far as has Ellington in his limited snaps. Like what we have back there although like much of the rest of the NFL I don't expect us to be a very run-oriented team.
This, especially about Ellington. He's quick and seems to have much better vision than LSH did during his stint here.
 

Capital Card

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Pleasantly surprised by Ellington thus far. Looking forward to watching him continue to develop.

Also, Mendenhall has looked better than I anticipated as well. I know Smith has fans on this board, but I've not really been impressed by him at this point. I'd rather give his few carries to either Ellington, Stephan Taylor, or *gasp* Ryan Williams.

Glad to see some production in the running game this early in the season though.

Oh, and I don't think Whiz was anti-running late in games, I just think we were so far behind by half-time that it wasn't ever really an option for us.

Go Cards!!!



Go Cards!!!
 

GuernseyCard

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Philly has one three and out in 25 possessions. The Cards have two in 24.

Way, way above league average of 23%
 

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