Arizona Cardinals: David Johnson validating pick (video)

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson’s one touch on offense was all that was needed Sunday

Rookie running back David Johnson out of Northern Iowa made his professional football regular season debut for the Arizona Cardinals and he made the most of it.  All it took for Johnson to endear himself to fans was one touch.

The one touch happened to be a touchdown catch and run that sealed the victory for the Cardinals on Sunday.  The New Orleans Saints never knew what hit them.

Quarterback Carson Palmer found the rookie running back break after he broke through the line and ran right.  The Fox announcers even noticed that Johnson was in the game with 1:44 remaining, almost as if to say look at the Cardinals bringing in a rookie in such a huge situation on 2nd & 8.

Johnson made his run to the right and turned back to look at Palmer.  It was clearly a play designed to go to Johnson and the Saints bit.  Johnson was all by himself when he caught the ball at the Cardinals 47 and he went untouched down the right sideline.

It was a great call at a great time for Johnson and the Cardinals.  The only other touch Johnson had at that point of the game was one kick return, which in itself was pretty good at 43 yards.  However as I always say, in Bruce Arians I trust.

For Arians to trust Johnson with the ball in such a huge moment, in his first game with the game on the line, spoke volumes about what he thinks of the young versatile back.  And now after Andre Ellington went out with an injury that will sideline him for an undisclosed amount of time, Johnson could see many more touches backing up Chris Johnson.

This is what the Cardinals drafted David Johnson for.  Ellington goes out and you bring in a guy like Johnson and the offense doesn’t skip a beat.  I considered him a steal in the 2015 NFL Draft in the third round and so did others.  On Sunday, we found out why.  I look forward to a lot more of that.