Raising Zona
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Sam Bradford could be primed to surprise in Arizona

By Thomas Clark

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 9: Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings throws the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Texans on October 9, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 9: Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings throws the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Texans on October 9, 2016 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: David JohnsonDETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals looks for yards during a run while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: David JohnsonDETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 10: David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals looks for yards during a run while playing the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

A Stellar Running Game

While the Cardinals play in possibly the toughest division in football, Arizona seems like a perfect fit for Bradford, in large part due to the return of a star running back David Johnson. After a stellar 2015 season in which he averaged 4.6 yards a carry as a rookie, Johnson exploded onto the NFL scene with a 1,200 yard season in his sophomore season. Known for his relentless and aggressive running style, Johnson’s impact on the offense is unquestioned.

Plainly put, when Johnson gets going, the rest of the offense goes with him. In Johnson’s first two seasons, quarterback Carson Palmer enjoyed two of his greatest statistical years, both coming in the twilight of his career. With defenses forced to respect the run, and a full complement of play action options for Head Coach Bruce Arians to utilize, Palmer tossed 61 touchdowns with only 25 interceptions.

So what does all this mean for Bradford? Everything. In Bradford’s most impressive full season of his career, he was the primary benefactor of an explosive running game. In his 2012 season with the St. Louis Rams, Bradford tossed just under four thousand yards while playing a full sixteen game season for just the second time in his career. Unsurprisingly, star running back Stephen Jackson enjoyed an a thousand yard season while averaging over four yards a carry.

With David Johnson returning from injury, Bradford should benefit from a rejuvenated Arizona rushing attack.  

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