Raising Zona
FanSided

Arizona Cardinals: Final 2019 running back grade

By Scott Allen

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball before he is stopped by linebacker Troy Reeder #51 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball before he is stopped by linebacker Troy Reeder #51 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The running back position certainly looked different for the Arizona Cardinals at the end of the season from when it began

The Arizona Cardinals went from David Johnson as their every down back to Chase Edmonds taking the roll, to Kenyan Drake ending the season as the every down back.  Johnson never got his footing down.

Edmonds looked like would be the savior after great games against the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Giants.  Then the following week against the New Orleans Saints, with Johnson still nursing injury, Edmonds pulled a hamstring.

That would be the last we saw of Edmonds in the backfield this season.  Once he returned from his injury, he was relegated to special teams only.  Now we have to see what the future holds for him.

In the meantime, the Cardinals brought in Zach Zenner and Alfred Morris.  Neither one panned out.  Then it was Drake’s turn.  Drake was traded by the Miami Dolphins to the Cardinals the Monday after the Saints loss.

Then 3 days later, the Cardinals had Drake starting against the San Francisco 49ers on Halloween in front of a national audience.  The Cardinals looked like they didn’t miss a beat in the running game.  Drake scored a touchdown on the first offensive drive of the night.

The run game tailed off a little in November but picked up steam again in December.  Drake had back to back 100-yard plus games against the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks.

Drake was pretty much held in check against the Rams on Sunday but did manage to end with 60-yards rushing.  Now it would see the Cardinals fans would like to see Drake re-signed.  He is a free agent and will certainly be asking for a raise.

Next. Cardinals make mistake in bringing back Vance Joseph. dark

Overall the run game ended healthier than we expected to see before the season began, so there is hope.  A solid B for the run game in 2019 for the Cardinals.

Home/Cardinals News