After a very slow start (game-high of 73 yards rushing over the season’s first four games), Drake gained 164 yards on Monday Night against the Cowboys.
Arizona Cardinals’ fans were smiling last season after the team secured the rights to running back Kenyan Drake from the Miami Dolphins. They had good reason to smile, too. In eight games last year, Drake gained over 800 yards on the ground and through the air. With eight TDs as well, Drake proved to be a dynamic playmaker.
But 2020 didn’t start that way–for the first four games, at least. His under 4.0 yards-per-carry stat tells the tale.
This year, Drake’s number has been called a lot for runs up the middle. What’s more, Kingsbury appears to have gone to a “running back by committee” system. Chase Edmonds is joining Drake as the main contributors with Drake as the workhorse, which means he gets called to make inside runs when defenses are stacking the box. That opens up the outside for Edmonds and QB Kyler Murray to make big gains. Murray has benefitted, especially with more option plays as Drake and Edmonds become downfield blockers.
Drake as inside runner (photo, AL.com)
Then there’s the Cards’ offensive line. To run up the middle effectively, a team needs offensive linemen to open up running gaps. In truth, Arizona’s offensive line has been decent, even surprisingly better under the direction of OL coach Sean Kugler. Justin Pugh was the highest-ranked guard in Week 1, and D.J. Humphries is coming off a monster game against the Jets. That said, the loss of A.Q. Shipley to the Bucs has taken a toll. Arizona has used Lamont Gaillard at center before returning that duty to Mason Cole. While both players have shown flashes of good play, they are young and inexperienced. While it may seem overdone to say that a big reason for Drake’s lower numbers is due to uncertainty and change at the center position, one can’t underestimate the value of the center role when a running back is being asked to run up the middle.
The point here? Drake’s loss of productivity in 2020 can’t be traced exclusively to him and his play. Other factors need to be factored into the overall equation.
But there’s good news! It’s Drake’s Monday Night performance against the Cowboys. He carried the ball 20 times for 164 yards–an 8.2 yard average–with two touchdowns. And his 69-yard scamper was a highlight of the night. Edmonds, on the other hand, carried the ball only five times with a game-high 9-yard run. What’s more, Drake carried the team on a night when Kyler Murray had a low 82.4 Quarterback Rating.
For Arizona’s sake, let’s hope that Monday’s performance is the start of big things for Kenyan Drake.
