LaRod Stephens-Howling

by Airwave on Nov 7, 2011 6:06 PM MST

This 5'7 185 pound RB/ST player is one of my favorite on the Arizona Cardinals roster. He is jacked for his size and has an incredible amount of speed. He is an explosive kick returner and has proven that with his multiple returns for touchdowns in his short NFL career. Clearly the rule to move the kick offs closer has hampered his ability on special teams but I still see an important role for him in the offense.

One thing that pains me about this team is the way they use LaRod on the offensive side of the ball. This teams inability to run a decent screen is just one of the ways that hurts LSH's value to this team. The coaching staff seems allergic to putting LaRod in space and letting him do what he does best, make big plays. This simple route into the middle of the field shows just what LSH can do for this team http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d823680e0/QB-Kolb-to-RB-Stephens-Howling-73-yd-pass-TD

Don't get me wrong I am not saying LSH is the best at what he does but he should be a Darren Sproles / Reggie Bush type for this offense. Quick passes out of the backfield, draws, short throws, anything to get them in space and let the playmaker do his thing.

Just curious as to what you other Cardinals fans think about LSH in general? And how he is being used in the offense?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Revenge of the Birds' (ROTB) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of ROTB's editors.

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Comments

I agree that he should be used more offensively.

He really is a weapon, and he is essentially another receiver in the backfield on 3rd downs. Why he isn’t given more touches is mind-boggling considering he is our second best RB right now (with Alphonso Smith being a pretty close third).

by RedFury08 on Nov 7, 2011 6:13 PM MST reply actions

I wish

I would see the ball in his hands more.

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by INSOMAN1ATIC on Nov 7, 2011 6:13 PM MST reply actions

I'm tired of them just running him up the middle in their base formations.

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by JoeCB1991 on Nov 7, 2011 6:23 PM MST reply actions

Exactly

Where is the creativity? Use those great football minds and find ways to get this guy open. He has the speed to be a real difference maker.

by Airwave on Nov 7, 2011 6:39 PM MST up reply actions

Absolutely agree

I really don’t understand it because I’ve every Cards game since last year only once did it gain us more then 4 yards. What a terrible way to use him and possibly even injuring him.

by CanadianCard on Nov 7, 2011 7:28 PM MST up reply actions

I think his 30 yard TD against the Bucs last season was from a shotgun spread play

The handoff was up the middle, but he popped it outside.

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
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[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

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by JoeCB1991 on Nov 7, 2011 7:36 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah I don't like using him in the middle as much as we do

Always scared to see the little guy get lit up running across the middle of the field. It is okay occasionally but not as often as we see it.

by Airwave on Nov 7, 2011 8:53 PM MST up reply actions

I like your comparison to Bush and Sproles

i see him as our version of a Danny Woodhead, and we’ve seen how effective Woodhead has been in New England. He has got to get more touches

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by GreaZzy on Nov 7, 2011 6:37 PM MST reply actions

I like that

But yes, more touches for LSH!!!!!

by Airwave on Nov 7, 2011 6:39 PM MST up reply actions

A better comparison.

by hadrarius on Nov 8, 2011 12:14 PM MST up reply actions

he may be small,

but he certainly plays big. Even running up the middle he seems to hold his own

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Nov 7, 2011 7:54 PM MST reply actions

Offense needs creativity for LSH

The cardinals need plays that utilize LSH’s speed. I know it sounds crazy but a bootleg with a screen pass at the tip or an option reverse. Anything that could get his wheels turning but it has to be bang-bang and not the usual Cardinals NFL films slo-motion technique. He can over come size with quickness. I’ve seen him do it. Hey Whiz, C’mon man! Surprise somebody!

by AZ retiree on Nov 7, 2011 8:45 PM MST up reply actions

Indeed

Another 2 good choices you have added. Hell, if the sideline fans can come up with better ways to use LSH then we are, it needs to happen with this coaching staff. The only explanation I can more touches and I guarantee you will see better offensive production! It really helps to QB to have an option like a LSH to throw a simple pass to and have it turn into a big gain.

by Airwave on Nov 7, 2011 8:51 PM MST up reply actions

Odd, a sentence is missing from my post. lol.

The only explanation I can think of is they don’t want him to get hurt, but I guarantee*

by Airwave on Nov 7, 2011 8:52 PM MST up reply actions

I would just watch film on how New Orleans uses Sproles and copy their plays

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

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by JoeCB1991 on Nov 7, 2011 11:08 PM MST up reply actions

He's super fast

We need to take advantage of that.

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by Skii on Nov 7, 2011 10:35 PM MST reply actions

Don't understand

What this coaching staff thinks sometimes….

by Airwave on Nov 7, 2011 10:44 PM MST up reply actions

They plug him in to run the same plays as Beanie.

It’s an unfortunate waste.

by hadrarius on Nov 8, 2011 12:15 PM MST up reply actions

Stephens-Howling is a great player.

He is fantastic on both kick returns and coverage teams. He is electric when he has the ball in space. It is confounding that the team does not find ways to make use of him more. He is not a guy you can plug in to relieve Beanie and just go with the same play set. He won’t hold up to that. He’s not going to plow through and over defenders. He’s going to make them miss. The lack of ability to make the screen pass work in this offense hurts his chances to make an impact. There is a lack of creativity in getting him the ball which I’ve been wanting to see since he was a rookie.

by hadrarius on Nov 8, 2011 12:20 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

Good to hear others are as frustrated with LSHs use as I am

Wasting talent is never a good thing. When will this offense get some creativity? And I am not just speaking of only LaRod here. Seems other OC’s find ways to get their playmakers the ball.

by Airwave on Nov 8, 2011 12:40 PM MST up reply actions

It was cool to see Peterson in the offensive backfield.

Even if it came to nothing.

by hadrarius on Nov 8, 2011 3:55 PM MST up reply actions

It seems like it is too easy for DCs to figure out the way we use Larry too and scheme him out of the game as well

Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

Leading the NFL in swagtangibles

by JoeCB1991 on Nov 9, 2011 2:44 PM MST up reply actions

Completely agree

I know our other receivers are bad but you are paying Larry too much money not to be able to get him open.

by Airwave on Nov 9, 2011 3:01 PM MST up reply actions

A lot of that is on the quarterback and other receivers too.

But I think a huge part is on the play calls. The Cardinals could really use a speed receiver that can get deep and spread the safeties out. If another receiver burned defenses a few times it would help Fitz out a ton. Too often though I see them run four receiver sets with 3 or even all 4 running short routes. The defenses are squashing two defenders on Fitz and those plays aren’t doing a thing to help him.

by hadrarius on Nov 9, 2011 4:28 PM MST up reply actions