Arizona Cardinals And 1st Down Playcalling Under Ken Whisenhunt

by Jess Root on Jan 17, 2012 9:00 AM MST in Arizona Cardinals Stats Posts

As "head coach" of the site, I want everyone to know my email is public and I welcome questions/comments/etc. However, I don't get a whole of messages from the community. Monday was an exception and I was asked a great question. It comes from a reader named Michael. He asked:

I was debating with another Cardinal fan about whether or not Coach Whisenhunt calls run plays too much on first downs.

Do you happen to know this stat, or a link that addresses this?

So in particular, I'm looking to know the percentages for run versus pass on first downs for the Cardinals under Coach Whisenhunt. Thanks!

I actually found that information.

Here is the breakdown of run/pass play calls since 2007.

In 2007: 224 rushing plays (3.28 average yards per rush), 232 passing plays (6.79 average yards per passing play) (49.1 percent rushing)

In 2008: 192 rushing plays (3.71 average yards per rush), 260 passing plays (7.49 average yards per passing play) (42.4 percent rushing)

In 2009: 219 rushing plays (4.28 average yards per rush), 248 passing plays (7.25 average yards per passing play) (46.9 percent rushing)

In 2010: 188 rushing plays (4.76 average yards per rush), 210 passing plays (5.42 average yards per passing play) (47.2 percent rushing)

In 2011: 213 rushing plays (4.17 average yards per rush), 225 passing plays (6.44 average yards per passing play) (48.6 percent rushing)

What you may find interesting is that the seasons when the team ran the ball the most and the least on first down coincide with Todd Haley's time here. It also shows that (at least of first down) Mike Miller did not call more pass plays than Ken Whisenhunt or Todd Haley. 2011 had the second highest rate of running plays on first down.

What do these stats tell you...and, more importantly, who wins the argument between Michael and his buddy?

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Comments

I guess I lose!

Thanks Jess for the quick research! I would have never guessed. I’m a season ticket holder, and it just seems like too many run calls on first downs when I’m watching a game. With this kind of predictability in their play calling, it makes them easy to defend against. Maybe I’m wrong…

by DJ Mix Master Mike on Jan 17, 2012 9:33 AM MST reply actions

Shows the flaw in Whiz's play calling

2007-2009 makes sense, but there’s no excuse for more pass plays on first down in 2010 and 2011 with the QBs we’ve had. We should have been trying to establish the run first and minimizing the number of plays our QB has to make.

Not saying that every first down should be a run – can’t be predictable like that – but gotta lean more on your RBs than your QB to put the team in favorable 2nd and 3rd down situations when the QB play is sub-par.

by CardsFan1976 on Jan 17, 2012 12:45 PM MST reply actions

Hmmm wow

Good to finally see the actually stats on this because I had been wondering about this myself over the last few seasons. The last 2 seasons our rushing (overall) is improved in YPC and passing plays are much lower than they had been. Interesting how we ran the ball the least on 1st down in the DA season.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 17, 2012 1:56 PM MST reply actions

The 2010 stats will be skewed

by the fact that the Cards were frequently down early. I know Whiz was quick to bail on the running game, but between Beanie Wells’ ineffectiveness in 2010 and deficits, it is understandable. It also reveals just how much suck happened in the passing game in 2010.

Like the Cardinals? Revenge of the Birds is where to go.
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by Jess Root on Jan 17, 2012 3:13 PM MST up reply actions

Good point

We were behind a lot so we tended to abandon the run. And yes… our passing game was terrible.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 17, 2012 4:10 PM MST up reply actions

So let’s see the breakdown by quarter. I’ve always had the suspicion that even in a loss they’re heaviest passers in the 3rd quarter after having a chance to make some heavy adjustments (not just the drive-to-drive).

And if you’re feeling like sinking into a hole…

let’s see the breakdown in wins vs losses (we know teams pass more when they’re down, but how much more)?

by superpsck on Jan 17, 2012 7:43 PM MST up reply actions

What are the numbers for all downs for the seasons? just curious.. might be interesting to compare to other teams as well.

Tom Coniam
Devoted Fan of Arizona Cardinals and ASU Sun Devils
But also a lover of the Steel Curtain.

Maintainer of the "Protect The Nest" Facebook community.
http://www.facebook.com/ProtectTheNest

by Pantology on Jan 17, 2012 2:52 PM MST via Android app reply actions

I can get those!

Like the Cardinals? Revenge of the Birds is where to go.
Like Arizona Sports in general? SB Nation Arizona is where you'll get it all.
Follow me on Twitter! @senorjessroot

by Jess Root on Jan 17, 2012 3:14 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

If you do draw comparisons to other teams,

maybe we should just keep it in the division?

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

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Jan 17, 2012 8:50 PM MST up reply actions

I agree

There are lots of teams to look at hahaha unless he wants to spend the time to get it.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Jan 18, 2012 12:00 AM MST up reply actions

… he said 3 days ago….

;)

Tom Coniam
Devoted Fan of Arizona Cardinals and ASU Sun Devils
But also a lover of the Steel Curtain.

Maintainer of "The Red Sea" Facebook community.
http://www.facebook.com/ProtectTheNest

by Pantology on Jan 20, 2012 7:40 AM MST up reply actions

It is not so much our first down playcalling that is obvious it is more the patterns and the 3rd down playcalling that have become obvious.

Over the course of the 2011 season we passed the ball on about 61% of our plays. That is up about 9% on typical 1st down plays.

Much the same as last season we threw the ball far too often on 3rd and short and on thrid downs in general.

Wells had 14 3rd down carries, Smith had 4, LSH 3 and Taylor 0. 21 total carries on 3rd down in the 2011 season and 18 of those 21 came on plays of 3rd and 2 or shorter.

Now in 2011 the Cardinals faced 205 third downs on offense. That means on 90% of third downs in 2011 the Cardinals threw the football.

How many of those were 3rd and short (2 or less), Kolb threw 8 passes on 3rd and 2 or less, Skelton threw 14 on 3rd and 2 or less and Bartel threw 1.

23 passes to 18 runs on 3rd and 2 or less.

Basically if the Cardinals were in a situation where it was 3rd down and 3 or more yards to gain the Cardinals threw the football 161 times out of a possible 164.

Follow me on twitter @kenthodder

by khodder on Jan 17, 2012 3:51 PM MST reply actions

Wow that's an eye opener!

"The point is, by my standards, I won fair and square."
-Bender

by az78true on Jan 17, 2012 7:43 PM MST up reply actions

It's kind of depressing, too

by Jesse Reynolds on Jan 17, 2012 8:38 PM MST up reply actions

Head scratching,

but I guess it’s better the staff shows faith in the QB’s above the RB’s I guess.

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

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Jan 17, 2012 8:52 PM MST up reply actions

It interesting to look at the comments and see

That some people think it was obvious that we ran too much on first down while others derided the fact that it was plain we passed too much on 1st down.

Just goes to show how “perspective” comes into play when making these types of judgements.

Most play calling is situational anyway… so “trending” stats such as this need to be taken with a grain of salt. That said, my personal take was there was not enough creativity in the play calling. However, this is combined that many plays were not properly executed due to line woes and sporadic QB play.

What would have happened if we had a solid line?

by RyanB17 on Jan 17, 2012 5:32 PM MST reply actions

Also what would have happened if our QB’s had executed.

We missed mutliple open receivers over the course of the season, sometimes 3 or 4 in a game. Both Kolb and Skelton missed Housler down the seam more than once. We missed Roberts and Doucet at times too. Those 2-4 plays a game can be the difference between putting up 20 PPG and 27 PPG, that is the difference between a bottom 10 scoring offense and a top 5 scoring offense.

Offensive Execution, put the talent on the field and you will get results.

Follow me on twitter @kenthodder

by khodder on Jan 17, 2012 6:16 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs