Arizona Cardinals Running Game And Play Direction

by Jess Root on Jan 20, 2012 6:02 AM MST in Arizona Cardinals Stats Posts

Over the past few days, I have been pulling up some data from the league on the Arizona Cardinals and their running game. We have discussed playcalling tendencies and third down success (or lack thereof). Today we pull up the Cardinals' tendency with the direction of their run plays and the success they had.

Are you ready?

The Cardinals had 375 running plays. They were most likely to run the ball two ways. Over half of the carries went over left tackle or up the middle. 28 percent of the carries (105)went through Levi Brown. It was the second largest number of carries by a team in that direction. They averaged 4.19 yards per carry.

25.6 percent of the carries went up the middle (96). Up the middle they averaged 3.63 yards per carry, which was near the bottom of the league.

After that, 54 carries went over right tackle and the Brandon Keith/Jeremy Bridges combo. Next were 43 carries over right end and 39 over left end.

The Cardinals ran the ball much less frequently over their guards. The had tremendous success running the ball over left guard, averaging over seven YPC. The issue? They only ran in that direction 21 times.

Over right guard the Cards ran the ball 17 times.

What do I get from it all? Apparently, they did not like running in Rex Hadnot's direction. And they like Levi Brown.

I have often wondered, considering the success, why they did not run more over left guard.

Is there anything else we can get from this data?

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Another thing we did quite often is the counter runs.

If that info helps any stats lol.

by badblood54 on Jan 20, 2012 7:13 AM MST via mobile reply actions

Nice info

I thought that by the “eyeball test”, the cards looked good runnin left with College and LB but again feel like I didn’t see it a whole lot. I feel like we have a fairly decent run blocking line, just need to wok on our pass blocking!! Please heavens above, less sacks and qb pressures in 2012!!!

by CardsRepInChile on Jan 20, 2012 7:49 AM MST reply actions

I always wonder how much coaches track this kind of stuff

I’m sure they do how much weight do they put into it and how much does it effect play calling. I wonder too if certain back have their own tendencies or preferences, but those are just random thoughts.

That’s about what I expected though, Levi is certainly the best run blocker we have and that’s another reaosn why I think he would be a near Pro Bowl level guard. I would love to draft a legit LT then slide Brown to LG and be set on the left side. It’s a pipe dream but hey a guy can dream right.

I wonder if our lack of runs to the "guard area’ is tied to the lack of success running up the middle. Most of the time any run inside the tackles is going to rely on a guard and center doubling a DT then one of them sliding up to a backer. We all know that Sendlien isn’t a power guy and maybe they’d rather just avoid running plays that rely on him. Just a thought.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 20, 2012 8:30 AM MST reply actions

I didn't compare

but I would dare to guess that most teams have a low YPC up the middle because it is where you do runs in short yardage situations, which yields smaller gains normally because you are trying to get 1, 2 yards.

Like the Cardinals? Revenge of the Birds is where to go.
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by Jess Root on Jan 20, 2012 8:58 AM MST up reply actions

that's a good point and one I hadn't considered

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 20, 2012 9:07 AM MST up reply actions

Well...

I did have that stat, in fact. The Cards ranked 27th in the league up the middle. The Cowboys ran the best up the with 5.65 YPC. They were 14th in attempts up the middle. There goes my theory.

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 20, 2012 9:16 AM MST up reply actions

that's pretty crazy considering the Cowboys gutted their offensive line

and had a rookie UDFA at guard and a second year UDFA or 7th round pick (can’t remember which) at center.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 20, 2012 9:27 AM MST up reply actions

It definitely makes me think Levi Brown is serviceable...

Just not at LT…. Anyone think that they might draft LT and then simply resign Brown to play at right? Its hard enough to find one tackle, let alone two… If I remember correctly he was actually not too bad playing RT a few years ago… Maybe I’m thinking of someone else, but I’m pretty sure he filled in at RT pretty effectively. Obviously it all depends on what he thinks he’s worth, and hopefully he will sign for a discount since he was already paid a ton of money for mediocre if not bad LT play over the last several seasons (yeah right). I guess I agree with Beamin’, maybe he would just fit in better anywhere on the line except center and LT…

by Gildo on Jan 20, 2012 9:51 AM MST reply actions

He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 09 as RT

He would not be against coming back. He likes Arizona. However, it is supposed that before just re-signing for less or restructuring, he will test the market after being cut. There will, though be a market for him. Definitely at RT, maybe at LT. He’ll be starting somewhere in the league in 2012.

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 20, 2012 11:04 AM MST up reply actions

I'll just be sick if he goes somewhere else and becomes a PB guard ala Leonard Davis

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Jan 20, 2012 12:53 PM MST up reply actions

I'm confident he will get a starting tackle job.

He was Pro Bowl alternate the last time he was a RT.

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 20, 2012 3:21 PM MST reply actions