Arizona Cardinals: 5 Ugliest Stats From Their Week 2 Loss

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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Running back David Johnson #31 of the Arizona Cardinals is tackled by linebacker Cory Littleton #58 and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner #20 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

1 Reception by David Johnson

Keeping with the “Captain Checkdown” theme, why aren’t these checkdowns getting into the hands of David Johnson. I mean, I understand Chase Edmonds is a nice change-of-pace back but Johnson caught 80 balls in 2016. Instead of feeding him the rock through the air, the targets are going in Edmonds’ direction.

David Johnson only caught one ball on two targets. Chase Edmonds? Five receptions.

In his career, David Johnson has averaged more than 11 yards per catch. Edmonds, on the other hand, averaged just three yards per catch in Arizona’s Week 2 loss. If we’re going to throw to running backs instead of receivers, can we at least feed DJ?

1 Rushing First Down

While I would like to see David Johnson get some of Edmonds’ targets, DJ also needs to start doing his first job more effectively. Johnson’s longest run in two games has been 11 yards and against Los Angeles, he only picked up one first down. It should be noted that his only first down came when the team was already down 34-0.

Overall, Johnson averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in Week 2 on 13 attempts. In two games, DJ has just 22 carries. I’d like to say they need to give him the ball more but since they’ve been trailing so early (and often), Bradford and company have had to throw the ball more than they’d like.

The one rushing first down doesn’t entirely fall on the running backs. Arizona has found themselves in long-yardage situations regularly.

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