The Arizona Cardinals offense is sick.
The symptoms? Stalled drives in the redzone, lack of big plays and disgruntled star receivers whose brothers tweet about the receiver being disgruntled, before saying he was just joking. Other symptoms can be frustration and---the most painful of them all---a 1-2 record.
The Cardinals haven't scored points like they are accustomed and they're beginning to wonder why. The signs of struggle have been there for some time and so has the cure.
Rest and liquids cure the common cold and a strong running game can revive a struggling offense. The Cardinals are 27th in the National Football League in total offense, averaging 19 points and 335 yards of total offense. Arizona is passing for 274 yards per a game, good enough for 19th in the NFL. Its 60 yards per a game, of course, places Arizona dead last in the league.
Things could be worse. The Cardinals could have the St. Louis Rams' numbers or the Kansas City Chiefs', going from sick to deathly ill. The Rams are average just six points per a game and the Chiefs are compiling just 254 yards of total offense. No wonder these state of Missouri roommates are a combined 0-8 this season. Arizona could have the Oakland Raiders' problems, picking up just 208 yards of total offense per a game.
The Cardinals have it bad. But do they have it that bad? Are the Cardinals really 60-yards-running-per-a-game bad? Not even the Cardinals know yet. Arizona hasn't given its running game a chance. In three games the Cardinals have run the football just 57 times, for an average of 3.2 yards per a carry. Tim Hightower has a total of 32 carries this season and Beanie Wells, who is actually averaging 4.4 yards per a carry, has rushed the ball 16 times. The Cardinals have passed a total of 130 times. The Cardinals aren't making the plays they used to make and they're beginning to ask questions.
The Cardinals have made themselves easier to defend and without a strong running game, opponents are keying on the Arizona passing attack. Larry Fitzgerald is being double-teamed and the rest of the receiving core has not been able to make plays down the field. A good running game will make the Cardinals unpredictable. They would be dangerous again. The passing game would open up and big plays could be made down the field. Against the Indianapolis Colts (a 31-10 loss) the Cardinals rushed the football just 10 times. With quarterback Kurt Warner throwing 52 passes without a safety blanket, no wonder he threw two interceptions and the offense couldn't mount much of a charge.
The Cardinals can revive themselves with a commitment to the run. No one knows what they have yet. Is Tim Hightower the consistent runner the coaching staff hoped for? Is Beanie Wells a future star in the backfield? We don't know the answer to either question until both are given a chance to make an impact in the game. Playing with only half of an attack is like fighting with two arms tied behind you and a blind fold on. The coaching staff is going to have to devise a way for the Cardinals to free themselves and fight a fair fight.
Arizona is sick, but not ill. The Cardinals can cure their woes if they open a few holes on the ground.
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