Final Cardinals camp battle: William Powell vs. Alfonso Smith
Aug 27, 2012, 10:40 PM | Updated: Aug 28, 2012, 12:14 am
As the Arizona Cardinals head into their final preseason game, they do so with a few position battles still yet unresolved. We’ll take a look at what is left to be determined, beginning with the battle at running back.
Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams are locked in as the team’s top two backs, and LaRod Stephens-Howling will also have a role on the team, leaving both William Powell and Alfonso Smith vying for the role of backup to the backup’s backup.
William Powell
A 24-year-old who went undrafted out of Kansas State, Powell has had an excellent preseason for the Cardinals, racking up 231 yards and three touchdowns on 33 attempts.
Powell leads the entire NFL in preseason rushing yards, and while his numbers ultimately won’t count, they have certainly put his name in the conversation for a roster spot that was anything but guaranteed just months ago.
It’s a far cry from last season, when Powell was best known as the guy who carried the rock a healthy 29 times in the preseason finale, as the coaching staff was hoping to preserve the running backs it was planning on keeping around.
Powell is set to get a substantial amount of carries Thursday night, but for a completely different reason.
Alfonso Smith
Alfonso Smith went into training camp this year likely with a roster spot in tow, but all bets are off now.
