ARIZONA CARDINALS

David Johnson ‘ran real well’ in debut for Arizona Cardinals

Aug 22, 2015, 11:52 PM

Arizona Cardinals' David Johnson (31) gets tackled by San Diego Chargers' Lowell Rose, left, and Ka...

Arizona Cardinals' David Johnson (31) gets tackled by San Diego Chargers' Lowell Rose, left, and Kavell Conner during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — David Johnson spent most of training camp on the sideline with a hamstring injury, only recently returning to the field. His role in practice grew over the course of the past week, and Saturday the Arizona Cardinals were finally able to unleash the running back whom they chose in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Northern Iowa.

And though it is only preseason, it’s safe to say it was worth the wait.

Johnson touched the ball 15 times in the game, which Arizona lost to San Diego by a score of 22-19. He turned his 13 carries into 66 yards, while his two receptions accounted for another 15.

All-in-all, it was a good start.

“I thought after he quit dancing and he got out of the dance studio, he ran real well,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. “If you learn to play football and he runs straight ahead, he’s powerful and fast so he learned quickly not to dance.”

Arians was commenting on Johnson’s first few carries, which went for two, three and one yard, respectively. However, his fourth went for 13, and from there he was off and running — pun intended.

“As the game started going, progressing, I felt a little bit better,” Johnson said. “Started slowing down a little bit more, started reading the holes a little bit more. Just helping out the offense.”

Johnson got a lot of work with the Cardinals’ first-team offense, which undoubtedly helped. The fact that Johnson had so much success was a testament to them, too, as they were opening holes for the rookie to run through.

“It felt great,” guard Jonathan Cooper said. “That has been the biggest emphasis the coaches have, that we will be able to run the ball this year. To be able to do that a little bit and sustain some long drives was pretty solid.”

For a team that ranked 31st in the NFL in rushing yards last season and just one time had a runner crack the 100-yard mark, Saturday’s effort was certainly a nice sign. Along with Johnson, Andre Ellington gained 12 yards on two carries. Chris Johnson, who was expected to see his first game action with the team Saturday night, was out with a hamstring injury.

“I think just sticking with it,” center A.Q. Shipley said of the run game working. “At the end of the day, I think that’s been an emphasis this offseason is trying to run the ball and get the running game going, and we’ve got to stay committed to it and just stick to it and that’s what we did in the first half.”

Shipley pointed to the fact that the Cardinals did not always pick up big chunks of yardage but were always moving forward in the run game, which left them in some manageable third-down situations.

“We’ve just got to stay committed to it, and that’s what we’ve been emphasizing this whole training camp and moving forward we’ll do the same thing,” he said.

Speaking of moving forward, as Arians said, that’s the key for Johnson.

Arians said he had a nice talk with Johnson about dancing.

“He can go out on Dancing With the Stars if he wants to dance,” the coach said. “As big and fast as he is, take your foot on the ground and give me four yards or more, and we’ll come. I thought he ran really, really well after that.”

Arians admitted Johnson looking a tad skittish in the backfield is common for young running backs, who can usually outrun cornerbacks and linebackers in college but have no such luck in the NFL. So really, his initial struggles can be chalked up to a rookie running back learning his way as a professional.

That’s the idea, anyway.

Room for improvement? Of course. But as far as first impressions go, Johnson’s was a good one. It was nice to get on the field and play some football.

“I couldn’t wait to get out there and show what I had to bring to the game,” he said. “Hopefully, I can get better, learn from the film, continue talking to [running backs coach Stump Mitchell], continue talking to Carson (Palmer) and B.A., and learn from everything.”

Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) is hit by San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (97), outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54), inside linebacker Donald Butler (56) and defensive back Jimmy Wilson (27) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) San Diego Chargers' Josh Lambo, right, prepares to kick the game-winning field goal against the Arizona Cardinals as holder Mike Scifres (5) sets the football during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz.  The Chargers won 22-19. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals training camp coach Jen Welter watches from the sideline during the second half of the team's NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) San Diego Chargers' Nick Dzubnar celebrates his sack against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Drew Stanton (5) gets sacked by San Diego Chargers' Nick Dzubnar, left, during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' Drew Stanton, top, grimaces as he is sacked by San Diego Chargers' Darius Philon (93) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals' David Johnson (31) gets tackled by San Diego Chargers' Lowell Rose, left, and Kavell Conner during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) leaps over San Diego Chargers defensive back Jahleel Addae (37) as Kavell Conner (53) watches during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) recovers his own fumble as San Diego Chargers' Darrell Stuckey (25) and Nick Dzubnar (48) defend during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) throws as San Diego Chargers linebacker Nick Dzubnar (48) pursues during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) is hit by San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu (97), outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54), inside linebacker Donald Butler and defensive back Jimmy Wilson (27) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) celebrates his touchdown against the San Diego Chargers with fans during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked by San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Diego Chargers quarterback Kellen Clemens looks to pass under pressure from Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Larry Fitzgerald (11) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer throws against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver J.J. Nelson (14) pulls in a pass as San Diego Chargers cornerback Richard Crawford (35) defends during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) makes a catch as San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) defends during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) tries to fend off San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Diego Chargers running back Branden Oliver (43) scores a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive back Jimmy Legree (46) defends during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) throws against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians yells during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Diego Chargers, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) San Diego Chargers inside linebacker Kavell Conner (53) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) after an interception during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) can't hold on to a pass as San Diego Chargers' Richard Crawford, left, and Darrell Stuckey defend during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) is sacked by San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, front, talks with San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy prior to an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy talks to other coaches prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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