The legend of David Johnson has reached Buffalo, NY

TEMPE, Ariz. — Cardinals coach Bruce Arians made sure on Monday to downplay running back David Johnson’s performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and even went as far as to say that he “played poorly” other than a couple of big plays.

In fact, Arians made sure to point out how had it not been for some mental errors by the second-year back, the team would have tallied 100 or so more yards and another two touchdowns.

Johnson responded to his coach’s comments by saying it’s good because it serves as motivation, and then acknowledged that he did make mistakes that need to be corrected.

Still, Johnson did run for 45 yards and catch three passes for another 98, giving him 143 yards of total offense on the afternoon. Entering Week 3, he is tied for eighth in the NFL in rushing yards, with 134, and 29th in receiving yards, with 141.

While Arians and Johnson may not be impressed by what the running back has accomplished thus far, the same cannot be said for Bills coach Rex Ryan.

“Probably equally,” he said when asked if Johnson is more dangerous as a runner or a receiver. “He’s outstanding as a runner when he’s running the football and out of the backfield too. He’s one of those rare guys that can do both.”

A third-round pick out of Northern Iowa last year, Johnson really emerged late in the season as a dynamic force. His presence allows the Cardinals’ offense to do so many things, and the runner is quickly gaining a reputation for being difficult to bring down.

According to ProFootballFocus, he has an elusive rating of 158.6, which crushes the next closest player — Doug Martin, at 67.2 — with 25 or more carries.

The 6-foot-1, 224-pound runner does it with a variety of quick moves as well as power, and against Tampa Bay gave a couple of defenders stiff-arms that were, in a word, nasty.

“I think the best is yet to come,” Cardinals QB Carson Palmer said. “I think he’s really starting to learn how to use that. That’s not something we saw a bunch last year.

“I think he’s starting to realize what a weapon it is, what a tool it is. I think he’s such a fast learner and he picks up things so quickly, that I think we’re going to see even better in the games to come. But, there are two that stick out in my mind that are vicious stiff arms, but we’re going to continue to see that.”

Ryan, a defensive-minded coach, is well aware of what Johnson brings to the table.

“Well I’m glad I don’t have to try and stop him,” he said. “Like I said, he’s an all-around guy, an all-around back, and then you have Chris Johnson behind him. It’s like, ‘Holy cow!’ and then the kid from Clemson (Andre Ellington).

“This is a loaded football team. There’s no doubt. You put in the passing attack, so it’s feast or famine. You put eight guys down there; they can throw it all over the place on you. You put seven-man spacing; they can run it all over you. It’s ugly. There’s a reason why that team leads the league in offense.”

The Cardinals indeed have a bevvy of weapons on offense, and under Arians they have done a good job of utilizing them. Against Tampa Bay it was actually Chris Johnson who led the team in rushing yards with 54. He also scored a touchdown.

While David Johnson is clearly the starter, Chris — who Ryan coached with the New York Jets in 2014 — is someone the defense must worry about, too. Ryan said the running back did a great job for him in the Big Apple, and used the adjectives “unbelievable” and “great” to describe him.

He also made sure to note Johnson is not just a speed guy.

“No, that’s the thing that’s unusual about Chris,” he said. “Obviously everybody knows the great breakaway speed he has. But he’s a tough cat now, I’m just telling you. He can run it inside as well as he can outside.”

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