ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim addresses team’s struggling running game

Nov 24, 2014, 4:03 PM | Updated: 6:21 pm

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The Arizona Cardinals saw their six-game winning streak come to an end with a resounding thud in a 19-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field.

In the loss, the Cardinals once again struggled to run the football, gaining only 64 yards on 20 attempts. If you take away scrambles from quarterback Drew Stanton, Arizona had only 41 yards on 16 carries from running backs Andre Ellington, Stepfan Taylor and Robert Hughes.

There are many issues with the running game, according to general manager Steve Keim, starting with the health of Ellington.

“I think he’s played the entire season a little knicked up,” Keim told Doug and Wolf Monday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “But we need to get more out of Andre, as we need to get more out of all of our backs.”

Ellington, the second-year back out of Clemson, has played in every game this season despite being bothered with a foot injury. But he has lacked the same explosion he showed as a rookie. In 196 carries, Ellington’s longest run has been 22 yards and he has only three carries of 20 or more yards. Last season, he had eight such gains in only 118 carries.

But the problem is not solely Ellington, according to Keim.

“We need to get more production out of our offensive line,” he said. “We need to get more physical up front. We have to get our guys playing in better unison. You see in the run game, it could be one guy coming off a combination block too early or a back making a wrong read.

“Those are the little things that make the run game.”

Sunday’s output again opens the door for questions about personnel changes — questions that have persisted for most of the season. Do the continued struggles in the running game mean changes are coming on the offensive line?

“I think you’d have to ask Bruce that,” Keim said. “He and I talked after the game, and we’re on the same page. (Tackle) Bobby (Massie) played poorly, I thought. I thought the other guys were up and down. It certainly wasn’t our best game across the board on the offensive line.”

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson passes during warmups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Seattle Seahawks "Legion of Boom" defensive players including strong safety DeShawn Shead (35) huddle before taking the field for warmups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch stands on the field during warmups before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes during warmups before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Nate Hatch, second from right, a student who was injured in an October 2014 shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck high school in Marysville, Wash., stands with his mother Denise Hatch, left, and friends Eimily Oaks, second from left, and Kakota Hayes, right, during pre-game activities before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Nate Hatch, a student who was injured in an October 2014 shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck high school in Marysville, Wash., stands with "Blitz" the Seattle Seahawks mascot during pre-game activities before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald walks out of the tunnel before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. Fitzgerald did not play due to an injury. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton, left, tries to escape a tackle by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril as Cardinals' Jared Veldheer, right, blocks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) runs as Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Larry Foote, right, tries to tackle him in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looks to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes as Cardinals' Lyle Sendlein, right, blocks Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner (54) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) reacts after missing a field goal as he stands in front to holder Drew Butler and near Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) who walks off the field in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks Marshawn Lynch (24) tries to step way from a Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Alex Okafor, lower right, as Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, second from left, looks on in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Hill, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, left, runs the ball after making an interception as Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, right, attempts a tackle in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is sacked in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril reacts after he sacked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril, left, sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, makes a long run against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty against the Seahawks. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson makes a long run to out of bounds near the end zone that was called back on a holding penalty in the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson makes a long run to near the end zone against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty against the Seahawks.(AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro kicks a field goal as punter Drew Butler (2) holds against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll motions to his team against the Arizona Cardinals in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown, left, reacts after Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell (41) broke up a pass intended for him in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka (4) boots a field goal in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles for yardage as he is pursued by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (36) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is sacked by Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, top, and free safety Earl Thomas, right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks tight end Cooper Helfet dives for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks tight end Cooper Helfet (84) runs ahead of a leaping Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Kevin Minter (51) to score a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Injured Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald looks at the scoreboard as he sits on the bench in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle.The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) greets Arizona Cardinals players after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, smiles on the sideline late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) smiles after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks at his play card in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Cardinals 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) holds hands with Arizona Cardinals' Calais Campbell, left, and Antonio Cromartie (31) in a prayer circle following an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton walks off the field after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Cardinals 19-3 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is checked on by referee Gene Steratore after being knocked down late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians gestures late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) slides after carrying the ball to a first down as Arizona Cardinals' Rashad Johnson moves in in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) joins-in as Seahawks' Sea Gals cheerleaders dance on the field during a break late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Arizona Cardinals linebacker Marcus Benard (59) and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette talk after an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) turns away after joining Seahawks' Sea Gals cheerleaders as they danced on the field during a break late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 19-3. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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