The Arizona Cardinals begin the most difficult portion of their schedule. They will need all of their weapons in each game. This weekend’s contest is against division foe Los Angeles Rams. Both clubs are in dire need of a win.
Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love is resting his ailing left ankle and has not practiced this week. In fact, it is expected that he won’t see the practice field at all.
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Arizona head coach Mike LaFleur stated that they are dealing
with Love’s injury on a daily evaluation. For the ankle to heal completely, obviously, Love will need to stay off it, and the need to see him on the practice field is not a priority.
At a post-practice press conference, LaFleur explained about why Love wasn’t practicing:
“We all are in agreement as much as he wants to battle through, we’re all in agreement right now, it’s just, hey, just give it a little bit of rest and see as the week goes on what that’ll entail for Sunday.”
Right now, his status for the Rams is not known, and could be a game-time decision.
The Cardinals installed a new offense this year based on LaFleur’s past employment with the Rams and San Francisco 49ers’ schemes. Both franchises have very potent offenses, and it is assumed that at some point, Arizona’s will follow suit. But it won’t happen overnight, and the offense will need to have the right components in place. Like an exceptional quarterback and a great, not good, offensive line. Right now, both of these elements are missing.
Love was selected with the third overall pick to supplement this new offense, but so far, he has looked very average. He has played in all five games with four starts. He has rushed for 245 yards on 67 carries, with nine first-down conversions, a single TD, and a pedestrian 3.7 yards per carry average. Love has also been active in the short passing game with 11 catches for 36 yards and another score.
But the expectations were for Love to take the league by storm and become Arizona’s Emmitt Smith or Eric Dickerson. His play hasn’t wowed anyone so far, and he certainly hasn’t hit the big run. He got 90 rushing yards in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers on 21 carries. But at no time did he appear ready to hit the big run and take it to the house. In fact, his longest run of the year is nine yards.
And he isn’t the best blocking back since he wasn’t expected to be while at Notre Dame. But that happens quite a bit with rookies, and then they are taught proper techniques.
But Love is a fighter, and isn’t down on his rookie production. LaFleur offered:
“I’m going to try to be as candid as possible with also knowing that everyone’s listening to this, too. He’s a tough dude.”
Love injured his right ankle against the Las Vegas Raiders in preseason, which kept him out until opening weekend. Technically, it was a high ankle sprain, but it fully healed. Now, he injured his left ankle in the loss to the New York Football Giants, and the injury has lingered, as a lot of ankle issues do.
Fragile ankles at the running back position are not a good thing. Ever.
And for Love, he plays aggressively, especially with his cuts. His explosiveness has been affected since the Giants contest. Is this an issue going forward?
LaFleur added:
“You’d have to ask him that. I know how explosive he is. I know how explosive he wants to be. So, I mean, I think that’s a fair assessment in some aspects. Again, I don’t think it’s an overall hindrance, but again, the rest for him is going to be vital.”
In the event that Love cannot suit up for the LA game, veteran Tyler Allgeier will start and become the bellcow back. Allgeier is in his fifth season and was an important free-agent signing over the offseason. While with Arizona, he has played in all five games with two starts, has gained 119 yards on 35 carries, has six first down conversions, scored once, and has a 3.4 yards-per-carry average. He has great hands and has caught 12 passes for 44 yards.
Bam Knight is healthy and would back up Allgeier. Both are really good blockers when held in. Most likely, the coaching staff would bring up RB Evan Hull from the practice squad against the Rams.
