Arizona Cardinals: Expectations for Andre Ellington in 2015

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Aug 5, 2015

Expectations are high for the Arizona Cardinals heading into this upcoming season. With quarterback Carson Palmer playing well after his torn ACL injury, things should be clicking rather well on offense in 2015. One of the keys to the overall success of the Cardinals’ offense will come down to their balanced offensive attack against opponents. According to head coach Bruce Arians, the Cardinals will want to split it down the middle and establish the running game to keep those chains moving.

ALSO ON NFL SPIN ZONE: Who are the top 10 backup quarterbacks of all-time?

More from Arizona Cardinals

Running back Andre Ellington is working hard to finally deliver as a premiere option on the Cardinals’ offense. In an article written by Craig Grialou of ArizonaSports.com, here is what he had to say on what his approach heading into the regular season is:

"“I have a lot to prove,” he said. “My first year is over with, that’s two years ago. I’m a new and improved player now, and I’m going to be ready to go out there and show them what I can do.”"

Considering Ellington has a history of being injury-prone, 2015 could very well be his best and most consistent year. It’s not easy to bounce back from a foot injury but so far during training camp with the Cardinals, he’s been showing off his speed and ability to be a dual-threat option on offense.

While many might be worried that his yards per average dropped dramatically in just a year from 5.5 in 2013 to 3.3 in 2014, he held back when it came to playing in a more natural and instinctive way. With the amount of depth the Cardinals have at running back, Ellington will get a fair amount of carries and plays on offense as long as he’s healthy and proving he can get the job done.

Since he’s recovering well and isn’t experiencing any major setbacks, expect to see Ellington really surprise many in 2015. He has the skill and ability to really be a key component on offense, especially with Palmer playing like he was last year until his unfortunate injury.

Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) carries the ball against the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals also added some top talent to their offensive line, with the biggest acquisition being Mike Iupati. With a solidified offensive line, Ellington should be able to get better run blocking in front of him which should enable him to push the envelope in 2015.

If the Cardinals can stick to a balanced offense and commit to their running game, they should be able to have different results this time around. It’s no secret that the Cardinals were the worst team statistically on the ground last season which is something they need to change if they want to be on top of the NFC West.

Overall, with a good head on his shoulders thanks to a “team first” mentality, it’s good to see he’s not selfish when it comes to the amount of carries he’ll have to share with others and what plays he’ll be a part of. If he can set the bar high for the rest of the running backs on the team, there is no telling how far this unit can go if everything falls into place with everyone chipping in.

Next: Arizona Cardinals: Jen Welter's Wait Is Over

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Arizona Cardinals