Drake ready
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Kenyan Drake arrived in Arizona about 4 p.m. on Monday, got a physical and then got to work. He had to move quickly, as he has a lot on his plate.
The Cardinals traded for the Dolphins’ fourth-year running back, and now he’s preparing to carry the load on Thursday against the 49ers.
David Johnson (ankle) and Chase Edmonds (hamstring) didn’t practice Tuesday. Edmonds was listed as out and Johnson questionable Wednesday, and Drake is preparing to start just in case.
Drake says digesting the playbook is “definitely a daunting task,” but if he has questions, he’s not alone.
“It’s actually funny, the longest-tenured running back that’s healthy has only been here for six days,” he said, less than 24 hours after arriving in Arizona. “So we’ve all got a little learning curve.”
Zach Zenner and Alfred Morris arrived in Arizona last week, so they hold that six-day advantage over Drake. He’s not particularly worried about having a short week to make up for that lost time.
“Yeah, man, I’ve always been the type of person, you go to the swimming pool, you don’t just dip your toe in. You dive right in,” he said.
Drake is “ecstatic” to be with the Cardinals. He spoke positively of the chance to be with any team where he
can flourish without disparaging Miami. About the same time he arrived at the Cardinals, the Dolphins were gearing up for their seventh loss of the season.
Meanwhile, Drake was diving headfirst into his playbook (or, technically, his tablet), but taking the field with running backs coach James Saxon shored things up. “It really started to click when I got on the field, because I’m more of a tactile learner,” he said. “I’ve gotta go out there and run around and kind of get the plays from there. So the more I’m on the field, the more comfortable I get, and
I’ve got another day to get that under the wraps.”
Drake had spent time training in Arizona a couple of years ago. He has good memories in Glendale, too, having played in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship game with Alabama. His 95-yard kick return for a touchdown helped seal the 45-40 win over Clemson.
To get his next win in Glendale, it will take a strong showing from the Cardinals’ offense. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald thinks the biggest thing with weaving in new personnel is making sure the team doesn’t limit them in a way where the offense becomes onedimensional.
“Well you don’t want to get into one of those games were you’re passing it 50 times a game, especially when you’re playing fronts like we’re playing against this week. That’s not good for anybody, when you allow their best players to be able to be upfield and rush the passer,” Fitzgerald said.
In Drake, the Cardinals are also getting fresh legs. He perhaps has a slight advantage in that his body has had more recovery time, given that he did not play Week 8. The quick turnaround has plagued both teams, particularly at the running back position.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that running backs Matt Breida (ankle) and Raheem Mostert (knee) are both “banged up,” making their status up in the air for Thursday.
Shanahan has seen what Drake did in Miami, so he’s now waiting to see how Kliff Kingsbury will use the running back. Drake thinks he provides options.
“I have the versatility to catch the ball out of the backfield, as well as running between the tackles,” Drake said.
“So given that the (defense) would be worried about the dynamic receivers and other player makers that we have, to add me to to that mix would just give a whole other dynamic of play making that the defense would have to worry about.”