Kenyan Drake seizes the spotlight with Arizona Cardinals - AL.com

There had always seemed to be somebody in Kenyan Drake’s way. But in the Arizona Cardinals’ game last week, nobody was, including, it appeared at times, the Cleveland Browns’ defenders.

Drake ran for a career-high 137 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries in a 38-24 victory on Dec. 15.

“I would say that’s a pretty good game for the timing of it,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “He’s been waiting to show what he can do and be kind of the focal point of an offense for probably seven years, since Alabama, now. That was nice to see him have a breakout game, if you will.”

In four seasons at Alabama, Drake worked with Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry in the Crimson Tide backfield while dealing with leg and arm injuries.

“His situation is unique because when you look at some of those running backs he was behind in college, you’re talking Heisman Trophy winners, first-picks-of-the-draft-type talent,” Kingsbury said. “It’s tough to keep your head about yourself and stay focused and know who you are and how good you can be.

"That’s the most impressive thing about him: He never lost sight of that.”

Drake entered the NFL as a third-round selection of the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft. Drake averaged 4.7 yards per carry in his first three seasons in Miami. But the Dolphins always found someone to play in front of him or share his workload -- Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams and Frank Gore in the past and Kalen Ballage and Mark Walton this season -- except in December 2017, when injuries turned Drake into Miami's workhorse and he led the NFL in rushing for the month.

“I wanted to go to Alabama because I knew it was going to test me, mentally, physically, emotionally because of all the talent and the process they have there,” Drake said. “It set me up for where I am now.”

The timing of Drake's big game was good for the Cardinals because it helped break their six-game losing streak. It was good for Drake because he's got two games to play before he becomes a free agent.

“Right now, I’m just taking it a game at a time,” Drake said. "We did what we had to do (Sunday). We’re now looking forward to our next opponent. That’s just the type of person I am. I’m not trying to look too far ahead in advance. I’m just trying to take everything in stride, be where my feet are and take advantage of the opportunities that are afforded to me. …

“Everything will happen when it happens -- not a second before or after. Of course, the logistics and everything have to line up for everything to work out -- and needs to. But like I said, I’m focused on doing my job right now."

The Dolphins dealt Drake to Arizona on Oct. 28 for a conditional sixth-round choice in the 2020 NFL Draft, which allowed Drake to become the first player in NFL history to switch teams during a season, then score four touchdowns in a game for his new team in that season.

With running backs David Johnson and Chase Edmonds injured, the Cardinals acquired Drake on a Monday and had him in the starting lineup for a Thursday night game against the San Francisco 49ers. Arizona lost 28-25, but Drake ran for 110 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and caught four passes for 52 yards.

“I’m not sure what would’ve happened had Chase not gotten hurt at that point,” Kingsbury said. “We liked what Chase was doing. We obviously liked David. We thought we had two really good backs, but Chase got hurt. Kenyan was out there, and we felt like he was a phenomenal fit.”

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said he didn't make the trade just to fill a hole in the backfield for a game or two.

“It wasn’t done because we had two backs that were injured and was sort of a stop-gap situation,” Keim said. “If that was the case, my mindset was I would’ve signed a guy off the street. We truly thought this was the type of player Kenyan Drake was. That’s why we made the trade and hoped this was the kind of success he would have.”

Kingsbury likes the explosiveness that Drake brings to the Arizona offense.

“To be able to give him the ball, whether it’s a swing pass or a screen, and him be able to stick his foot in the ground and get vertical as quickly as he can, that definitely is a plus,” Kingsbury said.

While Keim and Kingsbury seem eager to bring back Drake for 2020, the Cardinals have $10.2 million in guaranteed money committed to Johnson next season.

Johnson earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2016 when he ran for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 80 passes for 879 yards and four touchdowns.

Johnson had an ankle injury when the Cardinals acquired Drake. Since the trade, Johnson has run for 42 yards on 15 carries and caught five passes for 51 yards and one touchdown. Drake has 417 yards and five touchdowns on 87 rushing attempts and 22 receptions for 130 yards with Arizona.

The Cardinals wind up their 2019 season with two road games, visiting the Seattle Seahawks at 3:25 p.m. CST Sunday and the Los Angeles Rams at 3:25 p.m. Dec. 29.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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