Say Hello to Rashard Mendenhall, Your 2013 Comeback Player of the Year

September 3, 2013   ·   Tyson Langland   ·   Jump to comments

After head coach Bruce Arians and general manager Steve Keim overhauled the running back position this past offseason, questions arose about who would be the No. 1 back heading into the regular season. 
Fortunately for the Arizona Cardinals, six-year veteran Rashard Mendenhall made the coaching staff’s decision an easy one.
Even though Mendenhall only played 32 offensive snaps during the preseason, he showed good patience, great vision and an unexpected burst.
On 13 carries in two games, he amassed 79 rushing yards and forced three missed tackles. The analysts at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) awarded Mendenhall a +2.8 grade overall, which made him PFF's 10th-best preseason running back.
Yes, strong preseason performances don’t always translate into top-notch regular-season performances, but Mendenhall’s ability offers heaps of hope to an organization that finished dead last on the ground in 2012.
Let’s go to the tape an...

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