Arizona Cardinals noticed a marked difference in the rushing attempts by running back Kenyan Drake during the team’s 38-10 rout of the Dallas Cowboys. After seeing him doing a lot of runs horizontally trying to find open space, he appeared to be much more focused at move forward and hitting the initial hole quickly to pick up what yards were there.
What inspired the change?
Drake said it was a conversation with his mother, he told reporters on Wednesday.
“My mom called me before the game,” he said. “The first thing she told was ‘I’m your mom and everything, but are you going to hit some holes today?'”
That’s when he knew it was noticeable. His mom has never been one to push him on how he plays.
“As long as I’m healthy and happy, she’s happy, so for her to speak up about the schematics and what she sees is glaring,” he said.
Cardinals fans noted a difference against the Cowboys.
“It really hit home when your own mom is not liking what she sees out there,” he said. “I kind of just had to buckle up and go out there and play ball, go north and south and make them tackle me going forward.”
The result? 20 carries, 164 yards and two touchdowns, including a 69-yard score on his last carry of the game.
“Whatever mom says, I gotta go out there do my best ability to get that done. I hope I made her proud.”
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