Hype train: Stopping Cardinals' David Johnson is Seahawks' priority

Running back David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals carries the football in front of defensive end Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. less Running back David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals carries the football in front of defensive end Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Glendale, ... more Photo: Norm Hall/Getty Images Photo: Norm Hall/Getty Images Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Hype train: Stopping Cardinals' David Johnson is Seahawks' priority 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

RENTON -- Every offseason, the media anoints a handful of young NFL players as "the next big thing" after showing promise early in their careers. Sometimes the predictions work out. Other times, young players never take the leap from potential to superstardom.

This offseason, perhaps no player received more attention than second-year running back David Johnson, the Cardinals' 2015 third-round pick who led the league in total yards after ascending to Arizona's starting lineup at the end of his rookie campaign. The do-everything back was expected to become one of the league's breakout stars -- as well as a fantasy-football darling -- in 2016.

In this case the hype seems to be warranted.

Johnson, 24, leads the league with 833 all-purpose yards and eight rushing touchdowns through six games, topping the 100-yard mark from scrimmage in each contest. In the last two weeks, he averaged 161.5 yards per game and scored five touchdowns, making containing him a obvious priority for the Seahawks (4-1) when they take on the Cardinals (3-3) on the road Sunday night in a big NFC West clash.

"He does everything and they know that, so they use him," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said during his Wednesday press conference from the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. "You have to really be tuned in. He can get down the field, can get outside and run routes. He's the most effective guy that we're seeing, in terms of catches and numbers and all that stuff."

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The Northern Iowa product was an under-the-radar prospect before the 2015 draft, but after showing glimpses of his talent in the preseason and first two-thirds of the regular season, the 6-foot-1, 224-pounder broke out in December and January with 658 total yards over his first five starts, displaying speed, power and physicality as a runner and unusual polish as a receiver out of the backfield.

Scary thing is, he looks better this year.

"He's been fantastic," Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians told reporters via conference call Wednesday. "I think he still has a lot of room to grow, but he's getting better and better, every time he touches it he can make something happen."

In Arians' first three years in Arizona, the Cardinals offense was known for it's downfield passing game and "no risk it, no biscuit" mentality. But this year, with quarterback Carson Palmer struggling to get on the same page with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the rest of the receiving corps, the offense has run through Johnson.

His production has led to some lofty comparisons.

"He is a big guy: tall, big, very fast," Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright said of Johnson Wednesday. "Reminds me of Adrian Peterson with the way he moves and his jump cuts. So it's going to be fun. The media's really hyping him up and he's doing good as well, so it's going to be a good matchup."

Johnson struggled in his lone start against Wright and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner last season, rushing for just 25 yards on 11 carries and catching three of eight targets in the passing game for 34 yards in Seattle's 36-6 Week 17 romp at Arizona.

His quiet day had a lot to do with the Seahawks jumping out to a 24-point halftime lead, but it's also a testament to the play of Wright and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner, players just as adept at dropping into coverage as they are shedding blockers and filling run lanes.

"They play sound, they play technique," Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said of the two linebackers on Wednesday. "They understand where their help is and they understand their leverage, and they have a great understanding of what is coming at them in terms of the plays and the route concepts."

In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, Johnson said he's ready for the challenge against a Seattle run defense that ranks third in the league in 2016, allowing under 75 yards per game and just 3.3 yards per carry through their first five contests.

"They're a very fast and physical team," Johnson said. "I'm going to really have to bring my A game and pick and choose the run holes as they come to me because they're small, and that's just because how good they are as a defense.

A win Sunday would put the Seahawks two-and-a-half games up on Arizona, last year's division winner with a 13-3 record. To do that, Wagner and the rest of the defense know they must replicate their defensive effort from last year and prevent Johnson from breaking out.

"That's my job one," Wagner said Wednesday. "He's kind of the engine that gets that offense going, so we can't let him get on a roll."

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