TEMPE, Ariz. -- The regression in Arizona’s running game last season may end up being a blessing in disguise for the Cardinals.

As off-field issues and injuries kept chipping away at the backfield throughout 2014, coach Bruce Arians was forced to find ways to compensate. He tried different schemes and different players -- and sometimes different schemes for different players -- in hopes of discovering a secret recipe that would produce yards.

It was to no avail. Arizona had the second-fewest total rushing yards (1,308) and the lowest per-carry average (3.29) while using six running backs.

“There were some areas last year that we fell short in: running the ball in the red zone -- not so much goal line, but short-yardage situations,” Arians said.

Andre Ellington's injury forced the Cardinals to make adjustments to their running game that could lead to improvements in 2015. Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports

But Andre Ellington playing injured -- and losing him in Week 13 for the rest of the season -- coupled with the loss of Jonathan Dwyer following Week 2 after he was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, led to a series of changes, both in personnel and in Arizona’s scheme. With the additions of Kerwynn Williams and Marion Grice and the emergence of Stepfan Taylor, Arizona began running more zone schemes and pulling its guards.

“With Andre’s injury we changed a lot of things and as we lost backs we kept evolving as an offensive line in how we were trying to run the ball, because when you run the ball, it’s not just how they block, it’s what does the runner like to run?” Arians said. “What does he see the best? Is it a zone scheme? Is it inside zone? Is it outside zone? Does he like pullers? Does he like a lead blocker?

“As we were finding all these things out about our backs -- because we were bringing them in off the street, too -- you evolve as a running game, and it hurts your running game, there’s no doubt.”

With Williams and Grice, the Cardinals found some “rhythm” as an inside-zone team. With both backs currently in the plans for 2015 -- that could change if they draft a running back -- the Cards have backfield versatility and should be able to build off last season’s bright spots.

Arians said Grice could be an answer to the Cardinals’ red-zone issues. Arizona’s 57 yards on 39 carries in the red zone were the fewest in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Grice’s only touchdown of the season came in the red zone at Dallas.

“I like the ability that we have right now going into OTAs to explore some more options in the run game,” Arians said.

But those options don’t end with running backs.

While they now have an inside-zone chapter in their playbook, the Cardinals strengthened their run blocking through free agency by adding Mike Iupati at left guard and moving Jonathan Cooper to right guard. Cooper has been practicing on both the right and left sides the past two seasons, so “that will be an easy transition for him,” Arians said.

With Iupati joining tackle Jared Veldheer on the left side, the Cardinals’ run game likely will start leaning in that direction. And Arians, who said he has had an offense that ran mostly left just once in his career (in 2012 in Indianapolis), is OK with that.

“That’s two truckloads coming down there on a double-team,” Arians said. “They should be dominant and they do take a lot of pride in it.

“I don’t mind running left and I don’t mind [saying], we’ll tell you we’re coming over there [so] stop it. That’ll be my challenge to those two guys: Come up to the line and tell them we’re running right here. Stop us. That’s the attitude we want to have.”

And with Ellington healthy, the Cardinals’ rushing confidence will increase. Before suffering a season-ending hip pointer against Atlanta in Week 13, Ellington averaged 20.6 touches per game. Arians said his role in 2015 won’t decrease.

And Ellington’s role in the passing game may increase, which would add another element to the offense. Ellington’s foot injury limited his practice time last season, usually sidelining him at least on Wednesdays, and some weeks more than that.

“What really set him back is he couldn’t evolve as the pass-receiver because he couldn’t get the reps,” Arians said. “In games, he’d make a questionable decision when he had a two-way go and the quarterback’s back there holding the ball [and would] hit him on the back hip.

“I can think of three chances we had in Seattle for big plays and we weren’t on the same page because he couldn’t practice it and the quarterback couldn’t see him practice it. It was just gut it up for the game.”

Hindsight was 20/20 for Arians. After losing Dwyer to the non-football injury list, the Cardinals were without a big, bruising back who could get tough yards. Or so they thought. Arians regretted not playing Robert Hughes more last season.

As a fullback, Hughes had seven carries for 11 yards, but he caught eight passes for 140 yards.

“Every time he touched the ball, he made big plays,” Arians said. “Most of it was as receiver, but I’ve seen Robert run the ball so he could fit that role.”

Arians added: “Didn’t prepare him for it, either. Didn’t give him the ball enough in the preseason to see if he really could do it.”

But 2014 was a year of living and learning in terms of Arizona’s run game. A dismal showing won’t be forgotten, however. It’ll be studied and dissected, and should be the foundation for the Cardinals’ 2015 ground game plan.