Kyler Murray’s play-calling nets -2 yards over two collection


Kyler Murray (r.) and Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsberry (l.)

Kyler Murray (r.) and Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsberry (l.)
Picture: Getty Pictures

This offseason has been atrocious for the Arizona Cardinals. Via all of the trials and tribulations of signing their franchise quarterback to an extension and ensuring he doesn’t play video video games all day on daily basis, you’d assume the Playing cards and Kyler Murray would lastly be pleased with the place they’re at. That doesn’t appear to be the case although. Apparently, Murray doesn’t respect head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

I imply, I don’t blame him essentially. Kingsbury isn’t the best coach on the planet, however Murray overtly expresses his discontent together with his play-caller repeatedly. In line with stories, in the course of the Cardinals’ coaching camp, the quarterback and coach butted heads continuously. If Kingsbury would name a play that Murray didn’t like, Murray would shake his head in disapproval. In response, Kingsbury had Murray name performs in observe and whereas Kingsbury claimed that Murray did a positive job calling performs, he did add that “I’d not need to play for Kyler Murray if I used to be a quarterback and he was the coach.”

Murray will need to have thought that he did a reasonably rattling good job too, as a result of his play-calling days didn’t finish in coaching camp. They carried over into the preseason. Murray was given the chance to name performs for the group in the course of the fourth quarter of their preseason opener in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Why would the Cardinals do that? The one purpose I can consider is that Kingsbury and Murray continued to butt heads and Kingsbury needed to present simply how ass Murray’s play-calling could be in opposition to actual competitors. And ass it was.

Previous to the fourth quarter, the Cardinals had scored 36 factors. That they had eight full drives, six of which led to level, and had even scored touchdowns on three consecutive full drives earlier than Murray took over. Truthful to say that the momentum was of their favor. Murray known as performs for 3 drives (two full — the third drive was simply two kneel downs to finish the sport). In these two full drives, the Murray-orchestrated offense amassed two three-and-outs and 0 yards. Exceptional.

“Nicely, that’s as a result of Murray was working with the worst gamers on the Cardinals’ roster!” shouts the adamant Murray defender. Sure, however these fourth-stringers have been additionally lining up in opposition to the Bengals’ fourth-stringers. You might argue that Murray’s play calls would’ve resulted in higher outcomes with extra proficient gamers, however all we are able to choose Murray on is what we noticed, and it was ugly.

What’s even uglier is that there have been solely three performs that resulted in optimistic yardage. Two of them have been run performs for 8 and 5 yards respectively. Just one cross went for optimistic yardage, Murray’s first play name. It generated a blinding 2 yards.

Blame the quarterback Jarrett Guarantano all you need, however typically the blame lies on the pinnacle coach. Perhaps if Guarantano prevented that delay of sport penalty on third and a pair of, the Cardinals might’ve picked up a primary down on considered one of Murray’s drives. In spite of everything, they did choose up 5 yards after getting moved again. Nonetheless, it’s apparent that the opposing protection would’ve performed a 3rd and a pair of otherwise from how they performed that third and seven.

Murray’s preseason teaching debut is simply one other instance of how chaotic and messy this offseason has been for the Cardinals. We’ve seen groups overcome these “distractions” earlier than to wind up making the playoffs — look no additional than the Las Vegas Raiders final yr. Nonetheless, the Raiders are an outlier and never the kind of group different franchises ought to mimic. Issues aren’t trying clean for the Pink Birds as we march towards the common season, and at this fee, they’ll be fortunate to be a .500 squad come season’s finish.