Kyler Murray may not be the answer for the Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
Kyler Murray has shown glimpses of greatness, but the quarterback may not be the long-term solution for the Arizona Cardinals.
It was the first night of the 2019 NFL Draft, and diehard fans of the Arizona Cardinals wanted to believe that the organization was doing the right thing.
The worst-kept secret of the football world was that the Cards were enamored with Kyler Murray, and were all too willing to select the undersized quarterback with the first-overall pick. In hindsight, it may have been another huge mistake by the hard-luck franchise.
The 24-year old’s performance this past Monday during Arizona’s 34-11 playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams was downright awful. Any chance the team may have had of winning was wiped away by Murray’s inability to ignite the Cardinals‘ offense during an ugly first half.
The seemingly overwhelmed signal-caller began the contest with four three-and-outs, a definite no-no when facing a high-flying scoring attack like Los Angeles. On the fifth possession, Murray threw a hideous pick-six while attempting to avoid a safety. That blunder gave the Rams a 21-0 lead halfway through the second quarter, and the game had quickly gotten out of hand.
Questions about whether Murray is the right leader for the Redbirds can certainly be asked following the disheartening postseason defeat to the Rams. Not every Cards follower was on board when general manager Steve Keim hitched the squad’s wagons to the former University of Oklahoma star three years ago. Should the club move forward with Murray as its starting passer in 2022 and beyond?
Kyler Murray was a part of two late-season collapses by the Arizona Cardinals
Last season, Arizona got off to a solid 6-3 start and appeared to be well on their way to their first playoff appearance under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Things took a turn for the worse, however, and “Big Red” won just two of their final seven matchups with Murray under center.
This past fall, Murray was a legitimate MVP candidate as the Cardinals built an impressive 10-2 record. Unfortunately, the team collapsed again, winning just one time over the last six weeks.
The biggest knock on Murray is his inability to emerge victorious when the pressure is on. The Cards needed just one triumph over the final two weekends of the 2020 campaign to sneak into the postseason, but the quarterback and his teammates couldn’t get it done. This year, Arizona lost all of the primetime matchups they competed in with the world watching, and Murray played a part in all four of those disappointments.
There was legitimate concern about Murray’s lack of size when he was drafted, and his small stature does seem to hinder him quite often. The Texas native appears to have trouble seeing downfield at times, with the mammoth offensive and defensive linemen that are situated in front of him. Murray also seems to be deathly afraid of any kind of contact, as evidenced by the ample yardage he loses by so easily falling to the ground when any sack-seeking defender gets close.
If anyone out there feels like they’ve already seen the best that Murray has to offer, you’re not alone. The hope is that the Cardinals will realize it as well, sometime before they hand the severely limited quarterback the lucrative extension that could set the franchise back for years.