Kyler Murray, the dynamic quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, is setting his sights on improving his scrambling abilities in the upcoming NFL season. Murray had an incredibly productive 2024 campaign, with 31 career starts under his belt, totaling 31 designed runs and 40 scrambles. Now, he’s looking to improve that performance on the field. On any carry, he averages an eye-popping 8.2 yards per rush on all non-quarterback carries. With that kind of speed and agility, he is poised to break more and bigger opportunities both for himself and his team.
In the 2024 season, Murray had 55 designed runs for a total of 315 yards (5.7 yards per carry). He threw for seven touchdowns in this span, demonstrating both his dual-threat passing ability and rushing prowess. That’s an excellent performance considering he’s joined by a very exclusive company of elite quarterbacks. He now joins Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels and Anthony Richardson among those who average at least 6.0 yards per carry.
Murray’s desire to run the ball more stems from his understanding of the game and the unique advantages of using his legs. Those are the type plays he feels like a quarterback has to make to be successful. “Anytime I can get in space on this level, I love it,” Murray stated, emphasizing his enthusiasm for scrambling.
Although Murray understands that in-game situations are tougher than practice, he’s determined to continue improving his craft. “It’s tough to do it in practice because some of it, it’s not live and it’s not real,” he explained. This recognition serves to highlight his commitment to translating practice success to game situations.
Furthermore, coach Jonathan Gannon is in agreement with Murray’s hopes, urging him to capitalize on opportunities as they present themselves. Gannon said that if Murray is going to succeed when he leaves the pocket, it needs to be instinctual. It has to happen almost instinctively,” he continued, emphasizing the need for gut reactions in moments of high-stakes pressure.
In addition to the defense, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is cognizant of Murray’s propensity to scramble. Safety knows that off-schedule plays carry an inherent risk, but it’s about what you can get from the risks involved. “When you hit them you have really good numbers out of the pocket and when you don’t, that’s bad plays, turnovers, those are the things you try to eliminate,” Petzing remarked.
That same mentality is apparent in Murray’s offensive teammates when he leaves the pocket. Cleveland Browns center Hjalte Froholdt voiced a commitment to help support Murray’s work. “I think it’s just don’t give up on the rep,” he stated, highlighting the importance of maintaining play integrity until the whistle blows.
In order to continue honing his scrambling game, Murray thinks repetition is the key. “So, I think it’s just reps, reps, reps, reps. Practicing it as much as possible and you get into the game [it’s] second nature,” he emphasized. This point of view, shared on Twitter, illustrates his depth of commitment to making things better. It further magnifies his insight into the importance of repetition for developing athletic skills.
For the Cardinals to have a successful 2022 season, coaches and players alike need to be committed to getting the best out of Kyler Murray’s abilities. Rather, they’re playing him up as a strong-moving scramble artist. This will maximize their offensive approach and help put Murray’s special talents to best use. With a combination of strong leadership and a commitment to practice, the Cardinals aim for a more dynamic offensive performance in 2025.
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