Kyler's No-Look, Gift Wrapped Interception versus Chiefs
by Walter Mitchell
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images.
The Hicks interception:(click here)
https://images.app.goo.gl/A2eoVTmAZhi3yKW2A
Something felt awfully strange about Kyler Murray bootlegging so perfectly to his left only to throw a pass directly into the arms of Chiefs' safety Jaden Hicks who was covering no Cardinal on the play. It made absolutely no sense.
Upon further review....
Apparently, Kyler Murray, having set his feet to throw, was looking at the middle of the football field so that he could fool and dazzle the crowd with a "no look" throw.
You know, take a page out of Patrick Mahomes' playbook?
Have look at this tweet.
https://x.com/i/status/1954513800440533340
Here is AzZog's reaction to the play:
This makes a lot more sense now, not something he does a lot and preseason is perfect time to be able to try something like this with no consequences.
My reaction is starkly different.
Let me count the ways:
1. There are consequences for throwing such a careless pass, especially for a QB who threw a host of poor interceptions that were a regrettable factor for the Cardinals finishing 2-5 and dropping out of playoffs contention after their bye week.
2. It makes no sense after bootlegging to the left for the QB to look up at the middle of the field that he just left.
3. In fact, this is the very reason why Jaden Hicks, who was reading Kyler's eyes, elected not to cover Trey McBride, feeling convinced that Kyler was looking in a different direction.
4. Look at the various options Kyler had on this play after breaking the Chiefs' outside contain. He has a trio of receivers, one of whom (Trey McBride) is wide open, and Kyler also has plenty of room to run the ball.
5. The biggest and most important point is that it comes down to the QB's decision-making on the football field. At the Red and White Scrimmage, Kyler's decision-making on Will Johnson's interception was so poor that I had to rewind the play 4-5 times thinking the play had to be staged, because Kyler, who telegrammed his late throw, made every wrong QB decision in the book on that play.
6. Go back and watch every one of Kyler's post-bye week interceptions --- and with each turnover --- one has to ask ---> what was Kyler thinking? Save perhaps, Seattle's ILB Ernest Jones' brilliant baiting on a pass over the middle that he induced and intercepted from Kyler. That can happen to any QB. But all of the other picks are total head-scratchers and a couple of them came when Kyler had broken contain and had open receivers and room to run.
7. Situation --- big drive in the making, now having entered the red zone, 1st and 10 from the Chiefs' 17-yard line.
1st & 10 at ARI 36
(13:57 - 1st) J.Conner up the middle to ARZ 37 for 1 yard (J.Watson).2nd & 9 at ARI 37
(13:28 - 1st) (Shotgun) K.Murray scrambles up the middle to ARZ 40 for 3 yards (M.Danna).3rd & 6 at ARI 40
(12:48 - 1st) (Shotgun) K.Murray pass short right to Mi.Wilson to KC 48 for 12 yards (C.Conner).1st & 10 at KC 48
(12:16 - 1st) J.Conner right tackle to KC 45 for 3 yards (J.Tillery, J.Cochrane).2nd & 7 at KC 45
(11:37 - 1st) (Shotgun) K.Murray pass short middle to M.Harrison to KC 30 for 15 yards (N.Bolton).1st & 10 at KC 30
(11:02 - 1st) K.Murray scrambles right end to KC 24 for 6 yards (N.Bolton).2nd & 4 at KC 24
(10:17 - 1st) J.Conner left end to KC 17 for 7 yards (C.Conner).1st & 10 at KC 17
(9:37 - 1st) (Shotgun) K.Murray pass short left intended for M.Harrison INTERCEPTED by J.Hicks at KC 9. J.Hicks to KC 21 for 12 yards (P.Johnson).
There is no need whatsoever to try something tricky in this situation.
Not only did Kyler double cross himself, but he also double crossed his teammates.
So, yeah, this pre-season interception may feel meaningless to some, but it follows a recurring pattern of the QB's carelessness with the football.
The argument that mistakes like this are ok in practice and pre-season games is a logical fallacy, that is, if you believe as I do, that engraining good habits in practice and pre-season games can carry over big-time into the regular season games.
Syllogism: (If A = B, and B = C. then A = C.)
A --- Avoiding turnovers in practice and pre-season games helps to foster a QB's strength of decision making.
B --- Kyler Murray, in practice/game situations this pre-season thus far, has not been doing his best to avoid turnovers.
C --- Therefore, Kyler Murray has not been fostering the strength of his decision-making.
Maybe that's part of the reason why Jonathan Gannon eschewed going for it in the red zone on 4th and inches, in favor of kicking a field goal instead. What kind of message did that send from Gannon to Kyler Murray and the first team offense?
Drew Petzing gave each of his players two pre-season game goals:
1. Play with a high motor.
2. Finish
High motor not only means playing fast and hustling, but it also includes being mentally focused and sharp.
Kyler Murray's offense did not finish either drive.
And if you listened carefully to Brett Kollmann's and E.J. Snyder's 2025 Cardinals Preview on Bootleg Football Podcast, one of the their main critiques about the Cardinals' offense in 2024 was that it was 27th in the NFL in red zone TD percentage. Brett described the Cardinals; offense as "field goal happy."
You want to take a straight look at the problem?
Hopefully the Cardinals' starting QB will ... from now on.
Has our Kyler ever scored a TD (run or pass) in preseason? His interception was rehearsed in the Red White practice when W Johnson picked him off. Guy's got the poorly thrown interception down perfectly. More to come?
ReplyDeleteLike the interception by Will Johnson, this was everything we've come to expect from Murray. Excellent plays followed by a bad decision with football leading to (a) turnovers, (b) missed opportunities, and field goals -v- touchdowns, and short of sticks throws on 3rd downs. I find it humorous that people still make excuses for Murray now in his 7th year making same mistakes but any criticism of his play gets caught in the proverbial wash/rinse/repeat cycle of excuses.
ReplyDeleteThis was one play out of two drives, the rest of his play looked alright (not spectacular), he had 100% completion going into that interception play. Watching the play unfold you can see his lack of concern or proper care of football, lack of accuracy, and plain bad decision (as you state). Whats even more concerning is how little he cares about making those mistakes. Pre-season game or not a GOOD quarterback strives for perfection and doesn't let excuses enter into equation. Kyler continues to make excuses for his incompetencies. Believe I said it two years ago - his overconfidence is his real problem. No need to study defense, no need to work at full speed, the game just comes to him naturally. He remains a mixed box of chocolates; you just never know what you're going to get. As I've stated previously: Accept Kyler for what he is a middling QB that can fill highlight reels as well as the boneheaded highlights. He will have perfect QB rating one week and lowest QB rating in NFL the next (week or even half a game). After watching this coaching staff with our QB, it does not appear any headway has been made in this regard.
The properties of that first drive showed some improvements in his footwork and staying in pocket. The poor decision put all of that to waste. An 80yard drive ending in an INT is nothing more that a failed scoring opportunity.
Its pre-season we can forgive the bonehead mistake; yet it remains concerning given Kylers history of bad decisions and proclivity of playing 'hero-ball'. Neither of which fit into Petzings ball control "grind-it-out" style of play-calling. Kyler has to have the WILL to overcome his shortcomings which in seven years he has not shown a will to overcome and learn.
Man, such a good, well-written, substantiated post, RR. Imo, neither the coaches nor the fans have set the highest standards for Kyler. Kliff tried to raise the bar but was rebuffed by Kyler. The irony is that --- while Kyler may never ever give Kliff credit --- Kyler's best two years in Kliff's offense may wind up being the best of his career.
DeleteI assure you those best two years with Kliff will be his best 2 years in a Cardinals uniform. His next team and coach may demand accountability and foster his self awareness. All the current and prior regime have done is enable or even worse encourage his mental shortcomings
DeleteThat int was was so unfortunate to watch as I’m quite sure it’s a harbinger of what’s to come. It’s tragic how much his mental shortcomings in a variety of ways have a negative effect on his growth as a player and performance on the field. The similarities between him and the Suns last no1 pick (Ayton) are striking. We’d have won more games in 2025 drafting Shedeur Sanders and starting him from day one. He’s got all the mental fortitude and actual desire to be truly great that Murray is missing. Murray said he’s not used to rolling out left at full speed. Wasn’t a problem for Sanders in his first nfl game. Rolled out left at full speed, threw a dart in traffic, TD. Then rolled our right full speed, threw a dart in traffic, TD. With 10x more eyes and pressure on him than Murray has probably had in a game than the Rams playoff game. Half the country was watching Sanders rooting for him to fail and he delivered the goods. AZ sports fans want nice guys to root for though so Monti didn’t have enough balls, wherewithal/fortitude or evaluation chops to make the obvious pick in rounds 2-4
ReplyDeleteCoddling Kyler Murray and trying to make him "comfortable" has not worked.
DeleteHow many more times do we need to see a rookie come in and immediately do the things we need our QB to do? One of the main arguments of those who still support Kyler is that his replacement could be worse. Okay, fair point I guess. But that can be applied to every player in every position. So why even draft and grab new players in FA at all? It's such a ridiculous argument. It's time for us to move on, because the Kyler experiment hasn't worked.
DeleteAt first, I was willing to give Kyler the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the ball slipped out of his hands, the fact that it was game one of preseason, or maybe the play didn't develop like he thought it would. But now we know it was because he tried to be like Mahomes with a no look pass. Unacceptable.
ReplyDelete