Cardinals’ Kingsbury: Kyler Murray is rarely-seen dynamic, unique talent
Apr 25, 2019, 10:17 PM | Updated: 10:33 pm
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Hey, wouldn’t you know it, Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury is a big fan of the team’s No. 1 overall pick quarterback Kyler Murray.
“He’s a dynamic talent, a unique talent that I don’t know anybody’s seen when you talk about that combination of runner and passer,” he said. “Being able to start as a polished pocket passer who can throw from different arm angles and be accurate and throw a touch … And then be able to take off and take it 80 (yards) from any snap.”
Kingsbury’s past relationship with Murray, of course, was the top 2019 NFL Draft storyline both locally and nationally. The two have known each other since Murray was 15 years old.
“This is something we talked about for a long time,” Murray said of Kingsbury. “It’s a long time coming. God works in mysterious ways. Me playing for him now, it’s a surreal feeling.”
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A large part of Kingsbury’s value as the Cardinals’ head coach was his ability to work with young quarterbacks, most notably Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes and last year’s No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns.
Kingsbury was not afraid to step forward Thursday night and tell the media he knows what to look for in a potential superstar under center. But he also admitted that being an NFL coach having the chance to draft Murray required a new lens.
“Just trying to step back and see it from a different point of view,” he said. “From everybody else’s eyes, really. I knew what I had thought and seen and been around. I have a pretty good idea for what it looks like.”
Kingsbury did his fair share of extra homework, even if he knew Murray well.
“Just talking to [Oklahoma] coaches, obviously know (Oklahoma head coach) Lincoln (Riley) very well, and hearing the impact he had on that program and the way he handled things sitting behind one of the most prolific players in the history of college football,” he said. “Just waiting his time and being a leader and doing things right — that spoke volumes for the type of young man that he is.”
