Kurt Warner’s favorite part of Kyler Murray and 1 needed improvement
Nov 21, 2019, 7:25 AM | Updated: 4:02 pm
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) stands on the field after an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
(AP Photo/John Hefti)
NFL Hall of Famer and NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner knows the quarterback position well.
When he joined the Burns & Gambo show Wednesday on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station, the hosts asked Warner for one thing he likes out of Cardinals rookie Kyler Murray’s first 11 weeks as a pro and one thing he wants the quarterback to work on.
“If there’s one stat that is more important than anything else each week, it’s not turning the football over, not putting your team in a bad position,” Warner said. “He’s done an incredible job for the most part this year protecting the football.”
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Murray has thrown one interception over the past seven games.
He has thrown multiple picks in just one game this year, back in Week 3. As a whole, he’s thrown 14 touchdowns to five interceptions.
Despite getting sacked 35 times so far, he also has just two fumbles. As a runner, he has not been caught sticking the ball out too far from his body while trying to avoid a tackle.
On to the improvement.
Warner wants to see Murray more comfortable in the pocket.
Murray is very quick and elusive. While he’s extended passing plays without pulling the ball and running, Warner still believes Murray can improve by sitting in the pocket rather than making throws on the move.
(Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images)
“If there’s one thing he should work on its the ability to slow the game down and see the field,” Warner said. “Make his reads and get the ball out to his guys on time. I think he’s made some progress in that throughout the course of the season.”
Murray has the fourth-most passing attempts in the league but only the 12th-most completions of 20 yards or more. That’s not saying he can’t do it.
Kyler Murray has been among the best in deep passing this season 🔥📈 pic.twitter.com/CIhlvLC4cg
— PFF (@PFF) November 21, 2019
Being able to sit in the pocket and allow his receivers’ routes to develop could open up more chances for him to let some deeper passes go.
“Pressure and panic and his ability on the move have taken over for settling in the pocket and letting things develop and then throwing down the field,” Warner said. “You add in all the good things he does to when he figures that out and I’m excited to see what that would look like.”
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