Cardinals QB Kyler Murray talks shop with Michael Vick on QB7

As one of the quarterbacks who helped usher in the NFL’s trend of more mobile, dual-threat quarterbacks, Michael Vick was a fitting lead for his QB7 interview on Fox Sports with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

Vick understood why when he asked Murray who the seven toughest defenders he faced were, Murray’s list was almost exclusively linemen, not players in the secondary.

“We can dictate that, we can dictate what happens with (guys in the back end), so I understand the defensive front, man,” Vick said.

Murray first named Aaron Donald. He thought for a moment and then asked if he could go with the “whole 49ers” defensive line. Murray then said Jadeveon Clowney and went with T.J. Watt as the seventh. Afterward, he mentioned cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Two Los Angeles Rams, an entire San Francisco unit and a Seattle Seahawk from the 2019 season. Murray either remembers them more because those are the only teams he has faced twice, or he was cursed with being drafted into a conference with some of the best defenders in the league. Maybe a bit of both.

Over the nearly 20 minutes that Murray spoke on Vick’s show, they discussed subjects both on and off the field, ranging from teammates to opponents on and culture to being a role model off.

.@AZCardinals QB Kyler Murray (@K1) connects with @MichaelVick to talk about his first conversation with DeAndre Hopkins, relationship with Baker Mayfield, being ranked 90th on the NFL Top 100 list and much more in this special edition of QB7. https://t.co/uon3Gdm9gH

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 25, 2020

Murray talked about using his platform more than athletes in the past, like Vick, were able to.

“I know there are a lot of kids, a lot of young kids that look up to me,” he said. “I just want to be able to be one of those guys … just to do right in the world.

“… I want them to be able to watch me, watch how I move, and maybe they can one day, hopefully I can inspire them to kind of, obviously, be where I am. Or, it doesn’t matter what it is — football, sports, business world, TV, it doesn’t matter, you can do whatever you want to do if you put your mind to it and work hard.”

Part of inspiring these kids comes with becoming a more widely recognized player in the league.

While Murray had a promising first season, taking home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, he recognizes areas he has improved and can continue to.

“Pre-snap, knowing what the defense is doing and disguising stuff. I’m not getting freaked out in my eyes, know where to get the ball,” Murray said.

“As well as just getting the reps. You can’t put a price tag on the amount of reps that I got last year.”

As he improves, the offense will too; and it could work the other way around. Murray again expressed excitement in having DeAndre Hopkins joining the wide receiver crops, saying his presence “changes the whole dynamic of the offense.”

“I feel like if I play up to my capability, then we’ll be very, very good,” Murray said.

If Murray can play up to his level of expectations, he can also rise higher in the NFL’s Top 100 rankings.

Vick asked how he felt about being ranked No. 90 overall.

Murray hesitated with a little laugh.

“I appreciate even being on the list,” he said. “Not a lot of short guys to ever really do it in the league. So there’s a respect factor there.”

Does he think No. 90 is representative of his talent?

“At the same time, I’ve seen a couple guys ahead of me that’s like ehhh,” Murray said.

That answer pleased Vick.

“That’s the type of reaction I wanted right there,” Vick said.

That’s just another thing for Murray to prove next season. Based on 2019-20, he gets it.

“But we went 5-10, or whatever it was, so I get it as far as production, the record how it lines up, how other teams did,” Murray said.

“I got my own perspective. Doesn’t need to be heard, but it is what it is. We’re just going to keep grinding and make that climb.”

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