CARDINALS CORNER

Blocking for Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray is something you can’t teach

Sep 20, 2022, 3:15 PM

TEMPE — Everyone in attendance at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday got a refresher in what makes Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray so dangerous.

Down 20-0 entering the third quarter, Murray helped orchestrate one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history.

When the signal caller appeared dead to rights, he made something happen either through the air or on the ground. When it was clear the offense’s streak of good fortune was running out, Murray was right there to manufacture some of his own at a moment’s notice.

If there was one play to encapsulate the Cardinals’ victory on Sunday, it was Murray’s fourth-quarter scramble on a two-point conversion try to save the game for Arizona.

Needing the conversion to make it a one-score game, Murray took things into his own hands after failing to find an open receiver in the end zone.

Traveling nearly 85 yards as he worked to make something happen, Murray managed to find his opening to pay dirt. From snap to score, the play took 20.8 seconds.

Organized chaos at its finest:

“It’s not how we drew it up, I’ll say that,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday. “When you have a guy like that you want to get him options and you talk about, ‘Hey, if it’s not there, make a play.’ It’s tough sledding down there when you’re on the (two-yard line), everybody’s packed in, and they know you’ve got to throw it.

“It was just a heck of an individual effort and guys continued to move the line, continued to block when you watch that play and kept fighting for him.”

Murray was a very busy man in the second half, becoming the first player in NFL history to pass and run for a touchdown on top of rushing and throwing for a pair of two-point conversions in a single game.

But while the signal caller filled up the stat sheet, a ton of credit should rightfully go to the team’s offensive line for its part during Murray’s magic. There’s more than just one Cardinals dot sporadically moving in the above clip after all.

“I thought the play was over like three times on the two-pointer,” offensive lineman D.J. Humphries said Tuesday. “When he took off running on that last one I was like, ‘I hope you get there, bud. I don’t know if I can get over there.’ He ran about 80 (yards), I had to run at least 50.

“There’s not teaching for that. There’s literally no clocks … when you’re blocking for Kyler,” the lineman added. “If he holds it longer than normal, something big is about to happen for the most part. That’s usually kind of how I gauge it. I’m going to hold on as long as I got to.”

As for working in some added conditioning at practice for when the moments arise later on in the season?

Humphries is more than OK with saving his energy for game days.

“I’d be mad if I had to practice (a 20-second scramble) and then we don’t do it. I’d be pretty pissed about that, I’ll be honest with you. That sucked, I’m not going to lie. That sucked doing that for 20 seconds.”

Arizona Cardinals S Jalen Thompson runs through drills during practice on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Members of the Arizona Cardinals defensive line run through drills during practice on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB Dennis Gardeck runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB Zaven Collins runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Rashard Lawrence runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Michael Dogbe runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB Cameron Thomas runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S Josh Thomas runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Hollywood Brown runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Hollywood Brown runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Hollywood Brown runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury looks on during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals TE Zach Ertz looks on during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB Markus Golden runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals LB Nick Vigil runs through drills during practice on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy Jr. runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Hollywood Brown runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Trayvon Mullen runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Christian Matthew runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Christian Matthew runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Jeff Cotton Jr. runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy Jr. runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray jogs across the field during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Jonathan Ledbetter runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Jonathan Ledbetter runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Zach Allen runs through drills during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL coach Matt Burke works with the line during practice on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

Cardinals Corner

Colt McCoy #12 of the Arizona Cardinals and Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals warm up prior ...
Tyler Drake

Cardinals ‘feel really good’ at QB as Kyler Murray preps for next phase of rehab

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is making steady progress in his rehabilitation from a torn ACL suffered last season.
3 days ago
Arizona Cardinals star backer Isaiah Simmons (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)...
Tyler Drake

Isaiah Simmons remains positionless in Cardinals’ new-look defense

The Cardinals have a decision to make when it comes down to Isaiah Simmons. And no, it's not centered around the fifth-year option.
4 days ago
DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals is called for a personal foul penalty against Eric Sto...
Tyler Drake

Jonathan Gannon operating under premise DeAndre Hopkins will be a Card

While the trade chatter surrounding wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins continues, he's a Cardinal until he isn't in HC Jonathan Gannon's eyes.
3 days ago
General manager Monti Ossenfort of the Arizona Cardinals speaks to the media during the NFL Combine...
Tyler Drake

2023 NFL Mock Draft Tracker: What will the Cardinals do with 3rd pick?

A look at the players being mocked to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 3 overall in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
6 days ago
Defensive back Christian Gonzalez #0 of the Oregon Ducks returns an interception in the third quart...
Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ mock draft scenarios: Arizona deals the No. 3 pick

Trade the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft or keep it? That’s the question Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort will have to answer soon enough.
8 days ago
Arizona Cardinals' owner Michael Bidwill, left, new head coach Jonathan Gannon center, and general ...
Tyler Drake

NFL dates to remember and how they relate to the Cardinals

As Arizona's new regime gets to work on rebuilding the organization, a look at the key dates of the offseason to circle on the calendar.
8 days ago
Blocking for Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray is something you can’t teach