If Murray plans to improve his off-schedule explosives, it will take a group effort. Receivers must know when to break off and find open grass or block for a scrambling QB, and O-linemen must keep sustaining their blocks through the play.
“It’s tough to do it in practice because some of it, it’s not live and it’s not real,” Murray said. “So, I think it’s just reps, reps, reps, reps. Practicing it as much as possible and you get into the game [it’s] second nature. Guys aren’t thinking about it.”
An improved chemistry with Marvin Harrison Jr. would also go a long way in creating explosive passing plays out of scramble drills.
Despite the injuries that pushed the former Pro Bowler off course, Murray can still do damage with his legs. He generated 85 rush yards over expected on designed runs in 2024, a league-high among QBs, per Next Gen Stats. However, he took only 27 designed runs last year (compare that to 79 for Jackson, 58 for Jayden Daniels, and even 31 for Daniel Jones).
Murray’s scramble drill was good but not as productive. On 44 scramble carries, he earned 364 rushing yards for an 8.3 YPC average, with a 100 RYOE, ranking sixth among QBs. Jackson, for instance, took 48 scrambles for 446 yards, a 9.3 average, and 159 RYOE.
The Cards want Murray’s legs to be a threat in 2025, but it must be calculated.
“It has to kind [of happen] instinctually,” Gannon said. “I’ll never say, ‘I don’t love your decision there.’ I’m not looking at what he’s looking at, but he’s trained and versed and has the knowledge and the wherewithal, I would say, to let his instincts take over and be a football player.”