{"id":89375,"date":"2025-05-30T01:05:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T01:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/89375\/"},"modified":"2025-05-30T01:05:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T01:05:14","slug":"how-can-kyler-murray-cardinals-offense-make-a-leap-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/89375\/","title":{"rendered":"How can Kyler Murray, Cardinals offense make a leap in 2025?"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEMPE \u2014 Despite a strong run game, the Arizona Cardinals led by quarterback Kyler Murray finished outside the top 10 in total offense (11th) for 2024.<\/p>\n

A lot of that can be attributed to a middle-of-the-road passing game that ended the season 18th as opposed to a running game that came in seventh.<\/p>\n

And after only adding limited offensive additions, it\u2019s very much a run-it-back effort for Murray and the offense in 2025.<\/p>\n

As for the biggest step the unit can take this upcoming season? It\u2019s all about controlled chaos.<\/p>\n

Cardinals OC Drew Petzing spoke yesterday on taking advantage of off-schedule plays that much more in 2025.<\/p>\n

Kyler Murray hit on that same area last month when talking about his personal growth and what\u2019s next while on with @AZCardsCorner<\/a> last month. pic.twitter.com\/Z1rVWUPciH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) May 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI think where we can be better as a unit and myself is extending plays in the scramble drill,\u201d Murray told the Cardinals Corner podcast last month. \u201cYou look at (Josh Allen), you look at (Lamar Jackson), like a lot of things that they do, those sexy plays come from outside of the pocket and when things break down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t really think of many extended plays where we made the defense pay. \u2026 As far as in the pocket conceptually, executing what\u2019s called, I feel like we\u2019re really good at that. I just think that obviously we can continue to get better in the pass game, which we need to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Off-schedule improvements key for Kyler Murray, Cardinals offense in 2025<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve seen plenty of examples of Murray<\/a> making something out of nothing in previous seasons.<\/p>\n

Remember the Las Vegas Raiders game a few years back<\/a>?<\/p>\n

But fast forward to his past season and the success wasn\u2019t quite there.<\/p>\n

According to AZCentral\u2019s Theo Mackie, Murray averaged<\/a> 5.13 yards per attempt to go along with three touchdowns and three interceptions on scrambles in 2025.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s compared to a 10.9-yard average, three touchdowns and one pick on designed rollouts and 6.97 yards, 15 scores and seven interceptions on straight dropbacks.<\/p>\n

Two of those three scores on broken plays came from a Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n

Marvin Harrison Jr.\u2019s second career NFL touchdown?<\/a> \u201cPretty much a broken play,\u201d Murray said.<\/p>\n

Elijah Higgins\u2019 18-yard TD? Broken play.<\/p>\n

KYLER MURRAY ARE YOU SERIOUS?! \ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa: #LARvsAZ<\/a> on FOX
\ud83d\udcf1: https:\/\/t.co\/waVpO909ge<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/gfHzqbrZ0w<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Those two scores alone would have won the game in what turned into a 41-10 blowout over the Rams.<\/p>\n

For a more consistent offensive attack (especially in the second half of the season), capturing that lightning in a bottle when opportunities arise is critical to Arizona\u2019s current trajectory.<\/p>\n

That thinking isn\u2019t lost on Petzing or Murray, either.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe off schedule is certainly high variance and high risk, high reward. When you hit them, you have really good numbers out of the pocket. And when you don\u2019t, that\u2019s bad plays, turnovers, those are the things you try to eliminate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s kind of two windows to that that we tried to emphasize: one is true decision making within the system and one is almost like fast break basketball. Are you playing point guard the right way? Is the ball going where it should? \u2026 He\u2019s one of the few people in this league that can do it physically at a high level and create some of those. We want to make sure we\u2019re taking advantage of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

And while a lot of the emphasis falls on Murray to make the proper decisions, it\u2019s not all on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuys have to continue to move, guys have to continue to stay active when the play breaks down, because that\u2019s going to happen with a guy like myself being the quarterback,\u201d Murray said.<\/p>\n

Follow @Tdrake4sports<\/a><\/p>\n

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