With Murray, Cardinals offer a unique challenge
It’s been impossible for the Arizona Cardinals to ignore all their doubters, because the noise has been incessant ever since they hired a coach who couldn’t win in college and drafted a diminutive quarterback No. 1 overall.
Now halfway through the season, coach Kliff Kingsbury and his hand-picked quarterback Kyler Murray haven’t quite silenced those non-believers but those
who expected them to fail miserably have been disappointed. The Cardinals had a three-game winning streak snapped in New Orleans on Sunday and take a 3-4-1 record into Thursday night’s game against the 49ers.
Kingsbury came from Texas
Tech, where he had just two winning seasons among six, even while coaching Patrick Mahomes, and was criticized by former NFL coach, now-analyst Rex Ryan, who said “Kingsbury, let’s face it, had the best player in our league (at Texas Tech), he was 13-16 with Pat Mahomes at quarterback.” Kingsbury brought his “Air Raid” offense with him to Arizona. The gimmicky, motion-heavy, quickhitting attack — called “pretty
boy football” by Raiders safety Lamarcus Joyner — has actually transitioned well into the pros under Murray’s control.
Murray, perhaps generously listed 5-foot-10, famously jilted the A’s after being their top pick a year ago. He may have made the right choice, though. The rookie is a modest 14th in passing yards (1,988) but he’s eighth in ESPN’s quarterback rating (63.1), just ahead of the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
But he and the Cardinals’ Air Raid offense face their stiffest test against the 49ers, who have made a habit of turning opposing offenses into a “Duck-andcover” unit.
Here’s a closer look at what to look for when the two NFC West teams meet in Arizona on Thursday night: GAME ESSENTIALS >> 49ers (7-0) vs. Cardinals (3-41) at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium, Thursday at 5:20 p.m. (PT) on Fox-TV (Ch. 2) and NFL Network. ODDS: 49ers -9.5.
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS’ OPTIMISM: CARDINALS’ TAKE-WHATYOU-WANT DEFENSE >> It’s a good thing this is a short week because Kyle Shanahan probably can’t wait to dial up plays against this defense. Despite boasting a couple legitimate stars in cornerback Patrick Peterson and outside linebacker Chandler Jones, the Cardinals have had trouble stopping teams this season. They’ve given up the most passing yards (2,216), touchdown passes (20) and first downs (192). Arizona’s 27.9 points and 407 yards allowed per game totals are each second-worst in the league. The Cardinals are also permitting touchdowns to opponents on 45 percent of their drives, good for 30th in the NFL. It’s no wonder defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has been under fire from critics.
DAVID JOHNSON NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY >> David Johnson may be one of the NFL’s top dual-threat running backs, but he won’t be a concern of the 49ers on Thursday. Johnson, who missed Sunday’s game in New Orleans with an ankle injury, is expected to sit again. The Cardinals, though, brought in another talented back Monday when they traded for the Dolphins’ Kenyan Drake. While Drake has struggled along with his Miami teammates, he offers the Cardinals some hope. From 2016-18, Drake was rated the NFL’s ninthbest running back, according to Pro Football Focus. Proving he’s got a lot of fight in him, Drake also was tied with Cleveland’s Nick Chubb in most yards after contact among running backs (3.7 yards). On the other hand, Drake has less than three days to learn Arizona’s playbook is he’s going to have any impact on Thursday. The 49ers could be seeing a dose of Alfred Morris, their former back who was signed last Tuesday. LACK OF BIG-PLAY OPTIONS >> Murray is the closest thing to a big-play maker the Cardinals will have, and even he has dialed back his running — he’s gained just 41 rushing yards in the past
two games. Even future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald doesn’t move the needle much as he’s become a possession receiver in recent years. Veteran tight end Charles Clay turned in the Cardinals’ biggest play when he caught a 47-yard flea flicker for his longest play in six years. Meanwhile, receiver Christian Kirk, last year’s second-round pick, may be their most dangerous target for Murray. Kirk returned after a three-week absence due to a sprained ankle and caught eight passes for 79 yards against the Saints.
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS’ PESSIMISM:
A POTENT PASS RUSH >> The 49ers would love to have tackle Joe Staley back for Thursday’s game, just in time to help thwart the Cardinals’ pass rush. Arizona uncharacteristically didn’t offer many obstacles against the Saints’ Drew Brees, who was unencumbered in the pocket while throwing for 346 yards and three TDs in a 31-9 win Sunday. Brees wasn’t sacked, which broke the Cards’ 59-game streak with at least one sack. Arizona, third in the league with 22 sacks, had sacked the Giants’ Daniel Jones eight times the previous week. Led by the elusive Chandler Jones, the Cardinals have the league’s sixth-best sack rate (8.4 percent), which trails the 49ers’ leagueleading 11.4 rate. THEY’LL NEED TO MAKE THEIR OWN BREAKS >> San Francisco’s defense has been forcing then feasting on its opponent’s miscues while getting 16 turnovers, second-best in the NFL. However, it may not be as easy for the top-rated unit this week. Even with a new offense and a rookie quarterback and the fourthmost penalties on offense,
the Cardinals have so far been able to avoid huge mistakes. Rather surprisingly, Arizona has committed the fewest turnovers in the NFL — just four. Arizona is eighth in the league in turnover differential at +4. CARDINALS MAY BE BETTER BY A FOOT >> If, for some unforeseen reason, Thursday’s game is decided by the kickers then the 49ers could be in trouble. And that’s not because of Robbie Gould’s rough season — a year after going 33for-34 on field goals he’s missed seven of his 20 attempts. It’s also because the Cardinals have one of the league’s top kickers in third-year man Zane Gonzalez. The former Arizona State kicker leads the NFL in scoring (76 points) with a league-leading 21 field goals, including a gamewinner with no time left against the Bengals three weeks ago. Gonzalez has also been strong from distance, making all three of his kicks from 50 yards and beyond.
PROBABLE DIFFERENCEMAKER >> Kyler Murray.
Murray at times this season has looked like a future star, like two weeks ago when he threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns for a 128.3 passer rating in a 3433 win over the Giants. He has already set an NFL record when he became the first rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl era to complete at least 20 passes in his first six starts.
Another impressive thing about Murray is that when he’s been off he’s at least taken care of the ball. He’s thrown four interceptions, but they account for the only turnovers for his offense. If he can continue to limit mistakes and find a way to break free for some big runs, he might make things interesting against the 49ers.