Cardinals Ring of Honor member and NFL analyst Kurt Warner heard all the criticism thrown Arizona’s way due to its lack of consistency in the passing game, and upon reviewing tape of Monday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers, he concluded there were plenty of opportunities the unit failed to execute.
Quarterback Kyler Murray completed 14 of 26 pass attempts for 145 yards. Arizona’s two longest passing plays were dump-offs to running back James Conner who did the bulk of the work after the catch. Murray did not attempt a pass beyond 20 yards.
Warner detailed what he saw on tape on YouTube, looking at various misses and the reasons for them.
I have had lots of people asking me about the #Cardinals & watching game in person & on film, it feels like they are close in the passing game! Just need everyone to come together on each play! Here’s my #StudyBall look at Monday Nighg! @QBConfidential https://t.co/SNeqbfIdCq
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) October 24, 2024
“So the point I’m talking about is I think Kyler only threw for 150-something yards in this game, so everybody comes out of this and goes, ‘What are they doing? There’s no opportunities to throw the football,’” Warner said in his breakdown.
RELATED STORIES
“I’m just trying to show there’s plenty of opportunities there. They just have to clean some different things up, some details here. I don’t know how they coach some of these concepts. … Point being, there’s opportunities out there for them, they just have to find ways to be more consistent in hitting those opportunities.”
Warner breaks down several examples of receivers finding space after Murray already continued his progression. Sometimes Murray made a play with his legs to avoid a loss or hit his check down, but slowing down a tick could have opened some down-field chances.
On the interception by Teair Tart, the Cardinals ran a deep corner with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Elijah Higgins broke to the flat. Warner criticized the use of a chip with Higgins, as it took longer to get out in the route. Higgins broke out wide open with plenty of green grass in front of him, but Murray had already moved onto his check down to Conner over the middle, and his ball was tipped and picked.
CHAOS IN ARIZONA.
📺: #LACvsAZ on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/c5BafGb8Et
— NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2024
“We can look at this and say should be an easy completion out here if we execute this right,” Warner said. “Play call, good. Opportunities, good. Execution or some of the details on how we’re coaching it, not good because it makes it harder on Kyler and now he’s forced to go back inside.”
A clip that made its rounds on the internet during Monday’s game was Harrison breaking loose on a nasty double move for what could have been a walk-in touchdown. The pocket had collapsed before Harrison was open, however, and Murray had to move to avoid pressure. Could he have reset and fired deep? Maybe, but in a bang-bang decision, he hit Trey McBride for a modest gain.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was wide open for a potential TD in the fourth quarter, but Kyler Murray was forced to roll out and hit Trey McBride at the sticks pic.twitter.com/luZtr2HNBW
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) October 22, 2024
There were also missed plays by Murray’s receivers, including a drop by Greg Dortch over the middle and another drop on the final drive by Harrison, who did not need to jump but was bailed out by a personal foul.
Watching it back, it’s clear to see there is a version of Monday’s game in which Harrison puts up huge numbers and avoided telling reporters the start to his career has not been what he’d envisioned.
Even on the key Conner 33-yard catch and run to set up the game-winning field goal, Warner points out an opportunity for Murray to fire downfield for Harrison over the middle, but Murray had already moved past that read and checked it down.
Conner made the play of the game by breaking multiple tackles and getting into field-goal range, but the Cardinals have a lot to clean up before the offense breaks out the way it has the potential to.
“When I talk about identity, obviously it always starts with the quarterback. The consistency level at quarterback has to be where it starts, and then you have to figure out how to depend on the other guys,” Warner told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke this week.
“Marvin Harrison, he’s got to become more dependable. He’s got to become more of a guy that you can say, hey, we’re trying to do these things with you, and we’ve got to count on you to win and make the play in those situations. … To me, the biggest piece right now is I can trust Trey McBride and I can trust James Conner, and so you build a lot around those two guys, but you’ve got to have trust in guys on the outside and even guys up front.”