Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray aims to improve his ad-lib plays in 2025.
"It's just we have to be better on off-scheduled plays because, obviously, I have that ability to make extend plays, and we have the guys to go do it off schedule," Murray said, via ESPN. "So, I believe that's an area we got to be better at."
When things go awry, the elite, the best of the best, thrive. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, etc., petrify defenses with their ability to win out of the structure of the play with both their arm and legs.
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing knows those types of plays can be boom or bust, but he believes Murray he owns the skill set to pull it off.
"When you hit them you have really good numbers out of the pocket and when you don't, that's bad plays, turnovers, those are the things you try to eliminate," Petzing said. "So, there's kind of two windows that we try to emphasize in terms of 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?
"I think those are game-changing plays. He's one of the few people in this league that can do it physically at a high level and create some of those. So, we want to make sure we're taking advantage of that."
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."