Josh WeinfussESPN Personnel Author6 Min Read
RC concerns Cardinals’ choice to work with Jonathan Gannon
Ryan Clark questions if there were far better prospects in the NFL than Jonathan Gannon for the Arizona Cardinals’ head-coaching work.
TEMPE, Ariz. — Drew Petzing recognized it was coming.
It took every one of 2 concerns right into Thursday’s press conference presenting him as the Arizona Cardinals’ brand-new offending planner for Petzing to be inquired about quarterback Kyler Murray.
“It’s mosting likely to be a warm subject I listen to,” Petzing stated.
Petzing discovered promptly that Murray will certainly be the focal point of his work. His meeting with brand-new head train Jonathan Gannon was concentrated mainly on Murray.
“I structured everyone that I talked to around Kyler,” Gannon stated. “The concerns I was inquiring about exactly how, philosophically, we’re mosting likely to use infraction, what I believe is actually tough for defenses progressing right into 2023 as well as past, a great deal of those pertained to Kyler.
“And also eventually, in my viewpoint, that is among the No. 1 work of the offending planner is to optimize the capability of the quarterback as well as the various other placements, also. However we understand that’s the setting that makes it go. So, that was extremely driven around all the meetings as well as I liked his response.”
Petzing prepared.
When Petzing, that was quarterbacks train last period for the Cleveland Browns, got a telephone call soon after the Super Dish that he may be talked to for the work, the very first point he did was watch tape on Murray as well as make contact us to several of Murray’s previous trainers as well as colleagues. Petzing’s takeaway?
“That was just one of the enticing features of this work to me was having the ability to collaborate with a quarterback of his quality,” Petzing stated.
As soon as Petzing reached Arizona today as well as fulfilled Murray, that is rehabbing from a torn ACL to his appropriate knee that compelled him to miss out on 6 video games in 2022, he talked with the quarterback a fair bit. Petzing stated Murray was “incredibly involved” in their discussions, which haven’t revolved around football, Petzing said.
“He’s been great,” Petzing said. “I think he’s really attacking the rehab. Really excited about what we got going on, so it’s been great to get to know him and I look forward to that continuing these next couple of days.”
Gannon said Murray was “right on schedule” with his rehab.
Petzing, a first-time offensive coordinator, wouldn’t reveal what his scheme will look like but said whatever his offense ends up being, it’ll start with his quarterback — just, as he pointed out, it does with every NFL team. Petzing said he has an idea of what his offense will look like but added it will be an “ever-evolving process.”
However, Petzing did say he will lean into Murray’s running ability (he averaged 6.2 yards per rush in 2022) whenever the fifth-year quarterback is fully healthy. Petzing said it’s no secret that Murray’s ability to run makes him “really dangerous to defend.”
“I think one of the things you hear us talk about is how do we make things hard on the defense. And anytime you can utilize something that a player does well or above average like he does, um, it’s going to create that indecision of, ‘Hey, can I really call that defense? Can I take that chance knowing that if I miss it could be a big play?’” Petzing said. “So, certainly want to continue to see that be a big part of his game.”
Even though Murray likely won’t be on the practice field in a full capacity this offseason, Petzing said Murray will get a crash course in the new offense in the meeting room and through walk-throughs. There will be quizzes and film work to help keep Murray up to speed on the scheme, Petzing said.
Gannon plans on having all of the position meeting rooms be “very interactive” by putting players on “hot spots.” He doesn’t want them just regurgitating what they hear — he said he wants them to fully understand it.
“The meeting room, for us, will be a full-time job,” Gannon said. “So, even though he’s not on the field, he will be getting stressed out mentally, I know that.”
Petzing still expects Murray to be ready to play when healthy.
“I fully trust him to be able to grasp and understand the offense even though he’s not going to get the physical reps during training camp,” Petzing said.
With his relationship with Murray in its infancy, Petzing wants Murray to understand he has his best interest and that they share the same goals — and that Petzing will do what he can to help Murray reach those goals.
“And then it’s a personal relationship,” Petzing said, “where you genuinely care about the person outside of football and you take an interest in who they are and what they’re about and what they care about, and that they know and feel that, and that it’s genuine.
“I think that’s a really big piece of it.”
Gannon understands that it’ll take time for Petzing and Murray to get on that level together. Both Gannon and Petzing quickly noticed how much winning matters to him.
“He’s the franchise quarterback for a reason,” Gannon said. “He’s committed to doing his job so he does what he needs to do to put this team in a position to win and, ultimately, that’s what I’ve really noticed about him through a week-and-a-half now.
“But what keeps oozing through this guy is his competitiveness and that’s a different form of competing what he’s doing right now. Certain guys have been there, certain have not, but it’s a hard road as well as you have to have the right mindset to do that.
“And that’s what I’ve been impressed with so far is simply the competitiveness he has in him, talking a little bit of football with him, the competitiveness he has, like, ‘We need to obtain this right because we need to do this to win.’ That’s what I like to listen to from your quarterback.”
