Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals have already experienced numerous highs and lows during the 2022 season. After getting lambasted in Week 1 by the Kansas City Chiefs, they essentially saved their season in Week 2, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and winning in overtime.
In week 3 they fell short again losing to the Los Angeles Rams. With the game hanging in the balance in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers, they once again came up big in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals outscored them 16-6 in the fourth quarter for the victory.
If Arizona wants to find sustained success, they are going to need to play at a more consistent level. The only thing they have done consistently thus far in 2022 is playing inconsistently and that needs to change.
This is a team that is built around the firepower of its offense but they have misfired throughout the season. Part of that comes down to coaching and execution, but the best quarterbacks can help elevate their teams beyond that point.
Several people believe Kyler Murray is capable of doing that. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft signed a massive contract extension this offseason, so the Cardinals believe that he is capable of such things as well.
However, not everyone is a fan of Murray. One person who is not is former NFL running back LeSean McCoy. On the “I Am Athlete” podcast, McCoy did not mince words when talking about Murray.
That is certainly a strong opinion from McCoy, who isn’t impressed at all by what Murray is doing on the field. The team acquired more talent to put around him this offseason, trading for his former college wide receiver, Marquise Brown, from the Baltimore Ravens to help offset the loss of DeAndre Hopkins, who was suspended for the first six games of the season.
Brown has been excellent, catching 30 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Greg Dortch and Zach Ertz have been good complementary options thus far and they are getting healthier with Rondale Moore making his season debut in Week 4.
At times it is justified to call out a player’s performance, but Murray hasn’t done anything that should lead to that kind of ridicule. At least wait until they are back to full strength to share just vitriol. If the struggles continue with everyone healthy, harsher judgment will be shared by more than just McCoy.