Cardinals’ Murray ends preseason on excessive observe

MINNEAPOLIS — Subsequent up for Kyler Murray: Week 1.

The Arizona Cardinals rookie quarterback noticed his ultimate motion of the preseason Saturday towards the Minnesota Vikings, and he feels he went out on the excessive observe for which he hoped.

Murray performed virtually two full quarters — 35 snaps in all — within the Cardinals’ 20-9 loss at U.S. Financial institution Stadium, and although he did not lead Arizona on a landing drive, he left the sport feeling as comfy as he is been within the preseason, largely to the elevated variety of reside reps.

“Figuring out we’re not enjoying subsequent week [against Denver in the fourth preseason game], no one needs to come back out right here as we speak and type of lay an egg,” Murray mentioned after the sport. “We did not put the ball in the long run zone however we sustained drives this week, and I feel we have been extra constant and I feel everyone felt higher about how we performed.”

Murray completed 14-for-21 passing for 137 yards and had 4 carries for 9 yards. The No. 1 general decide on this 12 months’s draft was “type of completely happy” together with his and the offense’s day. Having a productive displaying was necessary for the unit’s psyche, Murray mentioned.

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Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury mentioned Murray “dealt with himself pretty effectively” towards Minnesota, including that the offense began quicker, was extra bodily and regarded crisper.

“I assumed he made good choices, whether or not it is to take off or transfer and get out of the pocket, make fast choices,” Kingsbury mentioned. “Had some issues we might wish to have again, however it’s all about progress. Every week, we needed to get higher, and this was enjoying towards an excellent protection that confirmed a number of appears to be like.”

After Saturday, Murray is as prepared as he’ll be for the common season, Kingsbury mentioned.

“As a rookie quarterback within the NFL, I do not understand how prepared you could be,” Kingsbury mentioned. “You may by no means be utterly prepared, I do not assume, when it is your first recreation within the NFL, however he seems like he is in a great place speaking to him. We have tried to push as many reps as doable. And Week 1’s going to be a brand new expertise for he and myself. So, we’ll develop collectively and be taught from it and see the place it goes.”

The primary-team offense didn’t use a clap to name for the snap because it had within the first two preseason video games, each at residence, opting as a substitute to make use of a silent depend, Murray mentioned.

As a substitute of clapping, he lifted his foot to name for the ball.

Nevertheless, when backup quarterback Brett Hundley took over for Murray with 2 minutes, 24 seconds left within the second quarter, he was rapidly whistled for 2 false begins after clapping after which selecting up his leg.

After the sport, Hundley mentioned the overall feeling is that he cannot clap in any respect to name for the snap.

“We will not pretend clap, we won’t clap, we won’t convey our hand outdoors, and that is how we clap within the first place,” he mentioned. “I do not know proper now.”

Referee Walt Anderson, who labored with Kingsbury at Texas Tech when he was the Huge 12’s director of officiating, instructed a pool reporter after the sport that Hundley’s actions have been “too abrupt” and “find yourself simulating the beginning of the play.”

“What we all the time search for are motions or actions that simulate the beginning of the play and I simply felt like these two actions by the quarterback did simply that — they simulated the beginning of the play and the ball wasn’t snapped, so we had a false begin,” Anderson mentioned.

Kingsbury mentioned he did not search a proof about Hundley’s penalties.

“We’ll work by means of a number of cadences and do various things,” he mentioned. “And so it is type of the place we’re at on it.”

Whereas the Cardinals proceed to work out the problems with their snap, a lot of what they’re going to do offensively Week 1 towards the Detroit Lions remained below lock and key in Minnesota.

Kingsbury would not reveal what share of the offense Arizona ran Saturday was the Cardinals’ regular-season offense.

“I do not wish to get into specifics of what our offense will appear to be, however I feel we have been just a little extra recreation plan-specific this week,” Kingsbury mentioned. “We had installations, issues of that nature. I felt just like the sense of urgency to start out the sport was a lot improved from every week in the past due to that.”