Drew Petzing needs a stronger system fir at QB
At this point, after seeing Kyler Murray fade yet again in the months of November and December, the Cardinals should at least create a QB competition for 2025.
For a couple of weeks now, on the Red Rain Podcast, Kyle Ledbetter and I have been discussing whether Kyler Murray is the right kind of fit in Drew Petzing’s style of offense —- and whether Drew Petzing’s style of offense is one to maximize Kyler’s strengths —-
Here are some “best fit” recaps of my arguments:
Best fits for Petzing and Kyler:
Drew Petzing’s smashmouth style of offense requires a strong-armed QB who (1) holds up well making throws from the pocket and (2) who is a play-action ace, particularly for exploiting the middle of the field, like Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff.
Kyler Murray fits best in an up-tempo spread-style offense with an array of speed WRs because: (1) he can exploit mismatches, left and right and (2) with fewer defenders in the box he has much more room to run, plus (3) it forces defenses to play man coverage with only 1 safety because they need to use one as spy on Kyler. And (4) the up-tempo gasses the pass rush and CBs.
Why Petzing’s offense is top priority:
- What Petzing does best in a run-heavy 12 and 13 wide zone blocking scheme personnel is the strength of the offense. Opposing teams dread the physical toll it takes on them to defend it for 60 minutes.
- Cardinals re-signed C Hjalte Froholdt (the anchor and glue to the Cardinals’ physical OL) and RB James Conner (the bell cow) because of how perfectly they fit in Petzing’s scheme.
- TE Trey McBride is an absolute stud in the system. The Cardinals drafted TE Tip Reiman in Round 3 to be the “12” and “13” compliment to Trey McBride.
- The job OL coach Klayton Adams has done in developing the schemes and the level of play from his staters and all of his depth players helps to make the system of offense special.
- TE coach Ben Steele and RB coach Autry Denson have done a superb job coaching up the likes of Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, James Conner, Emari Demercado, Trey Benson, DeeJay Dallas and Michael Carter.
Improvements needed:
- Drew Petzing, QB coach Israel Woolfork and WR coach Drew Terrell need to generate greater consistency out of the QB and the WRs in the passing game, particularly in throws from the pocket, throws off play-action (particularly over the middle between the LBs and Ss and over the top of the Ss) and on 3rd downs (particularly 3rd and longs).
QB Competition:
Here are some suggestions for 2025:
- If it’s feasible to trade Kyler Murray, do so. If not, at least create a legit QB competition.
- Play Clayton Tune the next two games (all or most of the snaps) to see what he looks like in the offense to assess his development in the system for the past 2 years.
- Go heavily after Sam Darnold, but he’s most likely going to sign a big contract to stay in Minnesota, as he should.
- Sign Cooper Rush to compete for the starting job (which would mean paying him in the $7-8M range the way the Vikings paid Sam Darnold this year). While the Cardinals have been losing 4 of their last 5 games, Cooper Rush has been winning 4 of his 5 games with the Cowboys. At 6-3, 225, Rush could be the 2025 version of Sam Darnold. His career record as a starter is 9-4. He wins from the pocket, off of play-action and is made to order for a run-heavy scheme. He’s 31 and is primed to take the next step in his NFL career.
Yesterday in the Cowboys’ 26-24 upset win over the Bucs, Cooper Rush passed for 26/35, 292 yards, 8.3 ave, 1 TD, 0 int. 1 sack for 6 yards, 71.3 QBR, 108.3 RTG.
Versus the Panthers in the Cowboys 30-14 win the week before, Cooper Rush passed for 18/29, 212 yards, 7.4 ave., 3 TDs, 0 ints., 1 sack for 15 yards, 55.1 QBR, 119.0 RTG.
- Draft Kurtis Rourke (6-5, 223, Indiana) —- 2024 stats: 3,042 yards, 29 TS, 5 ints, 84.7 QBR (5th in Division 1A).
Those are some of my thoughts and suggestions.
What are some of yours?