GREEN BAY – The play appeared fairly simple.
During the Cardinals' second snap within the final week on San Francisco, quarterback Kyler Murray carried out a zone learn from midfield, pulling the handoff away from operating again James Conner and deciding to maintain it himself.
While Murray ran round the suitable aspect and turned the nook with the ball in his proper arm, he had barely gained 10 yards when he lifted his left arm in victory. He realized he was scoring, and certainly, he sprinted unbothered 50 yards for the landing.
“To be honest, he was swift as heck for that one,” rookie security Javon Bullard talked about. “He threw up the peace sign when he was like 40 yards out.”
It's the type of play that is actually horrifying, as a result of it seems so basic however swiftly and simply can break open due to the 5-foot-10 Murray's pace. Trusting every defender to hold out his activity is essential, as in “who's got the dive, who's got the quarterback,” Head Coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged.
“However, it's certainly not like they're solely focusing on zone reads.”
And that's the downside with a QB like Murray, an extremely fast, elusive runner with a robust arm who's threatening sufficient when he retreats to move and begins evading defenders.
Incorporating the deliberate runs, like on zone reads, solely amplifies the problems.
That's why in the beginning of the Packers' preparation for the Cardinals this week, the coaches compiled a spotlight reel of Murray showcasing his abilities together with his legs, darting all around the discipline, eluding tacklers, after which both taking off or launching a deep throw.
“There's a clip where he's scurrying around and he ducks, causing three guys to collide with each other like a Three Stooges skit,” defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley talked about.
“Don't turn into a Stooge” may not precisely ignite as a rallying name however the message is obvious – with this man, by no means assume any given snap is over.
“When the play ends, it's still ongoing, you understand?” Bullard remarked. “Plaster remains alive.”
“Plaster” is what defensive backs seek advice from because the protection tactic when a QB begins to scramble. Locate a receiver and stick with him. Any defender with no goal to cowl should hold his eyes on the QB.
The choice is to forestall Murray from scrambling. Keep him within the pocket and try and collapse it round him. It's simpler mentioned than performed. Whenever he runs, deliberate or improvised, he is averaging over 10 yards per try this season.
The excellent news is relating to genuine dual-threat quarterbacks, who can execute zone reads, fireplace lasers down the sector or take off elusively, the Packers have been prepared for all of them season, beginning with the journey to Brazil in Week 1 to face Philly's Jalen Hurts. Indy's Anthony Richardson got here subsequent.
So endeavoring for a QB like Murray is not some unfamiliar defensive idea, and the Packers carried out admirably within the early weeks, particularly towards Hurts, containing that mobility.
However, Murray presents a problem of his personal.
“In my view, both guys are dual threats, but Kyler's a bit distinctive,” Bullard remarked. “We felt Jalen was extra of a pure passer with the ball in his arms, and he'd evade solely when obligatory, not primarily when he chooses to.
“Kyler on the other hand, when he scrambles, it's almost as if he's seeking to score.”
The Packers perceive what lies forward of them.
“We better ensure we're on our game,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark acknowledged. “Ensure we're disciplined and rush him intelligently.”
More suspense upcoming?: The Packers and Cardinals seldom face one another – simply 4 occasions within the final decade – but the final three encounters have come all the way down to, fairly actually, the ultimate moments of the sport.
In the 2015 NFC Divisional playoff at Arizona, the Packers leveled the sport on the final snap of regulation on QB Aaron Rodgers' 41-yard Hail Mary landing to Jeff Janis – who additionally hauled in a 60-yard move on fourth-and-20 from the Green Bay 4-yard line only a couple performs in the past to maintain the last-ditch drive. Yet the Cardinals countered with receiver Larry Fitzgerald's 75-yard catch-and-run on the very first play of extra time, laying the groundwork for the game-deciding rating two performs later.
In 2018 at Lambeau Field, the Packers trailed by three factors with below two minutes remaining and superior into field-goal vary, solely to witness kicker Mason Crosby miss a 49-yarder on the final play of the 20-17 defeat. A number of hours later, Mike McCarthy's virtually 13-year tenure as Green Bay's head coach concluded as he was dismissed.
In 2021 on a Thursday night away recreation in direction of the tip of October, the Cardinals stood because the league's last undefeated group at 7-0, going through off towards the 6-1 Packers. Green Bay led by three and had a possibility to increase the lead with 3½ minutes remaining however was halted on fourth-and-goal from the 1. The Cardinals marched the opposite manner and encountered second-and-goal from the 5 with solely 15 seconds left when lately added cornerback Rasul Douglas – who joined the Packers from the Cardinals' follow squad merely a pair of weeks prior – intercepted Murray in the long run zone for a pulse-raising Green Bay victory.
