Sir Purr
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- Mar 16, 2019
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Pressure is certainly something head coach Ron Rivera and the secondary would appreciate. Rivera isn’t as worried about Murray taking off into the open field as he is about his ability to extend plays by escaping the pocket and looking for big plays through the air.
“He doesn’t necessarily move around to run, as much as he’s moving around to try and buy time for the routes to open up or for people to get downfield,” Rivera said. “When he does break the pocket, they have a scramble drill very similar to what you see in Seattle. One guy breaks long, one guy comes back, one guy breaks across. You have to be aware of it.”
Cornerback James Bradberry shares his head coach’s concern. To the secondary, Murray’s mobility means spending extra time in coverage.
“Just make sure you stay on your receiver, because you know he’s going to make plays with his legs. You’ve got to have your head on a swivel at all times and keep your eyes on your man,” Bradberry said. “It’s going to be a test for us, for sure.”
So, if the Panthers want to shut Murray down and keep their secondary fresh, linebacker Luke Kuechly said the defense has to keep the quarterback contained.
“You’ve got a guy covered for a majority of the time, you’ve got a great pass rush, and he’s a guy that can scramble and run around and create options for his receivers as the play progresses,” Kuechly said. “Those guys are good in the pocket, but they’re more dangerous when they have the ability to get outside the pocket.”
Murray’s legs may be his most exciting, and mysterious, weapon to this point, but his arm is clearly dangerous, too. The stats can tell you, but so will Bradberry.
“He has a strong arm, he can throw a pretty good deep ball,” Bradberry said. “He’s talented, for sure. He’s going to get it to his receivers down the field.”
Boston said another key for the defense is limiting the big plays – something the Panthers have done well so far this season. Through two games, the Panthers have only given up one pass longer than 30 yards, tied for fewest in the league. Meanwhile, Arizona’s offense is fourth in the league in pass plays greater than 30 yards with six.
“I think we’ve just got to do a good job of staying deep and making sure they have to dink and dunk us all the way down the field,” Boston said. “They’re a college team offense. They’re going to want to get up the field, a few shots during the drive. That’s just what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to play honest and do our assignments.”
And in the end, make Murray look like a rookie.
“You can’t just go out there glorifying anybody," Boston said of facing the top pick. "This is the NFL, you have to earn your respect. Great player, but you have to go out there and produce.”