Big Red
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- Mar 16, 2019
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Raiders safety Lamarcus Joyner and ex-coach Rex Ryan expressed publicly this preseason what many grizzled NFL types were thinking: Kliff Kingsbury and his “pretty boy football” might work in college, but the pro level was a different beast.
While there is still a long way to go for a definitive answer, the Cardinals’ offense under its first-year coach is off to a beautiful start.
Kingsbury has helped spark a significant turnaround in his first six games, taking a 2018 offense that was historically unproductive – ranked third-worst since 1986 by Football Outsiders – and turning it into the makings of a potent group.
The Cardinals are averaging 8.2 more points per game this season and have gone from last to 10th in total offense. Even after stripping out the bump in cumulative numbers based on tempo, the offense has nearly doubled its points per drive (1.09 to 1.97) from 2018 and improved from last in yards per play (4.3) to 15th (5.6).
“I’ve always just had that expectation, if we execute and I can call good plays, that we’re going to be successful,” Kingsbury said. “When I got here, people acted like I had never called plays before, never coached football before. I have a feel for the game and what I think we can do.”
Kingsbury’s scheme has played a pivotal role, as the litany of moving pieces on any particular play has wreaked havoc on defenses.
“We’re starting to use a lot of motions and really trick people with our eyes,” running back Chase Edmonds said. “It’s been phenomenal so far these past two weeks.”
The Cardinals have racked up 60 points and 956 total yards during their two-game winning streak. The big numbers have come against Cincinnati and Atlanta teams with subpar defensive personnel, but nearly everyone looked like the 1985 Bears against the Cardinals’ offense a season ago.
“I think just offensively, as a unit, as a group, we’re figuring each other out,” said Kingsbury, who is often loathe to take credit for offensive success. “We’re figuring out what we do well and don’t do well. Week to week as a staff, guys are coming up with good concepts and designs, and our players understand how to execute those at a high level.”
There were many naysayers when the Cardinals paired Kingsbury and Kyler Murray together this offseason. So far, the rookie quarterback has dazzled, and Kingsbury has put the offense in position to succeed.
“It’s fun learning from him, just studying the plays,” rookie wide receiver Andy Isabella said. “Learning how it all works is pretty cool.”
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