There is a new energy in the building with the Arizona Cardinals and their new coaching staff. Tackle D.J. Humphries called it a culture shock.
Quarterback Kyler Murray is giving off major positive vibes.
It is because he loves the approach of general manager Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Murray loves it. What he says about it reveals much of what was going wrong with the previous coaching staff — details and communication.
“I just think with the things that obvious Coach Gannon and Monti have put into place, structure from top to bottom, it’s a lot more detail-oriented — attention to detail — and it allows me the guy I am, it doesn’t come off how it might have come off in the past,” Murray explained on Saturday.
He says that everyone understands things much more and there is much more accountability.
“If you mess up this little detail, we’ll hold you accountable,” he said, noting whether it is a wrong route, missed block, missed throw, missed read or rushing the wrong gap on defense.
“Everyone understands what that guy was supposed to do, so we’re all on the same page,” he continued. “It’s being preached to everyone, not just one person. And I think the communication throughout this whole thing has been awesome.”
Gannon preaches process and championship behavior in every phase of work, whether it is mealtime, recovery, workouts or dress in the building.
They will have a different offensive scheme, but Murray doesn’t really believe the scheme change is going to make the difference.
“I just think it’s the way it’s being coached.,” he said. “Coach Riley (former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, Murray’s college coach) didn’t run this offense, but he coached the (expletive) out of it. He coached it very well, to where everybody understood what they were supposed to be doing.”
That is what offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is doing. It’s what Gannon is doing.
“It’s just the details of everything, Every little detail matters. I think that’s something I know we were missing.”
Under Kliff Kingsbury, there was less structure. He wanted players to hold each other accountable. He would not call out players.
Now players are being held accountable by coaches and teammates.
Murray likes being coached hard. He likes clear expectations. He has those now. Once he returns from his knee injury, we can see if he will now thrive in a more structured, detailed environment where he isn’t the only one being held accountable.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
