With new Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury in charge, one thing not yet exactly known is how the new offensive system will look. With quarterback Kyler Murray expected to run the show, Kingsbury gave a little insight to what the Cardinals will attempt to do offensively.
Kingsbury told NBC Sports’ Peter King the system for Murray will be “very similar” to the offense he ran under Lincoln Rily at Oklahoma.
“When you spread people out he’s a weapon in a bunch of different ways,” he said. “That’s tough on defenses because if you want to rush him upfield and he takes off, good luck catching him. And if you sit back, he can still pick you apart. The way we spread people out, the tempo in which we play, he’s the guy who can really thrive in system.
“We’re going to play the game at times wider than probably most people do in the league. We’re going to use the entire field and make them cover five wides and the quarterback and that’s tough on defenses.”
Does that mean he will have four and five wide receivers on the field? That isn’t as likely, based on comments he has made before. David Johnson will be on the field a lot. So will tight end Charles Clay, a player he is very excited to have on his team.
Kingsbury makes it sound like, when the offense is in passing situations, they will have an empty backfield. It is not dissimilar to many things the Cardinals ran offensively under Bruce Arians. They didn’t do it a ton but they did often use an empty backfield with a running back and tight end lined up wide with the receivers on third-and-long situations.
Imagine facing that on third and short or medium but with the threat of Murray running as well.
Kingsbury has his quarterback. Now we just have to wait to see him in action.
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