It's Week 2 and Kyler Murray is Already Way Ahead of Schedule
By Chris Pyo
Even if it's only by literal milliseconds, Kyler Murray is way ahead of the expected NFL learning curve every rookie is supposed to deal with.
Not only is the rookie quarterback ahead of schedule in terms of his development, he's showing quicker decision-making skills than quarterbacks who have been in the league for far longer than he is. Milliseconds really do matter in a sport like football.
He also made lightning-quick decisions today against Baltimore.
— tyler dunn (@itstylerdunn) September 15, 2019
It took Kyler Murray just 2.36 seconds on average to get the ball out from snap, per @NextGenStats.
For context, Derek Carr and Ben Roethlisberger had the quickest averages in 2018 — at 2.55 seconds.
After a lackluster preseason coupled with an atrocious first three quarters in his NFL debut, expectations were lessened for Murray and the Arizona Cardinals this season.
Now, even though they have yet to secure a win (including a tie in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions), the Cardinals have dialed up their performances, in part thanks to Murray who has shown that he's more than capable of competing in the NFL.
Murray is also the only rookie quarterback other than Cam Newton to have thrown for over 300 yards in the first two games in his career. Not too shabby at all for the 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick and former Heisman Trophy winner.
Kyler threading the needle like a seasoned veteran ? @K1 pic.twitter.com/bArBXgNDBk
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 15, 2019
Even though the Cardinals lost to the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens Sunday 23-17, Cardinals fans truly have a lot to be excited about based on what they've already seen from Murray. After years of lacking stability at the quarterback position, it finally looks like the team has found its franchise QB.