Kyler Murray in the Vikings Offense: Interview w/ Cardinals Insider Kyle Odegard Pt. 2
If you haven’t read the first installment of this little series we’re doing here, I heavily recommend doing so. In this series, we’re breaking down the words of Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard from an episode of my show, The Skolcial Network, a few weeks back. In this episode, we hit all the hot-button topics surrounding new Vikings QB Kyler Murray.
In the first part of the series, we covered Kyler Murray’s “character concerns”. This time, we’re attacking his potential in the Vikings’ offense. This time, my good pal Jason Harmon asked Odegard a very, very good question that we’re all dying to know.
Kyler Murray’s Play Style and How it Translates in Minnesota
Here’s how the exchange went down. Follow it along by knowing that BB is me, JH is Jason, and KO is Kyle.
Kyler Murray’s Struggles During OTAs, Play Style, and Talents
JH: “Because we’re talking so much about this quarterback competition, not competition, whatever you want to call it. Obviously, it’s going to carry into August. When it comes to Kyler Murray from your experience following him through practices and training camp, how one-to-one accurate is his kind of play style and decision-making that you’ve seen in training camp compared to how he is in games? Is he more aggressive, does he try things he’ll usually avoid, does he not rely on his feet as much. does he play it more conservative? Just so Vikings fans can kind of get an understanding on when to hit the panic meter or not so much in training camp with Kyler.”
BB: “Great question, Jason!”
The group laughs at my tone of voice, almost sounding like a proud parent who is being shown a drawing by their three year old where it’s just hapless streaks of crayons going in every direction.
KO: “I do think he stays in the pocket more in training camp and tries to go through the reads more because if you’re scrambling in training camp, what’s the point of doing that? You know, you want to play out those plays longer and and make it, you know, get to those progressions. And in a game, if he sees a lane, usually he’ll just go and try to rip off a big gain.
I think the idea that he is learning this system. So, it wouldn’t shock me if it’s a little bit rough at times. And if J.J. [McCarthy] has improved a lot, then maybe it does become a legitimate competition. I know just from a talent standpoint with what I’ve seen from Kyler, like arm talent-wise, his ability to run, he’s pretty special in both those aspects, the fact that he can throw as well as he can and run.
But if he’s not quite getting the system and maybe that opens the door a little bit, for JJ, but I still feel like he’s just so such a unique player and if they’re close knowing the system and going through the progressions as they are. Like his mobility is just a game changer. And that’s why I think it’s probably going to be him because he does the unscripted stuff that is just special.
And if it’s anywhere close like JJ’s going to have to blow him out of the water from a yeah, you know, a regular standpoint going through the progressions and hitting guys in order to take the job. So, I don’t think it’ll be perfect for Kyler. I think he’s definitely going to “wow” you in camp like with his arm talent and with his speed, but it wouldn’t surprise him if he’s kind of going uphill trying to figure out this offense timing with the receivers. There’s a lot to learn for him in a short, short period of time.”
Kyler Murray’s Arm Strength, and Having Justin Jefferson is a Good Thing
JH: “So, what you’re saying is is the concerns about his arm strength maybe overblown a little bit.”
The group gets a kick out of this one, all in agreement that any concerns about Murray’s arm strength is silly.
KO: “He had a very good deep ball early and that was also because he had DeAndre Hopkins. To me, like when you’ve got Justin Jefferson and the receiver core that you do, I would be surprised if his if his deep ball is not there. Like maybe he doesn’t have the arm strength that Josh Allen has. I mean, he’s not like this crazy arm, but it’s it’s pretty solid. He’s got a good arm and he’s accurate.
So I don’t have a I don’t have a deep ball issue. I think the the bigger one is can he get to the third guy in his progressions and stay in the pocket? That’s his biggest question mark is does he leave too soon on certain plays, but from an arm talent perspective, I think he’s right there with some of the top guys.”
Talent Difference and Level of QB Play Between Murray and McCarthy Isn’t Close
BB: Yeah, the difference in talent between, and this doesn’t necessarily lead to better quarterback, in this case, I don’t think it’s close. Right now from what we’ve seen of J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray’s a better quarterback, but just looking at like the talent alone in McCarthy and Murray, it’s not close.
That doesn’t mean that McCarthy can’t turn it on. I made a video last week [about how] I want JJ McCarthy to win the competition. Not because I don’t like Kyler. I’ve always liked Kyler. I want McCarthy to win the competition because that means he got that much better. I think that’s a very small likelihood admittedly. And I was a huge McCarthy guy coming out of the the draft in 2024. And I’m wrong at the end of all of this if McCarthy sucks. That’s what sucks about this.”
JH: “Last time you and I sat on this podcast and both got excited about a quarterback. Bad things happen. So Kyle, we apologize in advance if your boy suffers because of us. We’re not exactly the best good luck charm for quarterbacks in our time together.”
This is true. Jason and I were absolutely pounding the table for J.J. McCarthy in 2024. So far, it hasn’t worked out so great, to say the least.
KO: “I think it’s a good point where like, if he does win that competition, which yeah, I agree. I don’t think J.J. will, but Kyler’s got a high enough floor where, you know, he’s at worst the 20th-best QB in the NFL. You have a legitimate starter when he’s playing and he could probably be top-10 if he plays really well.
So if JJ does make it a competition or wins, like that says alot about his growth. And I I think we haven’t seen enough from him. But I think Kyler will probably get named [starter] pretty quickly because I do think he’s just that talented of a player. But yeah, I mean, if McCarthy wins it, it would say a lot about him. It wouldn’t be like two bad quarterbacks facing off, you know, the lesser of two evils. It would be a good thing for him for sure.”
JH: “Welcome back, Max Brosmer.”
Jason’s silly joke brings us to the end of this installment of the Kyler Murray series with Kyle Odegard, As a reminder, the full 30-minute interview is available on The Skolcial Network on YouTube.
