Watch this TD thrown into tight coverage on MHJ by Garrett Williams

One staple to Kyler Murray’s game that has been very good from the get-go is his precise timing and touch on fade passes.

You might remember back in 2021, the superb TD fade Kyler threw on 4th and 2 at a rain-soaked Soldier Filed to DeAndre Hopkins to make the 1st quarter score Cardinals 7 Bears 0 in a game the Cardinals went on to win 33-22.

It’s the 3rd play of this game highlight video: (the first play is a tipped interception into the arms of safety Jalen Thompson. The 2nd play is a 10-yard pass on 3rd and 12 from Kyler Murray to Zach Ertz, which sets up the 4th and 2 scenario for the 3rd play.

Cardinals vs. Bears Week 13 Highlights | NFL 2021 (youtube.com)

That play was the first thing I thought of after watching this beautiful TD toss past the pylon from Kyler to MHJ:

• 12 Personnel (TEs McBride and Higgins lined up stacked to the left of the formation, with Michael Wilson wide), leaving MHJ as the lone receiver to the right).
• Kyler’s pass is a tad underthrown.
• Garrett Williams is in blanket coverage so much so that MHJ has only one free arm.
• MHJ makes the one-handed catch with Williams draped all over him while managing to keep both his feet in the end zone.
• Very impressive displays of tracking and concentration by MHJ.

Suggestions:

• Zaven Collins —- “we need much better pressure and rush technique from you off the edge.”
• Garrett Williams —- “next time, seeing as you are in press coverage on the solo receiver to that side, which would cause many NFL QBs to audible straight into a fade pass, don’t give the WR a free release. Make sure to bump the WR to make the timing of the play more difficult. The other thing about getting a bump on the WR is —- it gives the safety to your side (Jalen Thomson here) a second more time to help over the top. And as you well know, if you don’t have time to look back for the ball, get your arms up faster into the WR’s face the second the WRs arm/arms go up.”
• Kyzir White —- “you can’t let WR Michael Wilson cross your face in coverage without cutting him off and/or picking him up just as the pass is being released.”

Commendations:

• MHJ —- “that was some kind of magic, #18.”
• Garrett Williams —-”good, sticky coverage and tackle on the play.”
• Jonah Williams —- “excellent fan block on Zaven.”
• Will Hernandez —- “way to build a wall in front of Kyler.”
• Dante Stills —- “great, quick decision to get your hands up on the pass. It could have been a factor on this play.”
• Starling Thomas V —- “solid coverage on TE Trey McBride.”
• Mack Wilson Sr. —-”solid coverage on TE Elijah Higgins.”
• DBs Ojemudia, McKinley II, Blount, Chachere, Price and Davis for being focused and at full attention on the sidelines during the play and then, in particular, high praise to Joey Blount and Bobby Price for going over to pick up MHJ and get him to his feet.

Trend:

• Shotgun passing plays with trips to one side (either 2 TEs, 1 WR in this case, or 3 WRs in other cases) and MHJ isolated as the lone WR to the other. While the coaches are doing a great deal to accelarate the timing between Kyler and MHJ, imagine the combination routes that Petzing and Kyler can run with Trey McBride and the two big Stanford receivers Michael Wilson and Elijah Higgins. Think about a bunch formation with Greg Dortch, Michael Wilson and Zay Jones. Fascinating possibilities.

Red Rain Monday:

Cardinals talk with special guest Brett Kollmann who recently texted: “I’m most curious to see what Petzing does now that he has a full off-season with Kyler.”