Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur likened Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to a “water bug” and said his defense must limit the number of off-schedule plays Murray can make during Sunday’s showdown at Lambeau Field.
LaFleur talked about the challenge of facing Murray during his appearance on the “Matt LaFleur Podcast” with Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.
“Kyler is something else, because he can make all these off-schedule plays, he can beat you with his legs, he can beat you with his arm. He’s not the biggest guy…but he’s like a water bug. He’s impossible to catch. It’s going to be a great challenge for our defense to try find ways to contain him, bottle him up. If he starts making the game off-schedule, there’s no great play call for that. He’s going to create some explosion plays, and it’s going to be a problem.”
The stats back up LaFleur’s concerns.
On plays where Murray is holding the ball for more than 2.5 seconds, he is completing 66.7 percent of passes and averaging 9.1 yards per attempt, per PFF. His six touchdown passes when holding the ball over 2.5 seconds ranks as the third most among quarterbacks this season. His passer rating of 122.1 is first. Murray has also scrambled 11 times. Through five games, Murray has 247 yards rushing, with an average of over 10 yards per rush.
Most quarterbacks are most effective when playing quick and on time from the pocket. Murray is a different breed. He is one of the game’s great improvisors, and his combination of diminutive size, incredible athletic ability and creativity as a runner and escape artist makes him one of the best off-schedule quarterbacks in football.
The Packers are no stranger to playing athletic quarterbacks this season. LaFleur’s team faced Jalen Hurts in the season opener and Anthony Richardson in Week 2, and the Packers limited the number of off-schedule and rushing opportunities for both quarterbacks with a contain rush plan. The same will be used Sunday for Murray.
LaFleur said the goal will be to condense the pocket on Murray and limit escape routes. The idea is to make the pocket feel uncomfortable without over-committing up field and providing the opportunities to get outside the pocket and do damage as a runner or thrower.
Here’s a play that highlights what Murray can do as an off-schedule quarterback:
KYLER MURRAY ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 😱
📺: #LARvsAZ on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gfHzqbrZ0w— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
The Rams had Murray dead to rights in the pocket, but he somehow found an escape, got outside the pocket, set his feet and delivered an incredible touchdown pass.
The Packers’ pass-rush has been disappointing to start the 2024 season, but LaFleur has consistently mentioned the contain rushes in Week 1 and Week 2 as reasons why. Expect another contain rush plan on Sunday against Murray. Pressure is always important, but the Packers clearly want to keep Murray in the pocket and limit the number of off-schedule plays.