One Encouraging Stat for 2023 Arizona Cardinals

The 2023 Arizona Cardinals can focus on this stat for success moving forward.

The 2023 Arizona Cardinals aren't expected to win many games given how the last few months have gone for the team. Arizona is very much in rebuild mode, and though the future does look extremely bright, this season might not be very fruitful. 

That's partly due to the status of quarterback Kyler Murray, who is recovering from a torn ACL/meniscus with no actual date known for a possible return. 

When he does arrive, he'll have to work through the mental aspect (as well as physical) in overcoming the injury. In short, Murray may not be the same player upon first taking the field. 

"You get a little scared to run the first time you pull a hammy and then I think with reps, with everything confidence comes in," Murray told reporters this week.

"Even in the weight room I'm doing things the first time I do it I might be hesitant. The first time I jumped, I was hesitant. We're preparing the body, preparing the mind to be able to do those things. I do think the first time I'm out there maybe I might be [nervous] but with the reps I think the confidence will grow and grow."

On top of the injury, Murray will be working in a new offensive scheme under first-time offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and won't have the luxury of DeAndre Hopkins at his disposal. 

There's a lot (in theory) working against Murray and Arizona's offense as a whole, though Pro Football Focus believes his passing stat from 2022 is encouraging for 

"Across 2020 and 2021, Kyler Murray was the NFL’s premier deep passer. On throws of 20-plus yards, Murray posted a league-leading 98.8 passing grade and a 37.4% big-time throw rate. 2022 was a different story, though," wrote Dalton Wasserman.

"Kyler Murray posted a 48.5 passing grade on deep throws this past season, third worst among 39 quarterbacks who threw at least 20 deep balls. The Cardinals have enough speed at receiver with Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore. A healthy Murray has proven before that he can take advantage of that."

An emerging rookie Michael Wilson and veteran Zach Pascal are also expected to contribute. Tight end Zach Ertz could also be healthy and ready to roll from his own ACL recovery, too. 

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