Commanders need smart plan to contain Cardinals QB Kyler Murray in Week 4

Kyler Murray is a big play waiting to happen from anywhere on the field, but the Washington Commanders have a better chance of containing the Arizona Cardinals quarterback if they keep him in the pocket at State Farm Stadium in Week 4.

Murray is playing exceptional football by marrying his natural mobility with greater accuracy through the air. The combination will exploit a Commanders' defense near the bottom of the NFL standings after three games.

Coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and head coach Dan Quinn need some humility when drawing up the game-plan for Murray. Specifically, to temper some of their more aggressive instincts and set up a passive defensive structure to contain the signal-caller.

Stopping the two-time Pro Bowler completely is unrealistic, but the Commanders can at least slow Murray enough to help their dual-threat weapon Jayden Daniels outpace the Cardinals on the scoreboard.

Commanders must have zone eyes on Murray

Letting Murray run remains a key part of what the Cardinals do offensively, even though coordinator Drew Petzing runs a different scheme than what Kliff Kingsbury called when he was head coach in Arizona.

The difference is summed up by these words from ESPN's Josh Weinfuss: "Kingsbury used Murray's running as a method to get the offense moving but Petzing uses it as a complementary part of the scheme."

Now Murray is throwing on the run with the kind of accuracy that should scare the Commanders. His signature play this season, a moving escape act preceding a touchdown toss to Elijah Higgins against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2, personified this deadly combination.

When a quarterback extends a play as long as Murray did here, 8.55 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats, any defense is in trouble. Coverage defenders with their backs turned can't see when the ball is released.

Turned backs are something Murray can't be presented with during the Week 4 contest. The Commanders must bail into zone shells and stay facing the line of scrimmage for as long as possible.

A zone-heavy coverage strategy will have two advantages. First, the Commanders can keep numbers deep to take away the vertical strikes Murray is thriving throwing this season.

The 27-year-old hit on all "five deep passes (20+ air yards) for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Rams," per Next Gen Stats.

Quinn and Whitt Jr. saw their secondary burned twice for long touchdowns by Ja'Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. They can't let the same thing happen against Murray and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Taking away the deep pass is only one part of the puzzle to contain Murray. The other part involves keeping the 2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year trapped in the pocket. It will be easier if defensive players keep their eyes and see whenever he takes off to run.

Commanders need to spy Kyler Murray

Putting a spy on Murray can deter him from moving around and running too often, but shadowing an athlete as dynamic as Arizona's QB1 is no easy assignment. It requires a defensive player with range and versatility.

Jeremy Chinn qualifies after the safety/linebacker made clutch plays against the Bengals. He can keep Murray guessing by lining up in multiple spots, but always keeping No. 1 in his sights.

As soon as Murray starts to climb the pocket or slide out of it, Chinn needs to attack aggressively and rapidly downhill. A few early collisions between these two will soon encourage Murray to stay put, provided the Commanders' edge rushers do their job.

Maintaining rush discipline is a must for any defense trying to combat a mobile quarterback, but it's easier said than done. Pass-rushers can't go beyond Murray's back foot and give him a running lane through the middle. Nor can edge defenders slant inside too often and risk creating escape routes on the outside.

Injuries up front mean the onus is on two of Quinn's former players with the Dallas Cowboys, Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr., to have smart pass-rush plans. The pair provided an excellent example of how to close on a boxed-in quarterback when Armstrong helped Fowler get to Bengals' passer Joe Burrow on Monday Night Football.

Fowler, Armstrong, and rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste all have vital roles to play in keeping a box around Murray. Doing so is key to the Commanders scoring a second-straight upset win on the road.

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