Each offseason, Cardinals OC Drew Petzing and HC Jonathan Gannon rip it all up and start fresh. But one thing that never gets lost in translation is the system they speak. “If we’re speaking French, then we’re not going into the season speaking Italian,” Petzing said recently. That chemistry goes double for his connection with Kyler Murray. With Kyler stepping into his third year under Petzing, there’s a different tone at camp this time, which now comes with a major update.
“Obviously this is Year Three in the system with Drew, but I know what he wants,” Kyler said. “And he knows what I like.” It’s a trust built on reps, even if last season ended just shy of a Top 10 offense. The Cardinals were this close, sitting 11th in total yards. Early MVP chatter around Murray had the Red Sea buzzing—until a dip in form post-bye cooled the momentum. Still, with the weapons in hand and Kyler’s dual-threat style, he’s gunning to be back in that conversation. And all he needs now is stability.
“When you’ve been doing it your whole life at the best of the best level, it’s one of those things where it’s boring doing the right (expletive) over and over again, but I would say that’s probably the secret,” he admitted. That attention to detail — that “don’t get bored playing” mantra—might just be the biggest difference-maker heading into his seventh season. And to back his push for a more explosive offense, the Cardinals just made a major change in the RB room. James Conner remains the centerpiece, and rightly so. “I think James has proven that over the last couple of years, just the way he carries the ball, what he brings to the offense. I think that’s always going to be the case,” Petzing noted. But there’s a twist.
James Conner’s workload = safe
(and you’re drafting Trey Benson too early for the second year in a row) https://t.co/Svw1qBEZRV pic.twitter.com/5qzL9xrg6a
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) July 29, 2025
Conner may not be top-tier in fantasy drafts, but with 1,000+ scrimmage yards back-to-back, he’s still elite. Michael Florio ranks him No. 3 in RB value behind just Pacheco and Swift. He said, “Conner has long been one of my favorite running back values, and the trend continues in 2025.” Even so, Arizona isn’t putting all its chips on one card.
“I certainly feel like there’s other guys in that room that can carry some of that load and have a big impact on offense, Trey being one of them,” Petzing added. With Conner fresh off a career-high 1,508 yards from scrimmage in 2024, and Trey Benson pushing for reps, this backfield overhaul could be the very thing that lets Kyler finally turn those strong demands into something bigger—wins.
Kyler Murray & the Cardinals hit a crossroads with playoffs on the line
It’s year seven for Kyler Murray in the Valley of the Sun. It’s not just about personal stats anymore. The Red Sea has not seen any playoff action since 2021, and that ride ended in disaster against the Rams. Murray’s performance that day left a lasting mark. And everyone from the locker room to the front office knows: if he doesn’t bounce back now, it won’t just be his job on the line.
Naturally, no one in the Cardinals wants to relive that nightmare. Murray doesn’t need to light up the league with a historic campaign, but he does need to tighten things up. Those drive-killing habits—holding the ball too long, unnecessary sacks, and forced throws—have to go. As per SI’s Richie Bradshaw, “Beyond turnovers, Murray has to cut down on other drive-killers… Those are the kinds of mistakes that kill momentum and keep the offense stuck in neutral.”
If he can fix that? Then, the numbers will follow. Even without going full All-Pro, a solid bounce-back campaign is realistic. So Bradshaw feels, “A best-case scenario would be something like this: 65% completion, 3,600 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 or fewer interceptions.” And that’s doable if Kyler just plays clean, winning football.
But there’s one more piece—and it might be the most important. Murray needs to bring back his legs. Not 1,000-yard Lamar Jackson-level running, but enough to force defenses to think. “I don’t think he hits 1,000 rushing yards at this stage in his career, but 700–800 yards feels realistic.” Add five rushing scores, and suddenly, he’s producing “4,200 total yards, 30 total touchdowns, and 10 or fewer turnovers.” That’s not just a career year—that’s a playoff ticket for the Cardinals.
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