Arizona Cardinals head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, may be a good-looking guy, but his first-team offense was flat out ugly in Thursday’s preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. Vance Joseph’s defense didn’t make him any better looking, either.
In week one of the preseason, former Heisman Trophy winner and first-overall draft pick, Kyler Murray, didn’t face a blitz. This week Raiders head coach, Jon Gruden, and defensive coordinator, Paul Guenther, had different plans. In his four series, Murray was sacked twice, one of which resulted in a safety when safety, Lamarcus Joyner, came around the edge and surprised the rookie quarterback just inside the Cardinals endzone. Whether or not Kingsbury is showing off his full arsenal or not, the pressure had an impact. Murray would finish his night going just 3/8 with 12 yards passing and add one rush for four yards.
For the second straight week, the opposing team would march down the field and score on their first drive against the Cardinals first-team defense. Raiders quarterback, Derek Carr, and rookie running back, Josh Jacobs, would make it look easy needing only six plays to go 75 yards and a score. Carr would go 2/2 for 40 yards with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Grant. Jacobs would add four carries for 21 yards before both starters’ night came to an end at the conclusion of the first drive.
The rookie coach and quarterback will look for redemption in week three of the preseason when they head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. Typically, the third week of preseason allows the starters more playing time. Arizona hopes that will translate more cohesion as the regular season is quickly approaching.
