Kliff Kingsbury’s Play Calling is a Problem

The Arizona Cardinals offense has come out flat through the first three weeks of the season. And Kliff Kingsbury’s play calling has been the problem.

The Arizona Cardinals have come out the gate sputtering in all three of their games thus far in the 2022 NFL season. This slow start has resulted in a disappointing 1-2 start, with the lone win being of the dramatic come-from-behind variety. Through all three of these games, there has been one constant: Kliff Kingsbury’s play calling has been a problem.

In fact, the Cardinals win over the Las Vegas Raiders can be attributed to the players making improbable play after improbably play: a pair of remarkable two point conversions from Kyler Murray, key fourth down conversions, an amazing catch by Hollywood Brown, and a fumble returned for a touchdown to win the game in overtime. None of this was about calling the right play in the right moment – it was about players making a string of jaw-dropping plays.

But here’s the thing: It’s not Kliff’s play design that is the problem – it’s the sequence in which he calls those plays. Last season, Brett Kollmann was a guest on one of my The Cardinal Rule livestreams on YouTube. During the show, I asked Brett about Kliff Kingsbury’s play design and play calling. Brett’s response was that Kliff’s play design is among the top tier of coaches in the NFL.

During the conversation, however, Brett differentiated between play design and play sequencing – which plays one calls when. And it is here where I would contend that the problem lies with the Arizona Cardinals head coach. It is not that he designs bad plays, but rather that his choices of plays – especially in pivotal situations – is suspect.

Let’s look at the Week 3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams as an example. Going into the game, there are a few things that we knew: Aaron Donald is a game-wrecker, and the Rams were without three of their cornerbacks, due to injury. Based on this knowledge, it would stand to reason that the Cardinals would call plays that slow down the pass rush and pick on the backup cornerbacks who were called upon to start. With this in mind, it seems that emphasizing quick, short passes to anyone not being covered by Jalen Ramsey would be a sound strategy. Get the ball out quickly to keep Donald at bay, while also picking on the young cornerbacks.

Instead, what we saw were far too many plays in which Kyler Murray was standing in the pocket, waiting for deep and intermediate routes to develop, allowing Donald to get pressure and forcing 3rd and long situations.

Sadly, this wasn’t the only play calling issue during the game. On a pivotal 3rd and 4, Kyler Murray targeted A.J. Green on an intermediate throw to the sideline – while he was covered by Jalen Ramsey, who broke up the play and forced a Cardinals 4th down. One would have to imagine that Kliff Kingsbury has something better suited to 3rd and 4 in his playbook than “throw it to the guy covered by Jalen Ramsey.”

Then there was the 1st and goal wildcat play, in which Kyler went into motion and the ball was snapped directly to James Conner, resulting in a two yard loss. The Cardinals have much better options at the goal line than a wildcat play that removes Kyler as a threat to run the ball. The Cardinals goal line offense is much more effective when the defense isn’t sure if it’s going to be Conner running the ball up the middle, or Kyler rolling out and throwing or running for a touchdown.

This Cardinals team is too talented to look this anemic on offense. Something has to give.