Raiders at Cardinals 2022 Week 2: Things to watch

Raiders at Cardinals 2022 Week 2: Things to watch

Patrick Graham v Kliff Kingsbury

The chess match between Kliff Kingsbury and Patrick Graham will be interesting to watch, Kingsbury is coming off a humbling experience in Week 1, where his offense was essentially shut down.

Kingsbury is known for his Air Raid system out of the empty, stretching the defense out so they have to cover every blade of 53 yards horizontally and vertically, and that is a staple to get his players open grass.

The former college coach has adapted over the years, becoming more balanced with implementing the run game when he has the numbers advantage in the box by using his empty formations. While out of the empty, you’ll see a lot of quarterback draws from Murray when the defense is spaced out and one linebacker to beat.

Kingsbury also loves the play-action and naked boot to get Kyler out of the pocket.

Patrick Graham will need to drop eight in the empty formations and be weary for a draw and quick curl or outside the quick game. The pass rush of Crosby and Chandler Jones will be a major x-factor in making Murray uncomfortable in the pocket forcing him to go threw his progressions quicker than he has to.

With the loss of their WR1, DeAndre Hopkins, Murray, and the offense will have to manufacture drives without their best player on offense. Disguising the looks for Murray pre and post-snap will disrupt his first read making him pat the ball longer allowing the rushers to get to him.

Should be interesting to see how Patrick Graham decides how to attack this college-style offense.