Kyler Murray Says the 'Little Things' Are Key to Cardinals Becoming Playoff Team

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is seeking consistency from his team in 2021, and to him, that starts with getting "the little things right," he told ESPN's Josh Weinfuss. 

The Cardinals finished the year 8-8, missing the playoffs by one game after skidding away from their 5-2 start to the season. Murray posted 3,971 yards and 26 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, earning his first Pro Bowl nod even though he played through shoulder and ankle injuries. 

Murray said he will be recovered from both of those injuries before the season. He is currently working out in Texas with his trainer Stephen Baca as the Cardinals start the offseason virtually—something he said he hopes will continue. 

Among the "little things" Murray wants the Cardinals to get right seem to trend toward completing plays and drives—including converting on third-and-short, scoring and keeping possession. 

"I think we do those things right and we win a couple more games and we're in the playoffs and we put ourselves in position to be where we want to be," he said.

The Cardinals ranked sixth in the league in overall offense last season, with 384.6 yards per game, but they ranked 22nd in third-down conversion percentage (39.6 percent) per Football Database. They ranked 14th with 21 turnovers. 

Murray said he has high hopes for the team this season, provided they can clean up the small errors that he thinks led to their demise in 2020. 

"I'm confident in myself," he said. "I'm confident in the guys that we have, and I think that if we are more detailed and do the little things right and are the most physical team on the football field every weekend, then we'll be fine."