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Oklahoma football: Why the doubters are all wrong about Kyler Murray

By Christopher Dukes

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 23: Kyler Murray  (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 23: Kyler Murray  (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Kyler Murray is too small

Murray just measured in at 5-foot-10 and over 200 pounds, which are both a little on the light side for an NFL quarterback.

Can he survive big-time NFL hits? Is he going to be able to see over the line? The answer to both of those questions is yes.

Murray is next-level athletic. He’s not going to stand in the pocket and wait for the Von Millers of the world to come crashing down on him. He’s going to roll out, buy time and if nothing is there he’ll take off downfield and take the yardage the defense gives him. In the open field Kyler Murray shows off his baseball training on a regular basis. He’s quick to throw his legs out in front of him and dive to the ground like a runner trying to safely get into second base.

Sure, he’s going to take a few big hits, but that’s just part of the game and Murray has the toughness and athleticism to deal with those rare occasions as they come.

Onto the other half of the equation. Can he see over the line? Well let’s have a quick look at the Oklahoma Sooners starting five up front last year, shall we? There was 6-foot-5 Bobby Evans, 6-foot-4 Ben Powers, 6-foot-5 Creed Humphrey, 6-foot-4 Dru Samia and 6-foot-4 Cody Ford.

All five of those guys (barring something crazy happening to Humphrey along the way as he was just a freshman) will play in the NFL. Kyler Murray saw well enough to win the Heisman Trophy behind them. It isn’t 1975 (or even 2005 for that matter).

The NFL is moving away from seven-step drops and statue-like passers standing in the pocket to patiently wait for receivers to open up on post and out routes.

The game has changed and is continuing to change at a rapid pace. Spread concepts, RPOs and the quarterback run game are in the league to stay. Most NFL front offices are already a half-step behind, but bringing in a guy like Kyler Murray can do nothing but help a savvy GM keep up.

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