In 2018, the Arizona Cardinals ranked last in the NFL in both total offense (241.6 yards per game) and scoring offense (14.1 points per game). Then along came Kliff Kingsbury, who immediately reenergized that side of the ball.
In 2019, the Cardinals averaged 100.1 more yards per game – ranking 21st overall in total offense (341.7) – and were 17th in scoring offense with 22.6 points per game.
So, what’s it like playing for Kingsbury?
“Kliff is all business, 100 percent. That’s No. 1,” Arizona wide receiver Christian Kirk said on Tiki & Tierney. “But I like how when he came in, we’re all business when we’re in the doors and our No. 1 goal is to win and get ourselves better, especially when we’re on the field. But everything outside of that is being loose and being yourself and not being so wound up and having football consume your life.”
If you saw Kingsbury’s house during the NFL Draft, that’s easy to believe.
“He respects our time and being able to get time away,” Kirk said. “There always needs to be a good balance of that because if you consume your whole life on it and you stress yourself out too much on it, it can kind of burn you out a little bit. And so, I think that’s the best thing. It’s a fun, loose atmosphere. Everybody’s very respectful of one another, and we like to have fun. But at the end of the day, we all know we’re working toward one cause.”
While Arizona’s offense improved last season, it figures to be even better in 2020. That’s what happens when you acquire DeAndre Hopkins, who has been a first-team All-Pro three years in a row.
“Man, I’m excited,” Kirk said. “Just the opportunity to be able to line up next to a guy like DeAndre, we all know what he’s done in the league so far. Just to be able to be a sponge and have another guy who’s at the top of the game to be able to learn from in the room [will really help].”
Arizona also added do-everything linebacker Isaiah Simmons in the NFL Draft, along with Utah and LSU defensive tackle prospects Leki Fotu and Rashard Lawrence. If last year’s No. 1 pick, Kyler Murray, takes the next step in his sophomore season, the proverbial sky is the limit for Arizona.
“We’re all excited,” Kirk said. “We look good on paper, and there’s a lot of teams that look good on paper, but I think the most important thing is being able to show up on Sundays and prove it.”