Arizona Cardinals making all the right kind of noise

The Arizona Cardinals may have a low bar in 2019, but they deserve credit for making the kind of news that gives fans hope.

After a 3-13 season, anything positive the Arizona Cardinals did this offseason would be good for the fanbase. Drafting quarterback Kyler Murray may be the second best move Arizona has made, though.

First on that list is hiring new head coach Kilff Kingsbury. Kingsbury’s arrival is step one of the significant reclamation project happening in the desert. To his credit and to the chagrin of his critics, Kingsbury is actually rolling out a smart plan for a rookie quarterback light on starting experience.

Arizona is making the smart bet that installing a game plan familiar to Murray will pay early dividends. Even veterans like All-World receiver Larry Fitzgerald notes a difference with the rookie under center, per Mike Jurecki of the team’s official website:

"“He knows the system better than we do. He can get us into any play at any time and then he has the ultimate weapon in the exit button.”"

Arizona, who looked all the world confused in trading last year’s first-round pick Josh Rosen, might be finding their footing again. Kingsbury, recognizing that the best part of Murray’s game is what Murray has been successful with before, is not making things complicated. For a rookie quarterback in the NFL, this may be the shortest path to being competitive Week 1.

As bad as the 2018 season was, 2019 has some opportunity. Murray and Kingsbury are joined at the hip in Arizona, meaning that success in tandem, not separate. If the plan works, Kingsbury is successful. Also, if the plan works, same deal for Murray. If all goes south, it’s not complicated.

The best thing about starting over after a season like last year is the low bar for claiming success. In relatively short order, the Cardinals may already be experiencing some positive bounce-back by simply hitting the reset button.

Kingsbury would be smart to know you only get one of those. As good and as fresh as those do-overs can feel, they are always short-lived.