NFC West Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks

Cardinals

Cardinals first-round QB Kyler Murray gets a lot of attention for his mobility. While Murray didn’t run at the NFL Combine, what he’s put out on tape and various race videos with teammate make it pretty clear he’d be the betting favorite as the fastest quarterback in the NFL and in the upper echelon of the league as a whole. However, his accuracy has been one of the thing’s that’s impressed teammates the most. 

“Kyler gets a lot of attention from the media and from the outside world just in terms of, obviously, he’s very mobile,” RB Chase Edmonds said via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. “Obviously, he’s a dynamic quarterback. He can change just the whole style of a team’s offense when he scrambles, but I think it overshadows just how accurate he truly is and just how calm he’s able to stay under pressure when you look at his footwork when guys are approaching him or how he’s so quickly able to just settle back and get an accurate throw going on.”

Murray has worked a lot with his father, former Texas A&M quarterback, MLB player and current QB coach Kevin Murray. But he says a lot of his accuracy just comes naturally.

“I think a lot of it is God-gifted,” Murray said. “Also with (my father) teaching mechanics of footwork, arm motion, all that, but as far as being accurate goes, I think you either are or you aren’t. I don’t think you can really become accurate.”

Murray’s poise and demeanor have been other areas that teammates have highlighted as being impressive for a rookie. Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury confirmed that Murray does not fake his calm demeanor but mentioned mistakes will be inevitable.

“It’s the same,” Kingsbury said. “That’s what he is and who he is. I guess he thought he was going to be here his entire life, so it’s just the next step for him. I’ve said it all along: He’s a rookie quarterback in the NFL starting Week 1. There’s going to be some ups and downs. We’re going to make some mistakes. We’ll work through those and try to continue to improve together.”

49ers

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan believes his team is “prepared the right way” for the heat in Tampa Bay on Sunday. 

“I know we have a team who has prepared the right way. I feel we’re very well-conditioned. We’ll keep trying to stuff water down their throats for the next week and after that I don’t want to talk about it,” said Shanahan, via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. 

• Per Waggoner, 49ers DC Robert Saleh says first-round DE Nick Bosa should make his debut Sunday against the Buccaneers.
• 49ers S Jimmie Ward didn’t practice Thursday with a broken finger. (Matt Maiocco)

Rams

Compared to other high profile negotiations, the Rams recent four-year extension for QB Jared Goff flew under the radar until just before it was done. Goff was under no less scrutiny than some other quarterback who recently signed new deals, but both he and the team preferred to negotiate in private. 

“Here, we had something going on that was between us and wasn’t involved with people outside of this building,” Goff said, via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry. “I’ve enjoyed that and I appreciate them for that.”

Goff added he was thrilled to initially have the extension offer, but as negotiations progressed he was just ready to get back to playing football.

“I feel good. When the talks initially happened, I think you go through different emotions of being happy and excited,” Goff said. “I think that’s when you kind of are overwhelmed at that point. I think at this point, the talks and the numbers have been in my head for so long it’s more of, now you can just relax and play.”

• According to Over the Cap’s Hardik Sanghavi, Rams CB Marcus Peters is a candidate to push the cornerback market forward with his next deal following the 2019 season. 
• Currently, the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback has hovered around the $15 million per year the Redskins signed Josh Norman for in free agency in 2016. Miami signed CB Xavien Howard to an extension just over that mark this offseason, but gave Howard less guaranteed money than Norman. 
• Rams HC Sean McVay told reporters that RB Todd Gurley wouldn’t be on a play count in Week 1 against the Panthers. (Thiry)

Seahawks

Seahawks OT Duane Brown could relate to DE Jadeveon Clowney in a lot of ways as a former member of the Houston Texans who was abruptly put on the trading block. Clowney credits his former teammate with selling him on the idea of coming to Seattle, but Brown says he didn’t have to work hard. 

“I had just been keeping in touch with himself throughout the offseason because I’d been in a similar situation with my contract dispute and just checking in with him, making sure his head was good and he was in good spirits and working hard without any knowledge that this could even take place,” Brown said via PFT’s Curtis Crabtree. “I just told the truth. I just told him how I felt here, my experience here about the culture, about the staff, about the team, the locker room. From there he just said ‘man, that sounds like somewhere I would love to be.’ And I was like ‘you would love it.’ From there things just started to progress and I just gave people my input on just my experience with Clowney.”

Brown added Clowney’s impact on the defense would be immense, especially considering the supporting cast he was joining. Pass rush was a question mark for Seattle before the trade, but now arguably becomes a strength. 

“It’s scary, man,” Brown said. “It’s scary. Obviously Clowney and Ziggy on the edge. Poona Ford I think is going to be a star in this league. We get (Jarran) Reed back. Bobby (Wagner) and K.J. (Wright) have been staples on this defense and in the league for a long time playing at a high level. (Mychal) Kendricks is a very, very great athlete. Also someone that can rush the passer when asked to.”

• Seahawks DE Ezekiel Ansah has been rehabbing his shoulder instead of practicing for most of the summer but says he’s as ready as he can be for the season opener: “I’m as ready as I can be. It’s been a long journey. I haven’t played football in a while. It’s something I’m really looking forward to.” (Curtis Crabtree)