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Steve Keim: 'Zero Concerns' With Kyler Murray Accuracy

GM 'happy' with team's 4-2 start but not satisfied

There were times against the Cowboys last week where Kyler Murray missed some throws -- and there have been examples all season.

But GM Steve Keim said Murray's showing wasn't a problem for him in the least.

"I watched every throw he made in college, watched every throw in practice and in the NFL," Keim said Friday during the "Doug and Wolf" show on 98.7, Arizona's Sports Station. "I don't think it was his best game, and there were some mechanical flaws but I have zero concerns with his accuracy."

Keim noted that there are times it is the receiver making the mistake, whether in the depth of route or the route itself, which will make Murray look bad on a particular play. There are certainly times when Murray plain misses too.

"The one thing Kyler has always been able to do is throw from different platforms, throw from different arm angles, his feet not always being in the correct position," Keim said. "That's just something he can do because he is so dynamic and has so much arm strength and so much arm talent. If anything he can get into bad habits because he trusts him arm so much."

But, as shown in Dallas, there will be games when Murray won't be a pinpoint passer yet still be the main influencer in the game.

"You can't put a value what he did with his feet, how he can demoralize a defense on third-and-10-plus where he can scramble and get the first down," Keim said.

-- Speaking of Murray, Keim said he thinks the relationship between the QB and WR DeAndre Hopkins is good.

"Those guys truly admire each other," Keim said. "At the same time, they are both ultra competitors. Sometimes that brings out the emotions.

"This is reality," Keim added. "This is a violent sport. This isn't kumbaya world."

-- Thought six games, Keim said he was "happy" that the Cardinals were 4-2. "But I wouldn't say we are satisfied. I don't think we'll ever be satisfied until we win a championship. But I feel like we have made progress." Keim said the execution level still wavers at times, and the continuing high amount of penalties are "a sticking point with me."

-- The move to "Sunday Night Football" is a good thing. "Anytime you play on national TV under the bright lights, it gets the juices flowing," Keim said. "We have a lot of talented guys who enjoy that atmosphere."

-- The GM had high praise for the offensive line, calling them "dominant at times" against Dallas and having played at a high level all season. He specifically mentioned Justin Pugh, D.J. Humphries and Justin Murray, and added that OL coach Sean Kugler "should get a lot of the credit for that."

-- Running back Kenyan Drake "did a great job getting north and south and running with the physicality I know he can run with." Keim said Drake's issues going east and west for a time was a correctable thing that the coaching staff has worked on and pointed him in the right directions.

-- The Cardinals continue to have conversations with other teams as the trade deadline approaches but Keim said no deal is imminent.

-- It was noted that the Cardinals had a chance to draft DK Metcalf but did not, just as the Seahawks passed on selecting Budda Baker two years before. Keim was asked in general about the self-reflection after such a thing.

"I'm certainly harder on myself for missing on a pick," Keim said. "It happens every year with every general manager. There are a lot of game changers and it's a challenging business.

"It's an inexact science as I have said many times. Believe me, if I miss on a player, it's harder on myself. ... I hold myself accountable, I make no excuses when we make mistakes, and it's on me."

-- He was happy with the extended snaps rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons was able to get against the Cowboys. "He's continuing to grow."

-- Linebacker Haason Reddick is finally coming together and showing some of the reasons the Cardinals saw him as a first-round pick. "I'm proud of Haason," Keim said.

Masked GM Steve Keim before the home opener in 2020
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