Cardinals HC Gannon eager to get started with 'elite' Murray

TEMPE, Ariz. — Part of why Jonathan Gannon was hired as the Arizona Cardinals' new head coach was because of his opinion of Kyler Murray.

During Gannon's introductory news conference on Thursday, he said one of his first moves will be to start looking at offensive coaches who he feels are the right fit to coach Murray. After a whirlwind four days, that process will start in the next 48 hours, Gannon said.

«I have a very specific vision of how I want to play on offense and the person that comes in here to run the offense is gonna understand that everything that we do will be structured around the quarterback position to maximize his skillset,» Gannon said. «And we have an elite one.»

During the almost 40-minute news conference, Gannon laid out his approach for the Cardinals.

«We're gonna be adaptable, we're gonna be violent, we're gonna be explosive, and we're gonna be smart,» he said. «And all three phases go into that and we will maximize the talents of the players that we have, and that's how we're gonna win games.

»And don't get it twisted: We're gonna win games."

Gannon made it clear, however, that he understood that he would need Murray to do that, whenever Murray recovers from ACL surgery.

Murray was one of 10 players in attendance for Gannon's news conference, joining fellow quarterback Colt McCoy, running backs James Conner and Darrel Williams, wide receivers Rondale Moore and Antoine Wesley, tight end Zach Ertz, and offensive linemen D.J. Humphries, Will Hernandez and Josh Jones.

Gannon said the Cardinals will have a plan ready depending on how Murray's recovery goes and whether or not he'll miss time in the regular season. During his initial conversations with Murray, Gannon has been impressed with his mindset.