The Arizona Cardinals are throwing a lot of information at their second-round draft pick. Because it is still spring, cornerback Byron Murphy is being introduced to a number of roles.
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph named three in particular in the latest edition of the Coaches Chronicle podcast.
“He’s playing nickel, he’s playing a single safety for us. He’s playing corner,” Joseph said. “So right now, it is a little much for him, but he’s a worker, he’s smart and he wants to be good. He’s working every day to be the best player he can be.”
He probably won’t play all those roles as a rookie, but Joseph believes now is as good a time as ever to get him all the information and roles. “He has to know it now or later, so it’s better now than later for him,” he said.
He believes in getting all the information out to everyone in the spring and then paring down the roles and information later on “so they can play fast.”
However, Joseph seems hesitant to really consider him a true candidate to be a starter at cornerback when the season begins opposite Robert Alford while
“That’s a tall order for a rookie,” he said, “but he’s up for the challenge.”
Murphy appears to be in the mix with veterans Robert Alford, Tramaine Brock and David Amerson.
He has the three roles to learn for now. By the time the season rolls around, he likely will be limited to one (nickel) until he is up to speed at cornerback.
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