Channel 11 Deandre Hopkins Beyond Beef

When the Cardinals reported to State Farm Stadium earlier this week for the real start of training camp, which continues Wednesday with their first scheduled non-padded practice, coach Kliff Kingsbury gave his players two options:

They could either move into the team hotel adjacent to the stadium in Glendale or they could go home each evening to their own homes.

DeAndre Hopkins already knew where he was going to spend his free time. Mostly, the star wide receiver said, he'll be living in Kyler Murray's back pocket, getting to know as much as he can about the Cardinals' talented second-year quarterback.

If there's going to be a dynamic connection between the two on game days, Hopkins says it only makes sense to be as inseparable as possible during camp. That way, the two mainstays of the offense can formulate a bond, discover what makes each other tick, establish a sense of chemistry and learn how to slide into a perfect sync.

MORE:Arizona Cardinals training camp: What we want to know as team starts preparations for 2020

"It starts off the field, communicating with each other, calling each other, texting each other," Hopkins said during a recent video conference call with Arizona reporters. "And just building a camaraderie — something that's going to last for a long time, not just while we're playing football. But after football.

"My expectation is us becoming best friends and doing everything together because I have to be on the same page with my quarterback, no matter, for us to be successful as a team, not just him and I. But Kyler's done a great job of leading and helping me get up to speed with what's going on with the playbook and everything and I think we're off to a good start."

Hopkins, selected as a first-team All-Pro each of the past three seasons as a member of the Texans, began communicating with Murray within days of being traded from Houston to Arizona. The conversations became more frequent over time and they finally met each other earlier this summer when Murray arranged for a private workout with multiple teammates near his home in the Dallas area.

Hopkins said previously, he had never spent much time with any of his quarterbacks during the offseason. He never felt it was necessary. Judging from his production, especially over the last three years when he led all NFL players in touchdown receptions (31), ranked second in total catches (315) and third in receiving yards (4,115), who could blame him?

But spending time in Dallas with Murray was different.

"It was very valuable," Hopkins said, adding, "Kyler getting us together in Dallas was something that I expected of him, something I knew he was going to do. Him being the guy he is, he wants to win so that was very expected of him to do that. We really didn't have a lot of time together, but we're making the best of it right now."

One of the first recognizable traits Hopkins discovered in Murray was the quarterback's insatiable appetite to win. It's impossible to miss.

"Kyler's a competitor," Hopkins said, grinning. "He wants to be first in everything he does. I knew he, obviously, was a great athlete, but I didn't know he was as competitive as he is. He's not the most outspoken person, but he competes at everything he does."

At 28 and entering his eighth NFL season, it's probably no surprise that Hopkins has a detailed, businesslike approach to preparing for a new year with a new team. Before reporting to camp, he said he was studying the playbook twice a day and even installed it into his cell phone and made it his screensaver.

"I'm picking it up," he said. "I'm doing my best to catch up and obviously, these guys are doing a good job of the way they teach."

As much as Kingsbury and the other coaches on offense are constantly relaying information to Hopkins, he said Murray has been as influential as anyone in helping him master the basics. Murray may have only turned 23 last Friday, but the NFL's reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year clearly has his priorities in order just like Hopkins, the established veteran.

MORE:ESPN's Stephen A. Smith not buying Arizona Cardinals' hype in 2020 NFL season

"I live, breathe and eat football," Murray said earlier this summer. "I can't wait just to get out there with the guys, win games and ultimately, win a super Bowl and bring a Super Bowl back to Arizona. That's what I plan to do, and I know the guys plan to do that as well."

Kingsbury has known Murray since he began trying to recruit him when the quarterback was a sophomore in high school. They've always had a relationship. So when Kingsbury was asked what he's been seeing and hearing from Murray in the days and weeks leading up to camp, it's easy to take him at his word.

"He's been working his tail off. It's been all football, all the time," the coach said. "Whether it's working out or throwing or studying film, his confidence level, his understanding of our system, it's night and day from where we were last year, so we're really fired up to get him out there and try to take that next step this season."

Also fired up is Hopkins, who has thrown his absolute trust and conviction into Murray. He said Murray is "advanced" and "matured" in Kingsbury's no-huddle offense and the more time they spend together the more Murray will help Hopkins become systematically immersed into the entire plan.

"I think we will have time to develop chemistry once we get out there and throw a little bit more against the defense. I think that will help," Hopkins said. "Obviously, we don't have a lot of time to get ready, so every rep really counts. But I think Kyler's mindset is, 'We're going to make it work, so that's my mindset as well."

They might not literally be attached at the hip during training camp, but wherever Murray goes, expect Hopkins to be nearby, at least six feet apart.

"In football, camaraderie and the tight-knit groups that I've played with, regardless if it was high school, middle school, college, the best teams I've been on have been tight as far as relationships and doing stuff on and off the field," Murray said. "I know it's the NFL. I know it's a little different. Guys have families to go home to and stuff like that, so you can't hang around in the locker room all day, but I feel like we've got a pretty tight group.

"Guys trust each other. Guys know each other and are very familiar with each other. We've got a year in with these coaches so I feel like really the sky is the limit. We were kind of hitting on all cylinders towards the end of the year, had a lot of close games throughout the season and I think we kind of found ourselves. But with the addition of a couple guys, obviously some good players to join us, I think like I said the sky's the limit."

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch and every Wednesday night from 7-9 on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.

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Source: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2020/08/11/arizona-cardinals-deandre-hopkins-builds-chemistry-kyler-murray/3347319001/

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