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Murray's Proven He Can Carry The Load
Posted by jellis at 6/18/2012 5:20 PM CDT on dallascowboys.com
Speaking to the local media a couple weeks back, DeMarco Murray bristled a bit when asked, again, about the broken ankle that cut short his 2011 season. It's clear the running back has about had it with questions about his durability.
He's heard it enough over the last five years. Late in his redshirt freshman season of 2007, he suffered a dislocated kneecap that kept him out of spring drills. Then in 2008, he injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff of the Big 12 Championship, missing the remainder of that game and the BCS Championship in January, 2009.
A knee injury in 2010 created some doubt that he would miss the Big 12 Championship.
Despite those injuries, Murray is steadfast that durability is not a problem for him. He played four seasons in college and missed only four games.
As a senior, he had 282 rushes and 71 receptions, giving him 353 total touches on offense. Few players entering the NFL in recent years can boast such durability in a single season.
Last year, Murray was injured for half of the preseason, slowing his ascent to the role of lead back. But when he took over the job, he showed how strong he was again, averaging more than 22 touches over the next seven games, including two squeezed into a matter of five days on the week of Thanksgiving.
The injury against New York, early in Week 14, was a freak one.
Back to that question from Monday morning as to whether anyone can catch up to Emmitt Smith's record? Don't necessarily count out Murray just yet, other than the obvious long odds that stand against any back. At least over the course of consecutive games and for a whole season, Murray has shown durability similar to Smith.
Murray's 897 yards last year (on 164 carries), were the most by a Cowboys rookie since Smith's 937 (on 241 carries) in 1990.
Yet Murray is already 24. Smith played his second NFL season at age 22. And while there might be a couple nifty pieces on this Cowboys offensive line, it's hard to envision any team putting together a crew quite like the front five Smith was able to run behind.
There was also Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin to keep defenses from loading up the box. And the Cowboys' own defense in those days was so good it helped the offense, and Smith, control the time of possession.
Smith had a great fullback or two, most notably Daryl Johnston. Interestingly enough, Jerry Jones was asked last week whether he was comfortable with Murray continuing with the formidable workload he had last year. Jones thought the protection Murray will get from new fullback Lawrence Vickers would be a reason to continue feeding Murray rather than taking it easy on him.
"Especially with where we are now with Vickers and possibly our young fullbacks, yes," Jones said. "I like what our running backs have a chance to benefit from, with what we're doing at fullback. This could be the best we've been at fullback since Daryl."
It's impossible to say whether Murray will have the staying power to rush for even half as many yards as Smith's 18,355. And Smith's career carries record of 4,409 carries - nearly 600 more than second place - is probably secure for a long time to come.
But maybe this year Murray could challenge Smith's team record for most carries in a season, 377, set in 1995.
If he can just avoid freak injuries, as Smith was lucky enough to do, Murray has proven he has the durability to carry the load.
Posted by jellis at 6/18/2012 5:20 PM CDT on dallascowboys.com
Speaking to the local media a couple weeks back, DeMarco Murray bristled a bit when asked, again, about the broken ankle that cut short his 2011 season. It's clear the running back has about had it with questions about his durability.
He's heard it enough over the last five years. Late in his redshirt freshman season of 2007, he suffered a dislocated kneecap that kept him out of spring drills. Then in 2008, he injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff of the Big 12 Championship, missing the remainder of that game and the BCS Championship in January, 2009.
A knee injury in 2010 created some doubt that he would miss the Big 12 Championship.
Despite those injuries, Murray is steadfast that durability is not a problem for him. He played four seasons in college and missed only four games.
As a senior, he had 282 rushes and 71 receptions, giving him 353 total touches on offense. Few players entering the NFL in recent years can boast such durability in a single season.
Last year, Murray was injured for half of the preseason, slowing his ascent to the role of lead back. But when he took over the job, he showed how strong he was again, averaging more than 22 touches over the next seven games, including two squeezed into a matter of five days on the week of Thanksgiving.
The injury against New York, early in Week 14, was a freak one.
Back to that question from Monday morning as to whether anyone can catch up to Emmitt Smith's record? Don't necessarily count out Murray just yet, other than the obvious long odds that stand against any back. At least over the course of consecutive games and for a whole season, Murray has shown durability similar to Smith.
Murray's 897 yards last year (on 164 carries), were the most by a Cowboys rookie since Smith's 937 (on 241 carries) in 1990.
Yet Murray is already 24. Smith played his second NFL season at age 22. And while there might be a couple nifty pieces on this Cowboys offensive line, it's hard to envision any team putting together a crew quite like the front five Smith was able to run behind.
There was also Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin to keep defenses from loading up the box. And the Cowboys' own defense in those days was so good it helped the offense, and Smith, control the time of possession.
Smith had a great fullback or two, most notably Daryl Johnston. Interestingly enough, Jerry Jones was asked last week whether he was comfortable with Murray continuing with the formidable workload he had last year. Jones thought the protection Murray will get from new fullback Lawrence Vickers would be a reason to continue feeding Murray rather than taking it easy on him.
"Especially with where we are now with Vickers and possibly our young fullbacks, yes," Jones said. "I like what our running backs have a chance to benefit from, with what we're doing at fullback. This could be the best we've been at fullback since Daryl."
It's impossible to say whether Murray will have the staying power to rush for even half as many yards as Smith's 18,355. And Smith's career carries record of 4,409 carries - nearly 600 more than second place - is probably secure for a long time to come.
But maybe this year Murray could challenge Smith's team record for most carries in a season, 377, set in 1995.
If he can just avoid freak injuries, as Smith was lucky enough to do, Murray has proven he has the durability to carry the load.