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When he gets the ball this year, it is expected to be in a one-back, two-tight end alignment since the team no longer has a fullback on the roster. “It’s something I’m looking forward to,” Murray said Sunday, July 21. “When you get guys spread out, its going to be hard for them to have seven or eight guys in the (box) so its going to open a lot of running lanes.” Fantasy Tip: Murray has always been a tremendous talent, but staying healthy has been what has held him back from becoming a fantasy superstar. He is the bona fide No. 1 in Dallas with no one of note pushing him, so he’ll see a lion’s share of the carries, and is therefore a tremendous late first-round pick on draft day. Just be sure to have plenty of depth due to his injury history. Access more DeMarco Murray news and rumors by clicking here …. What do you think? Sound off!
Adrian Peterson on Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray: ‘I know Dallas hasn’t seen the best out of him’
The biggest concern for Dallas is Murray staying healthy. Through his first two years, Murray has missed a total of nine games due to leg injuries. Its difficult to base an offensive scheme around a guy who isnt on the field consistently. Murrays incomplete 2012 campaign was the main reason the Cowboys finished 31st in rushing last season. The unit only averaged a miniscule 3.6 yards per carry. In order for Dallas to be more successful next year, Murray must be an integral part of its offense. Last season, Tony Romo passed the ball more than he ever had in his career. He threw 648 attempts, putting him just behind Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford . This didnt result in more points. To get the most production out of the offense, the Cowboys have to be more balanced. This responsibility falls on the shoulders of Murray and the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Bill Callahan.
DeMarco Murray: It’s not all on Romo
His name? No, DeMarco Murray . Although similarities between Murray and Peterson are only in their physical appearance and running styles, the Dallas Cowboys runner said the following, per Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News , in response to a question about running for 2,000 yards in a season, something the reigning NFL MVP did in 2012. USA TODAY Sports “I think Im capable of anything.” While that’s far from an outright guarantee, Murray’s confident comment has made many think about the possibility of him becoming the eighth member of professional football’s mostprestigious running back club. Outside of tremendous natural ability, a multitude of things have to go right for a back to reach the 2,000-yard plateau, so let’s dive into Murray’s chances of achieving immortality. Murray’s History In order to run for 2,000 yards, a running back must average 125 yards per game over a full, 16-game regular season. As pointed out by ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio , Murray had single-game outputs of 253, 139, 135, and 131 yards all in his first nine contests as the Cowboys feature back. In his first 16 games as the main guy in Dallas, a period that spanned from the middle of 2011 through late in the 2012 campaign, Murray accumulated 1,371 yards, a respectable total but clearly well short of 2,000. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports Actually, his last 100-yard performance came in the season-opener against the New York Giants a year ago. To put succinctly, Murray’s “first” nine games provided a glimpse of what the former Oklahoma Sooners star is capable of, but since then, he’s been average at best. Cowboys’ Offensive History With a 253-yard and three 130-plus-yard efforts, along with five games of 40 yards or less, Murray’s been the definition of “boom-or-bust” with the Cowboys. As it currently stands, Murray’s career yards-per-carry average is 4.8, which is .2 yards lower than Peterson’s (in 1,429 fewer carries). Take away the first five games of his NFL career, before he was the unquestioned starter in Dallas, and Murray’s yards-per-carry average is 4.95. His 25-carry, 253-yard breakout campaign is majorly responsible for his relatively high per-carry efficiency and overall yardage sum, but there have been four instances in which Murray averaged at least five yards per carry in a game when he was not given more than 14 carries. Also, Tony Romo ‘s presence mustn’t be ignored. Fully healthy a season ago, the polarizing quarterback threw the ball 648 times, which was the third-highest total in the NFL. Tom Pennington/Getty Images As a team, per ProFootballFocus (subscription required) the Cowboys ran 703 pass plays to only 355 on the ground, which equated to a run percentage of 33.55, a offensive tendency that doesn’t bode well for Murray’s 2,000-yard chances. To compare, the Minnesota Vikings ran 591 pass plays to 515 runs in 2012, a run percentage 46.5 percent. This chart illustrates how trulystark the contrast was: Not surprisingly, in Murray’s non-100 yard games, his cumulative yards-per-carry average dipped to 3.89, definitely not part of the recipe for a 2,000-yard masterpiece. Additionally, he only averages 82.6 yards per game in his 18 games as the “starter.” If Murray was given the 348 carries Peterson received in 2012, at the 4.95 yards-per-carry he averages in 18 games as the starter, he’d finish a full season with 1,722 yards. Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images Larry Johnson carried the ball a record 416 times in 2006, and ran for 1,789 yards. Therefore, Murray would have to be fed the ball a whopping 405 timesan attempt total which would be exceeded only by James Wilder in 1984, Jamal Anderson in 1998 and Larry Johnson in 2007to eclipse 2,000 yards. Actually, in the theoretical, absolute best-case scenario, extrapolating the 6.0 yard-per-carry average Murray had in his first nine games as the starter in Dallas, 334 carries would get him to 2,000. However, in an offense that appeared to be decidedly pass-predicated in 2012and forced to throw more when trailingit seems as though Murray would be lucky to get 300 carries, much less 400. Even 334 would be considered far fetched. Murray’s Injuries The Cowboys’ dedication to frequently passing the football isn’t the only part of history that suggests Murray would have an exceptionally difficult time reaching 2,000 yards in a season. The powerful runner has dealt with a variety of injuries early in his career. Tom Pennington/Getty Images Murray has appeared in 23 of a possible 32 games since joining the Cowboys in 2011, and he missed six games in 2012 with a nagging foot injury. While some firmly believe in the term “injury-prone,” injuries seem to be more random than anything else, so there’s no real way to predict if Murray can stay healthy or not.
Could DeMarco Murray Really Tally a 2,000-Yard Season?
And the Cowboys are changing some things about the way they design and implement their offense this year, with quarterback Tony Romo being more involved during the week and offensive coordinator Bill Callahan taking over play-calling duties on game day. There’s also the chance of improved interior offensive line play with the help of first-round pick Travis Frederick , which would help Murray run better and possibly avoid injury. But in the end, the biggest questions aren’t about the Cowboys, but about Murray himself. He seems like a back who enjoys contact, and Demarco Murray Jersey Cheap backs like that, while super-tough, tend not to last very long in the NFL. Murray was one of the guys on the film they showed us at the league meetings in the spring when they introduced the new rule about running backs leading with the crowns of their helmets in the open field. He’s an angry, aggressive runner who puts himself in position to get hurt. It’s hard to imagine that changing, regardless of what changes on the Cowboys’ offense around him. My fantasy advice? I think Murray in the third round has a chance to be a nice value pick, especially if you’re thin at running back because you got shut out of the top guys and decided to go with a quarterback and/or receiver early.
Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray: ‘I’m going to play all 16’
Minnesota Vikings : ChristianPonder, quarterback Despite quarterbacking the Vikings to a surprising playoff appearance, Ponder enters the season under the microscope due to his inconsistent play under center. While Ponder completed 62.1 percent of his passes and put up a respectable 18:12 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2012, the Vikings ‘ over-reliance on Adrian Peterson kept them from legitimately contending in the NFC. For Minnesota to take the next step, Ponder must become an effective playmaker in the passing game, capable of winning games on the strength of his right arm. With a few new weapons on the perimeter ( Greg Jennings and rookie Cordarrelle Patterson ), Ponder must step up his game this season. New Orleans Saints : MartezWilson, outside linebacker The Saints are shifting to a 3-4 defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan, making the outside linebackers the focal point of the pass rush. With Victor Butler sidelined by a torn ACL , Wilson will be relied on to deliver big results as a hybrid playmaker on the edge. The third-year pro flashed playmaking ability last season, collecting three sacks in limited action, and his combination of size and speed could make him a disruptive force in a blitz-happy scheme. Of course, Wilson hasn’t been named the official starter at outside linebacker, but the Saints undoubtedly are counting on him to make a significant contribution as a pass rusher off the edge. New York Giants : DavidWilson, running back Wilson might’ve ranked as the Giants ‘ most explosive playmaker in his rookie campaign, based on his remarkable production as a returner/change-of-pace back. The second-year pro averaged 26.9 yards per kick return while also producing five runs of 20-plus yards on just 71 rushing attempts.
Fantasy Week: DeMarco Murray
Peterson said the two still keep in touch and he sees a bright future for Murray in the Cowboys backfield. MORE COWBOYS NEWS Breaking Down the Boys: Why the Cowboys offense can improve with one simple trick Hes a heck of an athlete, heck of a player and a better man off the field, Peterson said. I KNOW Dallas hasnt seen the best out of him. The moment he stepped on that campus, I knew if he stayed healthy he was going to be good. Thats the type of mentality he has. Youve seen that in Dallas. Hes so versatile with what he can do blocking, running the ball, catching the ball. Hes going to be a good player for the Cowboys. Murray and Peterson have both shown the ability to be physical runners who dont mind dishing out some punishment to opposing defenders. With that in mind, some might think the two running backs will have to change their style considering the NFLs new rule that will penalize ball carriers who deliver blows with the crown of their helmets. Does Peterson have plans to change his style of running?
Adrian Peterson on Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray: ‘Dallas hasn’t seen the best out of him’
“That’s something I can’t control. I can’t control if anything happens,” Murray said. “All I can do is go out there, play hard, play fast, play physical. Once I’m out there, I don’t think there’s any question about anything.” Murray produces when he’s on the field, the problem for Dallas is that he’s not on the field that often. The third-year back ran for 663 yards in 10 games last season, a number that projects out to 1,061 yards over a 16-game season. Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has no problem with Murray sitting out an OTA or two, “The thing about it is, we’re in OTA’s and we don’t want to get him out there when he’s not ready and something come’s up,” Bryant said. “We need him throughout the whole year.” Tight end Jason Witten seems to feel the same way, “I think it’ll be huge for us,” Witten said about having Murray available. “He’s a guy that plays hard and runs hard. He’s a dynamic back who can create a lot of things for you.
Fantasy Week: DeMarco Murray
04, 2013 7:00PM – 10:00PM CDT Cowboys vs. Dolphins The Cowboys take on the Dolphins in the Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Fri., Aug. 09, 2013 9:00PM – 11:59PM CDT Cowboys at Raiders The Cowboys head to Oakland to take on the Raiders. Sat., Aug. 17, 2013 3:30PM – 6:30PM CDT Cowboys at Cardinals The Cowboys close out training camp with a preseason matchup against the Cardinals in Phoenix, Arizona. Sat., Aug. 24, 2013 7:00PM – 10:00PM CDT Cowboys vs Bengals The Cowboys return home to take on the Bengals at Cowboys Stadium. Thu., Aug. 29, 2013 7:00PM – 10:00PM CDT Cowboys vs Texans The Cowboys close out their preseason against the Texans at Cowboys Stadium. Sun., Sep.
Helmet Cam: DeMarco Murray
I love running out of different types of personnel. Vic was a great fullback, I wish him the best. It’s a tough deal (but) this is definitely something I look forward to.” Murray is also working with his second position coach. After Skip Peete was let go following the 2012 season, the Cowboys hired Gary Brown to take over. Brown has proved to be a positive influence for Murray. Before the start of walk-through practices, Brown quizzes Murray on the playbook for a few minutes. Brown is also challenging Murray to stop looking to make big yards and just settle for whatever is there because something might open up down the line. “His motto is ugly money is good money,” Murray said of Brown. “Two yards is good, three yards is good, and you may get those three or five carries in a row.
Predicting DeMarco Murray’s Role in the Dallas Cowboys Offense in 2013
While the 2012 NFL MVP and former Oklahoma standout answered questions about bouncing back from major knee surgery to have one of the greatest rushing seasons in NFL history, he also gave his take on his friend, Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, and facing the Cowboys in Week 9. Peterson carried the load for the Sooners from 2004-2006 and Murray took over the following season after Peterson headed to the NFL Draft. Peterson said the two still keep in touch and he sees a bright future for Murray in the Cowboys’ backfield. “He’s a heck of an athlete, heck of a player and a better man off the field,” Peterson said. “I KNOW Dallas hasn’t seen the best out of him. The moment he stepped on that campus, I knew if he stayed healthy he was going to be good. That’s the type of mentality he has. You’ve seen that in Dallas. He’s so versatile with what he can do blocking, running the ball, catching the ball. He’s going to be a good player for the Cowboys.” Murray and Peterson have both shown the ability to be physical runners who don’t mind dishing out some punishment to opposing defenders.
Jordy Nelson, DeMarco Murray among NFC players on the spot
Those other QBs I mentioned put up great stats at times too. You have to look at the big picture and actually watch the guy play, not just read the back of his football card kid. Jul 10, 2013 5:31 PM You cant blame one person for a teams failure Jul 10, 2013 6:14 PM The Patriots An ever sinking ship !!!! stvnlvngstn says: Jul 10, 2013 9:58 PM Fact: Romo has the highest fourth-quarter passer rating among active quarterbacks. And its not even close. His 102.1 rating is more than five points higher than the second man on the list, Green Bays Aaron Rodgers. Jul 10, 2013 10:14 PM Its not. hatetriot4life says: Jul 10, 2013 10:42 PM listen listen listen cowboys need a lot of attention on the d line and more on the O line how can a qb try n win games wen he is running for his life on every snap n wen the gms on the line or its third n long the center forgets how to snap the ball come on ppl take off ur hater goggles n break down films ..eli sucked until he got time in the pocket and a defense that hands hims good field position hatetriot4life says: Jul 10, 2013 10:46 PM skins fans are talkn all dat yap after one decent season look up the record on the dallas skins rivalry mikesowers1 says: Jul 10, 2013 11:09 PM If it was all on one player Marino would have some rings.. They always blamed him too but he gave all he had, just like Romo does. Fire the GM, sure up the O-line and defense then you would not be having this conversation.
DeMarco Murray expecting to have ‘great year’
He was a late first-round/early second-round pick a year ago. This year, he’s looking at middle of the third round. Why? Well, as you know, Murray’s had a bit of a tough time doing two very important things that a fantasy running back must do: Staying healthy and scoring touchdowns. The Cowboys have played 27 games since Murray became their starting running back in late October of 2011. Murray has missed nine of those 27 games because of leg injuries. He’s also scored a grand total of six touchdowns, never more than one in the same game. So the 83.1 yards per game he’s averaged as a starter is a decent enough figure, but it’s not enough to get him any further up this list until we see some sustained proof that things can get better. Can they?
Meryl Yourish 
