Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is wise not to publicly commit to starting running back DeMarco Murray as the team’s unquestioned starter. I’m driving the Murray bandwagon and just like most of the football world, I want him to be the Cowboys’ starter, too. However, Felix Jones and Murray complement each other perfectly, making for a great dynamic duo in the Dallas backfield.
During his first two NFL starts, Murray has rushed for 327 yards on 33 carries. That’s just a smidgen under 10 yards per carry, which is beyond an astronomical statistic. However, he could possibly do even better with Jones spelling him a few times every game as a change-of-pace back.
“We just feel that we have two guys like those two who can play for us,” Garrett said. “I think everyone understands that you need more than one back in this league, and each of those guys will have a role when Felix comes back, and hopefully we’ll put them in the best position where they can help us the most.”
Murray is a tough, downhill runner; the opposite of Jones. Murray isn’t as fast or quick as Jones, but his first step after taking a handoff is long and directly toward the line of scrimmage. This makes his first move against an opposing linebacker instead of a defensive lineman. I hate to make the comparison as it’s now become a cliché, but the way Murray commands his first step is identical to the way Cowboys Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith did.
When receiving a handoff, Jones takes two horizontal steps while waiting for a hole to develop. This isn’t a bad thing; that’s just his style and Jones still has the quickness to get into the second level of defenders. As a more finesse back, Jones is great at catching passes out of the backfield and taking off-tackle handoffs that allow him to work toward the sideline.
Murray’s strong first step comes from his college days at Oklahoma, where the hole in the offensive line was always there. At the NFL level, he’s been able to break tackles in the backfield when the intended hole is unavailable and burst through the hole when it is there.
These two backs will make a great combination as Garrett likes the screen pass, which is Jones’ specialty. On the flip side, Dallas has had trouble in the red zone this year and Murray is just the cure for such an ailment.
There’s no question Murray should receive a majority of the Cowboys’ carries from now on. However, he doesn’t need 30 carries per game. That wears on an NFL running back and allows an offense to become predictable. Jones is the ideal change-of-pace NFL running back, keeping opposing defenses off-balance while simultaneously allowing Murray to rest.
Be patient, Cowboys fans. Murray’s time isn’t coming; it’s already here. Trust Garrett and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the production from Murray and Jones as a combination. That’s not even the best part; rookie Phillip Tanner is probably the best third-string running back in the league, meaning the Cowboys can use him in special situations to even further complement the duo of Murray and Jones. Just wait; things are looking up for the Cowboys’ running game.
Contact Jeric Griffin on Twitter @JericGriffin
Buy Dallas Cowboys Tickets | Buy Dallas Cowboys Apparel[...] Home › NFL › Jason Garrett Not Naming DeMarco Murray Starting Running Back Will Make Cowboys Better Team [...]
[...] Jason Garrett Not Naming DeMarco Murray Starting Running Back Will Make …Rant SportsDuring his first two NFL starts, Murray has rushed for 327 yards on 33 carries. That's just a smidgen under 10 yards per carry, which is beyond an astronomical statistic. However, he could possibly do even better with Jones spelling him a few times …and more » [...]
2 Rants to “Jason Garrett Not Naming DeMarco Murray Starting R...”