5 Reasons DeMarco Murray Will Win The MVP This Year

Oct 5, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs while Houston Texans defensive end Jared Crick (93) and inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) attempt to make the tackle in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Dallas beat Houston 20-17 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

3. His Running Style

Murray makes one cut and goes upfield as good as any back in the National Football League. The difference is, unlike the other one cut and go backs, he is shifty in the open field, too. This running style allows for very few negative plays as he is decisive and typically falls forward. This keeps him from having a bad game where he gets frustrated and dances around in the backfield before being tackled for a loss. When he gets in the open field, after making his cut as he gets to the line of scrimmage, he is better at cutting back to the opposite field than anyone in the NFL.

It’s not just Murray’s cut-back ability and decisiveness that makes him such a lethal runner, his balance is incredible, too. Murray is an expert at lowering his pads upon contact, allowing him to stay on his feet or at least fall forward. Along with his balance he features an impressive stiff-arm he’s able to use from time to time. This allows him to get extra yards in the open field to break big plays where many other runners would be tackled. Of course his speed is a valuable asset, too, but you can’t teach that. He’s not the fastest runner in the NFL, but he has enough quickness to routinely elude would-be tacklers. He is as well-balanced as there is a running back in the game today — he’s even starting to catch more passes out of the backfield. If he masters that, look out.