How DeMarco Murray will succeed with the Tennessee Titans
By John Laird
The Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a deal that would ship DeMarco Murray to Nashville. Murray is hoping to have more of an impact then he did in his one year stint in Philadelphia. We’ll take a look at just how the former Razor-Back would fit in with the Titans.
The news came Monday night, there was a block buster deal coming to an agreement that would send former NFL leading rusher DeMarco Murray to the Tennessee Titans. This deal crosses a huge need off of the list and gives Marcus Mariota the weapon out of the backfield every quarterback wants.
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Murray comes in to the Titans after an off year in Philadelphia. Many people don’t see this move panning out for Tennessee. Well, I’m here to tell you the facts supporting the move that Titans GM Jon Robinson decided to make.
The main reason DeMarco Murray didn’t experience great success in Philadelphia is in main part due to the scheme. Chip Kelly tried using Murray in a way that just didn’t fit his skill set, forcing him to run outside with stretches and pitches on a consistent basis. Trying to force a downhill runner to constantly run outside the tackles is similar to asking Peyton Manning to run the read the option. It just isn’t a fit.
It isn’t the greatest thing for your production either when you share a backfield with Darren Sproles and Ryan Matthews.
If you refer back to his film in Dallas, when he rushed for 1,800 yards, Murray excelled as a north-south runner. Give him the ball between the tackles with a head of steam and watch him go to work. Dallas ran a lot of single-back and I formations which suited to Murray. It also doesn’t hurt he had one of the best offensive lines in pro football.
With the Titans running Murray more from under-center, it will open up more play-action, rollout plays. Something Mariota excelled at during his rookie season.
With Mike Mularkey returning to be the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, he is attempting to replicate the offense he had in Pittsburgh that had Kordell Stewart running the show. We all know the interesting term Mularkey used, coining it as an ‘exotic smashmouth’ offense. It’s designed for the team to be physical and to use the athletic ability of everyone, including stellar athlete Marcus Mariota.
This offense is based a lot more from under center. Which is most likely why DeMarco Murray asked to be traded to the Titans. Mularkey’s past running backs have all been down hill runners. Look at Michael Turner and Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis. Mularkey has proven he knows how to best utilize a down hill runner.
Another thing the five-year pro brings to the table is the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Something Marcus Mariota took advantage of during his college career at Oregon University when he had speedy players like De’Anthony Thomas lined up next to him.
Murray was able to post 44 catches for 322 yards last year with the Eagles. His career high was with Dallas the year before when he caught 57 balls for 416 yards. Those are solid numbers for your running back in the passing game.
If you look back at the Titans’ play calling in 2015, Mularkey liked to call screens to his running backs a decent amount, but had no players at the position that really took the opportunity and ran with it in the passing game.
The addition of the former pro bowl running back should take a lot of pressure off of the young franchise quarterback. His veteran presence could also be a help for upcoming second-year pro David Cobb, someone the Titans are hoping can turn into a solid NFL running back.
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As long as the Titans add some more talent amongst the offensive line, Murray could put up some good numbers. Maybe not the 1,800 yards we saw in Dallas, but enough to make this trade a successful one for the Tennessee Titans.