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Cowboys running running back DeMarco Murray fumbled the ball on his fourth carry of the game in what turned out to be a 26-10 victory against the Tennessee Titans Sunday.
That it came one week after he fumbled on the first carry in a 28-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers had many wondering if this going to be "here we go again."
Murray’s fumble may have the beginning of a four-turnover team meltdown in the season opener. But there would be no second guessing or turning back for the Cowboys.
They are bound and determined to be a run-oriented offense with Murray leading the way.
“I told him, ‘That's about your third carry of about 30 you’re going to get today. Hold onto the damn ball,’” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said after the game.
Murray, who lost only three fumbles in 542 carries the first three years of his career combined, held on to the ball and the Cowboys rode him home. His career-high 29 carries for 167 yards were part of a dominant ground and pound attack that keyed the Week 2 victory, evening the Cowboys' record at 1-1.
Murray had 115 yards in the first half. The fourth-highest total in club history and ran four 10 first downs, the second-most ever by a Cowboys player.
“I thought he played a fantastic football game, downhill the whole game, physical,” Garrett said. “When you’re on the sideline and plays come to you, and you see those collisions, and him delivering those blows on those guys, it was physical. It was strong. And he was purposeful in how he ran. When DeMarco had the ball in his hands, he was a dominant runner today. There’s no question in my mind about that.”
Murray credited a dominant performance up front by an offensive line that features three first-round picks and the play-calling of new coordinator Scott Linehan.
“Linehan puts us in great positions to make plays,” Murray said. “I think he is kind of just letting us get out there, letting us play and have fun out there. He’s giving us opportunities to make plays, so we’ve got to take advantage of it.”
Nobody is taking advantage of it more than Murray who had 115 yards on 22 carries last week.
He joined Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith as the only Cowboys to open the season with back-to-back 100-yard games.
His 51-carry, two-game total is the most of his career and his 285 yards rushing is the most of any back in the NFL so far.
“Like I said before, I’m not worried about those stats; I’m just worried about wins and losses,” Murray said.
It’s not the stats. It’s what they represent. The Cowboys are turning into a run-oriented team with Murray leading the way. That was his fourth 100-yard outing in his last six games dating back to last season when he earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
“DeMarco is turning straight beast mode. Straight beast mode,” receiver Dez Bryant exclaimed after the game.
Said quarterback Tony Romo: “He was great. I think he’s just showing what kind of back he is to everybody.”
The Cowboys certainly believe in Murray, who was once known as injury prone but is now being called their bell cow.
“We've talked about him being a guy who can be a bell cow," Garrett said. "And there's never been any evidence to me from the minute he showed up at the Dallas Cowboys that he couldn't do these kinds of things."
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That it came one week after he fumbled on the first carry in a 28-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers had many wondering if this going to be "here we go again."
Murray’s fumble may have the beginning of a four-turnover team meltdown in the season opener. But there would be no second guessing or turning back for the Cowboys.
They are bound and determined to be a run-oriented offense with Murray leading the way.
“I told him, ‘That's about your third carry of about 30 you’re going to get today. Hold onto the damn ball,’” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said after the game.
Murray, who lost only three fumbles in 542 carries the first three years of his career combined, held on to the ball and the Cowboys rode him home. His career-high 29 carries for 167 yards were part of a dominant ground and pound attack that keyed the Week 2 victory, evening the Cowboys' record at 1-1.
Murray had 115 yards in the first half. The fourth-highest total in club history and ran four 10 first downs, the second-most ever by a Cowboys player.
“I thought he played a fantastic football game, downhill the whole game, physical,” Garrett said. “When you’re on the sideline and plays come to you, and you see those collisions, and him delivering those blows on those guys, it was physical. It was strong. And he was purposeful in how he ran. When DeMarco had the ball in his hands, he was a dominant runner today. There’s no question in my mind about that.”
Murray credited a dominant performance up front by an offensive line that features three first-round picks and the play-calling of new coordinator Scott Linehan.
“Linehan puts us in great positions to make plays,” Murray said. “I think he is kind of just letting us get out there, letting us play and have fun out there. He’s giving us opportunities to make plays, so we’ve got to take advantage of it.”
Nobody is taking advantage of it more than Murray who had 115 yards on 22 carries last week.
He joined Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith as the only Cowboys to open the season with back-to-back 100-yard games.
His 51-carry, two-game total is the most of his career and his 285 yards rushing is the most of any back in the NFL so far.
“Like I said before, I’m not worried about those stats; I’m just worried about wins and losses,” Murray said.
It’s not the stats. It’s what they represent. The Cowboys are turning into a run-oriented team with Murray leading the way. That was his fourth 100-yard outing in his last six games dating back to last season when he earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.
“DeMarco is turning straight beast mode. Straight beast mode,” receiver Dez Bryant exclaimed after the game.
Said quarterback Tony Romo: “He was great. I think he’s just showing what kind of back he is to everybody.”
The Cowboys certainly believe in Murray, who was once known as injury prone but is now being called their bell cow.
“We've talked about him being a guy who can be a bell cow," Garrett said. "And there's never been any evidence to me from the minute he showed up at the Dallas Cowboys that he couldn't do these kinds of things."
Read more Dallas Cowboys news on BleacherReport.com
Continue reading...