I saw a segment on NFLN a few weeks ago with film study showing why Murray had great success with the Cowboys and was struggling in Philly and they pointed to the Cowboys power blocking scheme and Philly's zone blocking scheme. There were some tweaks by Callahan made to the power-O blocking scheme that fit Murray perfectly. He's been hit in the backfield a number of times in Philly including against the Cowboys in week 2 where he could barely get out of the backfield most of the day.
He's not getting the carries in Philly to get into any rhythm he's been a poor system fit and it appears he's being fazed out. He's clearly frustrated in Philly and they're frustrated with him. They were so bent on taking him from the Cowboys and replacing McCoy they just assumed he would fit in their offense.
Let be clear, there are different ways to run behind zone blocking and there is more than one way to run a zone scheme. First and foremost, Chip Kelly's offense runs pistol almost exclusively where one DE is usually left unblocked and they run the play away from him. Murray failing in Kelly's scheme isn't an indictment of the zone blocking as much as it is the play designs. He is definitely a poor system fit, just not solely due to that.
In the zone scheme we use, most zone runs start as a double team from two of our linemen, then one of those linemen pulls or goes to the second level. That is very similar to a power blocking scheme and is where Murray had a great deal of his success. Remember all those highlights of Freebeard and Martin being downfield and how much hype they got for it? Those were zone runs where one of them left the double team and pulled or went to the next level.
I think you're right about Murray in Philadelphia. I think it was a huge mistake for them and like I said, they already regret that contract (which I'm pretty sure you argued with me about earlier in this thread...). I think it was a desperation move on multiple fronts. However, I don't think Murray was the key to this offenses success. I think he and Romo fed off of each other perfectly last year and it was symbiotic. I definitely wanted Murray back, if for no other reason then chemistry. I do not, however, think our running game, which hasn't been half bad, would be markedly better with him here given Romo has been gone.
I also won't attribute Romo's injury to Murray being in Philly. That is about as porous and egregious of an argument as can be made. Romo was injured while Murray was here as well.
Would be better for the team and Murray if he was here? Undoubtedly! Is he worth the money Philly threw at him to
steal him? Absolutely not. In the end, Murray made his choice and it was a vindictive move to spurn the Cowboys. I don't fault him, but it was his decision.
