DeMarco Murray was one of the very best running backs in the league last year, if not the best. He led the league in rushing yards by a wide margin, and he did yeoman's work for the Dallas Cowboys all season long. Once the offseason rolled around, he got an offer that he could not refuse from Philadelphia, and he joined the Eagles to replace the departed LeSean McCoy.
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While Murray unquestionably has talent, some are wondering if the Eagles made a mistake by giving him so much money. After all, Murray did have nearly 400 carries last season (meaning he could fall victim to the Curse of 370), and offensive schemes often have as much to do with a back's success as his natural talent. Murray was brought in, according to the Eagles, because he was more of a one-cut, downhill runner than McCoy, making him a better fit for the scheme.
At least one former Eagles player does not buy it. Brian Westbrook was a great back and a fan favorite for years in Philly, and according to Philly.com, he has his doubts about whether Murray will be any better than McCoy was. "I hear that a lot about Murray being a one-cut runner - it's easy being a one-cut runner when your holes are [as wide] as a truck," Westbrook said in an interview last week.
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Many have also noted that McCoy led the league in rushing two years ago in Chip Kelly's offense, and it was probably no coincidence that Philly's O-line was much healthier in 2013 than last year.
"I think a lot has been made about [the running style], and I think we'll see the type of back DeMarco Murray is if he doesn't have the great offensive line," Westbrook said. "Hopefully, the offensive line of the Eagles is much better this year than they were last year. But, in case you have those breakdowns, can DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews make those people miss in the backfield? We know LeSean McCoy could."
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