IRVING, Texas - There are certain topics DeMarco Murray doesn’t like to discuss.
The 2012 season is one of them. When a reporter asked Murray earlier this week to revisit his second NFL season, a tone of annoyance could be detected in the running back’s voice as he delivered his answer.
“Last year is last year,” he said, his eyes narrowing. “Me, personally, I’m not focused on last year. Whatever it was, that’s in the back of my mind.”
As Murray turns the page and looks ahead to today’s opener, he can’t quite outrun the past and the questions that were raised about him during a 2012 season in which he missed six games, gained only 663 yards on the ground and was the main component of a rushing attack that was statistically among the worst in franchise history.
The hope that sprouted when Murray shined as a rookie was now overtaken by concern that developed among outsiders who wondered whether he could be the steady performer and durable back the Cowboys have coveted since they released Emmitt Smith in 2003.
During a recent segment on the NFL Network, former 2,000-yard rusher Terrell Davis did nothing to crush that doubt, saying Murray is “very consistent at being inconsistent.” But Murray’s game log from last season reveals he plateaued over the course of the season more than he peaked and crashed from one week to the next.
He gained more than 100 yards once, when he carved up the New York Giants in a victory in the season opener. Thereafter, Murray was held in check, rushing for fewer than 50 yards on four different occasions.
The meager output was surprising because “he’s always been someone who has been very productive as a runner, as a receiver,” Cowboys Coach Jason Garrett said.
When a season evaluation was performed, Murray was assigned plenty of blame for his failures. But the offensive line, which showed vulnerabilities in certain spots, was deemed culpable as well.
On average, the Cowboys gained almost one more yard - 0.88 to be exact - running to the left side as opposed to the right, making the ground offense imbalanced and the angle of attack more predictable.
To help Murray and the running game get back on track, the Cowboys launched a campaign aimed at strengthening one of their greatest weaknesses.
They hired a new running backs coach, Gary Brown. They drafted center Travis Frederick in the first round and signed six-time Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters this week while promoting interior lineman Ron Leary from reserve to starter.
The Cowboys also implemented more zone-blocking schemes and stretch plays designed to shunt Murray to the perimeter of the defense, where he could more easily do damage and operate in open space.
They also worked with Murray to improve his fundamentals and recognition of the holes that opened in front of him.
“He cares, and he wants to be great,” offensive coordinator Bill Callahan said.
Yet stardom hasn’t been realized by Murray, even though he has shown the potential for it. As a rookie in 2011, he set a single-game franchise rushing record when he accumulated 253 yards in a victory over St. Louis.
That season he was on the verge of becoming the first Cowboys player since 2006 to rush for 1,000 or more yards, but a fractured right ankle in a December game against the Giants prevented him from accomplishing that feat.
Ten months later, he would sprain his left foot in a loss to Baltimore, forcing him to the sideline for six weeks as he struggled to generate any momentum during a 2012 season he’d just as soon forget.
“I don’t remember much about last year,” Murray said. “I’m looking forward, looking to get things kicked off right.”
Sports, Pages 24 on 09/08/2013