Less than two years after leading the NFL in rushing with the Dallas Cowboys, first-year Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray is hoping to provide a similar impact for a franchise that has totaled five wins the past two seasons.A quick Q&A
New Tennessee Titans running back and 2014 NFL rushing champ DeMarco Murray addressing a variety of topics:Q: Who is the Titans player no one is talking about but should be?A: “Kendall Wright.”Q: Who is the biggest defensive freak you’ve faced in the NFL? A: “Patrick Willis.”Q: Which Oklahoma opponent did you want to beat the most?A: “Texas.”Q: Who is the biggest control freak among Jerry Jones, Bob Stoops and Chip Kelly?A: “I’ll skip that one.”Q: Who is your favorite running back of all time?A: “Barry Sanders.”Q: If you had not been an NFL player, what would you have done with your life?A: “Coaching.”Q: What is your favorite establishment in Nashville?A: “Legends Golf Course.”Q: What’s your handicap?A: “I can’t tell you. That’s embarrassing.”
DeMarco Murray was the leading rusher in the National Football League two years ago, while the Tennessee Titans were spiraling to a 2-14 season.
Those two worlds came together in March when Murray was traded to the Titans following one unfulfilled season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Yet Philadelphia's 7-9 record a year ago still dwarfed the 3-13 mark the Titans endured.
"Obviously their history wasn't the best, but I feel that we've made a lot of great acquisitions that will boost the team forward from a record standpoint," Murray said Tuesday afternoon. "Starting with Jon (Robinson) becoming the GM and with Coach (Mike) Mularkey staying on, I feel like we have a really good young team with a great group of veterans who can get this thing turned around. That's our plan, and we've had one of the best offseasons that I've been around in five years.
"I'm excited and a lot of people are excited, but obviously there is a lot of work to be done."
Murray has wasted no time immersing himself in his third NFL city since being a third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2011. The 6-foot, 217-pounder from Las Vegas has impressed coaches and teammates and last weekend hosted a camp for 120 kids that raised money for his DeMarco Murray Foundation providing for chronically ill children.
Titans running backs coach Sylvester Croom, former Mississippi State head coach, recently told TitansOnline that Murray is a leader without being boisterous.
"When something needs to be said, he says it, but he does things the right way," Croom said. "He is not about tearing people down. He is about building guys up. He is a great, great pro, and he is going to make this team better.
"Really, he already has."
Murray has rushed for 5,228 yards through his first five NFL seasons and will not be lacking for motivation in year six. After rushing for 1,845 yards during his fourth and final season in Dallas, he amassed just 702 last year with the Eagles.
Philadelphia began last season as a Super Bowl contender, but Murray and coach Chip Kelly's offense never meshed.
"Obviously it was a different system than I was used to, and things didn't work out for whatever reason," said Murray, who was a guest on "Press Row" on Chattanooga's ESPN 105.1 FM. "He's a coach who's had a lot of success in that system, and I'm sure he'll continue to do that. It just didn't work out, and there are no hard feelings from my end. I wish him nothing but the best.
"I've always had a chip on my shoulder from a competitive standpoint and have always worked hard. You never worry about the critics, but they're obviously there, and they've always been there for me. So that's nothing new, and my job is just to put my best foot forward every day."
Murray is expected to be the focal point of an offense that includes quarterback Marcus Mariota, the second overall pick in the 2015 draft, promising second-year receiver Dorial Green-Beckham and proven tight end Delanie Walker. The Titans also have invested up front, drafting Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin with the eighth overall selection and acquiring Houston Texans center Ben Jones to head a line that also contains recent first-round picks Taylor Lewan and Chance Warmack.
Then there was this year's second-round selection of Alabama running back Derrick Henry, giving the Titans back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners. Mariota won it in 2014.
"Once free agency started, I thought we made some great moves, and once the draft started I thought we made even better moves," Murray said. "I'm excited to play with (Henry), and there definitely will not be a drop-off when I come out of the game. I can definitely trust him until I'm ready to go back in.
"I think it's going to be great, and it's going to be exciting to see how teams play us."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.