After missing all but the final week of training camp with a hamstring injury, rookie running back DeMarco Murray is doing all he can to make up for lost time, and the coaches have taken notice. Running backs coach Skip Peete said recently that Murray, a third round pick by Dallas in the 2011 Draft, is just about where the team thought he would be, in terms of picking up the offense and adapting to NFL defenses.
"DeMarco is doing very well,” Peete said, per the Dallas Morning News. “After missing the entire training camp and coming in and getting about three or four days of practice before the start of the season, I think he's done very well in his first couple of days. I think he is kind of where he is right now. He's progressing and it takes time to come back from a hamstring injury, which he had, and I think he's progressing just as we anticipated.”
With four games under his belt in the NFL, Murray has 14 carries for 39 yards, and three receptions for 16 yards. The Oklahoma product has also impressed coaches with his ability to pick up blitzes, an area in which rookie backs typically struggle.
"The offense he came from was more of a more complex, pro-style passing attack where they obviously had to protect as a runner," Peete said. "That was one thing that was very impressive about him when studying film, was his ability to recognize what they're trying to get accomplished and obviously stepping up and blocking linebackers and secondary guys who blitzed against it."
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