Saints Not Surprised by Murray's Hot Start

DeMarco Murray has at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of the Cowboys three games

It’s safe to say the New Orleans Saints aren’t about to underestimate Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, following three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to open the 2014 season.

Saints head coach Sean Payton, for one, isn’t all that surprised by Murray’s hot start.

I don’t know that [Murray’s rise has been] quiet,” Payton said, via Mike Triplett of ESPN Dallas. “I think that when he’s been healthy, I think people in our league that know the player know that he’s someone who’s got strength, he’s got power. I think what’s also impressive is he’s playing on all the downs. He’s playing in base. When they get to third down, you see him in there as a protector. So he’s getting a lot of snaps and has been a big weapon for ‘em.”

Linebacker Curtis Lofton may be less surprised than Payton. Lofton knows Murray well from the two years they spent together at the University of Oklahoma.

“Oh, he’s very special, in how he can run the ball and plus how he catches the ball,” Lofton said. “Coming to Oklahoma, I took him on his recruiting trip, so we’ve been pretty close for years. And when Adrian [Peterson] was there, he was on the scout team, so he had the duty of getting us ready to play. And we used to hate it because he gave us fits all week. Now, he’s really matured into one of the top backs in this league. He’s one of those guys that can bounce it in and out, cuts back, has great speed, can go the distance. So it’s gonna take a group effort to get him down and get to him.”

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