DeMarco Murray is well on his way to becoming a 1,000 yard rusher, and over the past decade that’s a rare feat for Dallas Cowboys running backs.
Throughout the Cowboys’ storied history, the franchise has produced more than its share of running backs that have gained at least 1,000 yards.
Since 1970, Dallas has had 23 running backs gain at least 1,000 yards rushing. Only the Buffalo Bills (25) and Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (24) have had more backs gain 1,000 yards in a season.
But over the past 10 seasons, the Cowboys have had only two running backs gain at least 1,000 yards.
In 2006, Julius Jones had 1,084 yards rushing and in 2001, Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith totaled 1.021 yards on the ground.
In nine games this season, Murray has carried the ball 100 times for 674 yards but most of that total has come over the last four games.
Since the Cowboys’ game against the Rams on October 23, Murray has rushed for 601 yards on 75 carries.
That’s an average of a little over eight yards per carry, and his 6.7 yards per carry average is the best among all NFL running backs with at least 100 rushing attempts.
Murray’s four-week explosion has propelled him near the top of the NFL’s leading rushers.
He’s currently 11th in the league in rushing yards and barring injury will become the first Cowboys’ running back to gain at least 1,000 yards in five years.
Compared to the NFL’s leading rushers, Murray doesn’t have anywhere near the number of carries. If he were to maintain his current pace, Murray could actually end up being the NFL’s leading rusher this season.
The last time a Cowboys’ running back led the NFL in rushing was 1995, when Emmitt Smith gained 1,773 yards.
Murray is another in a long line of good running backs that weren’t taken in the first round of the NFL draft.
The Cowboys snagged Murray in the third round of the this year’s draft and thus far he appears to be a steal.
Murray gives Dallas an element they’ve lacked over the past five seasons. Now that the Cowboys have shown they can run the football, defenses can’t stack the box.
The Cowboys offense has become more balanced now that Murray is the featured back. And the running game has helped Tony Romo find more open receivers, particularly deep threats Dez Bryant and Laurent Robinson.
Murray’s presence proves how important a good rushing attack is for every NFL team.
Though he still has a long way to go to prove himself in the league, DeMarco Murray has already proven his value to the Dallas Cowboys.
