Watkins: DeMarco Murray Mum On Benching

[boozeman]

DeMarco Murray mum on benching

August, 24, 2013


By Calvin Watkins | ESPNDallas.com


ARLINGTON, Texas -- In a stunning development, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett benched starting running back DeMarco Murray in the first quarter after he fumbled against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.

Murray recovered his own fumble during a two-yard run on the second possession of the game but he stayed on the field, finishing the drive with a seven-yard catch on third down. When the Cowboys got the ball a third time, Murray was on the sidelines and Phillip Tanner was in his place.

Murray wasn't hurt and stood on the sidelines with his helmet on and his hands on his hips.

"We took DeMarco out in the first half because he put the ball on the ground," Garrett said. "So we gave Phillip Tanner a chance to play with the (first team) in the first half then talked to DeMarco at halftime. We gave him a chance to play in the second half and I thought he did a good job of bouncing back."

Murray, who declined to speak to a reporter after the game, started the second half and finished the game with 51 yards on 12 carries including a touchdown reception. His two best plays were vintage Murray. He stiffed-armed Bengals defensive end DeQuin Evans on the way for a 15-yard run. Murray made his best move of the game when he caught a short pass from backup quarterback Kyle Orton, spun past Dre Kirkpatrick, juked by safety Shawn Williams and slipped past linebacker J.K. Schaffer before landing on his back in the end zone as two more defenders converged on him.

The score gave the Cowboys a 21-10 lead with 2:57 to play in the third quarter. As Murray walked back to the sidelines, most of his teammates slapped him five and Garrett gave him a half-hug.

"Just like you would expect, he's just a man," Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said of Murray's response to the benching. "I mean, he's a man. There's no doubt in my mind, if challenged, he's going to step up and meet that challenge and he met it competitively and that was expected. And I'm sure everybody had in mind, you put the emphasis on turnover, that we would do a little extra if we got a turnover situation. I think it inspired the whole team. I was glad he was able to do it and show everybody and not get nicked up."

During training camp practices, Garrett has pulled starters and backups for mental mistakes and gets on players for physical mistakes, as well. Last week, the Cowboys committed six turnovers in their loss to the Arizona Cardinals, including five by the offense. Garrett said after the Arizona game that turnovers aren't championship football.

"Thought he did a good job. He’s a pro. He’s a damn good football player," Garrett said. "You can’t let not taking care of the football when you’re a running back diminish you as a player. And he’s just not going to do that. He’s not going to put the ball on the ground, and I thought he responded well to it."

 

[Smitty]

Hmmm. Murray does fumble a bit too much.

 

[Texas Ace]

"We took DeMarco out in the first half because he put the ball on the ground," Garrett said.

Good for you, Garrett. It's about damn time he started doing stuff like this. It's his make or break year, so he shouldn't give two shits what Jerry thinks about any personnel decisions he goes with.

If they fail, he gets fired, so he might as well just go with whatever he likes. I hope that there's more of these types of moves made by him this year.

And finally, Carp, you were right.

 

[Cotton]

Cowboys learn Garrett means business when he labels something ‘inexcusable’

BY TOM ORSBORN : Sunday, August 25, 2013

ARLINGTON – Jason Garrett was angry last week after watching the Dallas Cowboys commit six turnovers in losing 12-7 to the Arizona Cardinals.

“Inexcusable,” he said of the sloppy performance.

On Saturday night, the coach’s tough talk turned into action.

The Cowboys entered their game with the Cincinnati Bengals determined to give DeMarco Murray his heaviest workload of the preseason. But after the tailback fumbled in the first quarter inside the Dallas 10-yard line on his third carry, Garrett made a gutsy but necessary move.

Right tackle Jermey Parnell recovered for the Cowboys, but that didn’t stop Garrett from sending Phillip Tanner into the game the next time they had possession and keeping Murray on the sideline until after halftime.

Playing with a chip on his shoulder after the embarrassing benching, the former Oklahoma standout rushed for 45 yards on eight carries in the third quarter to finish with 51 yards on 12 attempts. He also scored on a 7-yard pass from Kyle Orton, slipping past four defenders inside the 5-yard line.

“The ball cannot be on the ground,” said Garrett, explaining why he yanked Murray. “He understood why. We talked to him about it, and I thought he responded well to it.”

The benching came with the blessing of Jerry Jones.

“There is no question we had a little in-house resolve about what we would do if we should turn the ball over,” the owner said. “I think (Murray) came back with resolve. I still think he had an attitude after he finished that third quarter. But I think Jason’s making a point.

“The good news is that with Murray, he made it with somebody who can take it, and you saw the reaction of all the team.”

Murray stood on the sideline with his helmet on and his hands on his hips while watching Tanner. After Murray scored, he received a hearty welcome back to the sideline from Garrett and his teammates.

“That’s Murray all day,” Dez Bryant said. “He brings that spark to this offense. You just love him.”

Murray didn’t talk to reporters afterward, but Garrett had plenty to say.

“He’s a pro. He’s a damn good football player,” Garrett said. “He’s not going to put the ball on the ground.”

As Garrett prepares to enter his third full season at the helm for Dallas, questions remain about his game-management skills and whether he can turn the Cowboys into winners after back-to-back 8-8, non-playoff seasons. But one thing is clear about him: He’s not afraid to make tough calls in the pursuit of building a hard-nosed, disciplined, smart team.

We saw it when he took over from the fired Wade Phillips midway through the 2010 season and immediately instituted a dress code and other team rules. We saw it over the course of 2011 and 2012 when he cut or chose not to resign eight starters, including former Pro Bowlers Marion Barber, Leonard Davis, Andre Gurode and Terence Newman. And we saw it again Saturday night when he benched Murray.

Garrett often cites Nick Saban’s influence on his coaching style, and it was Saban who once said, “Discipline is a process that teaches. Punishment just makes people suffer.”

On Saturday night, Murray and the Cowboys learned this: Garrett means business when he labels something “inexcusable.”

 

[boozeman]

The benching came with the blessing of Jerry Jones.

 

[Cotton]

I was wondering if anyone would catch that.

And, no, I did not add it.

 

[Genghis Khan]

Garrett did the right thing here, and it's a good response after 6 turnovers last week.

 

[Cotton]

Garrett did the right thing here, and it's a good response after 6 turnovers last week.

I agree. It was even more impressive that he didn't let him back in with the 1s at all. It's a good sign.

 

[Texas Ace]

Damn, and I was just starting to feel good about Garrett's new approach.

 

[jester]

Hmmm. Murray does fumble a bit too much.

He does. It didn't officially count as a fumble but he lost the ball after his ridiculous RAC, but couldn't help but notice and mark it as a possible area of concern.

 

[fortsbest]

On the radio this morning they were saying the issue was the way he was carrying the ball. Like he did when he lost fumbles toward the end of last year. In addition to what happened last week.

 

[boozeman]

DeMarco Murray on his benching: It was a little frustrating; I've got to be honest



DeMarco Murray admits he was frustrated, but he understands exactly why he was benched soon after his first-quarter fumble Saturday.

Murray talked Monday, the first time he has addressed his brief benching.

"We know how important the ball is," Murray said. "I think there’s different approaches to go about it, so they chose to go about it that way, and I respect that. Just got to take care of the ball. At the end of the day, that’s the whole message.”

The Cowboys had six turnovers in their preseason loss to the Cardinals on Aug. 17, and though Murray didn't play a part in the team's carelessness with the ball in that game, he did pay in Saturday's game against the Bengals.

On the Cowboys' second series, Murray carried the ball for 3 yards to the Dallas 7 and then on second down, he had the ball stripped by Wallace Gilberry. Jermey Parnell recovered at the Dallas 9, and Murray stayed in the game to finish the series. He had another carry and a pass reception before the Cowboys had to punt.

But Murray did not return to the field in the first half. He stood on the sideline with his helmet on, watching backup Phillip Tanner carry the ball 12 times for 51 yards to close out the half.

"Let it marinate a little bit," Murray said of his thoughts on the sideline. "It was a little frustrating. I've got to be honest. But I’m just trying to make plays. I’m a competitor. I wasn’t mad at any one. I wasn’t pouting on the sidelines. I wasn’t anything. I was waiting for my opportunity to get back in the game. Once my number was called, I was ready to play.”

In the second half, Murray had eight carries for 45 yards and caught a 7-yard touchdown pass, avoiding five would-be tacklers to the end zone.

“It always feels good to make a play and give the team a spark," Murray said. "I’m just trying to make plays and that’s it.”

Murray was back on the field with the first team during practice Monday.

-- Charean Williams

------------------------------------

Jason Garrett on decision to bench Murray: "You can’t hand the ball to a guy if he’s going to fumble it."



Cowboys coach Jason Garrett showed never seen before toughness in Saturday's preseason victory against the Bengals by benching starting running back DeMarco Murray because of fumble in the first quarter.

Murray finished the series but remained on the sideline for the rest of the first half as he was replaced by backup Phillip Tanner.

Murray returned in the third quarter and played well but the message from Garrett was sent loud and clear: he's not going to tolerate turnovers, especially one week after the Cowboys committed six in a preseason loss to the Cardinals.

"DeMarco Murray is a really good football player," Garrett said. "He’s a really valuable part of our football team. We need to be able to run the football. We need to run it better than we’ve run it in the past. We need to run it more than we’ve run it in the past. He’s a big part of that. You can’t hand the ball to a guy if he’s going to fumble it. Those should be safe plays, control-the-game type plays. If the ball comes out, we really don’t have a chance to be a good football team. Obviously last week in Arizona, we turned it over six times. We made a huge emphasis on taking care of the ball and taking the ball away all through the offseason, all through training camp and then we have a game like that. We make a further emphasis as a staff, as a football team all week long, and then on the fifth or sixth play of the ballgame the ball comes out in the shadow of our own goal post. Can’t happen. I don’t care who you are; we can’t have it. DeMarco’s a man. He understands team. He understands what his role is on this football team. We just felt that was the right thing to do, and he responded exactly how we thought he would respond, came back and played really hard and really well and took care of the rock. Keep doing that going forward."


Garrett asked if he would have done the same if turnover would have occurred in a regular season game and not a preseason game.

He declined to answer, saying, "Hypothetical decisions are hard to deal with from this podium."

Asked a similar hypothetical on whether he felt quarterback Tony Romo would be benched on his first interception, Murray had no problem providing an answer.

"I highly doubt that," Murray said.

Clarence Hill

--------------

Sounds like Murray is a little testy.

 

[boozeman]

On the radio this morning they were saying the issue was the way he was carrying the ball. Like he did when he lost fumbles toward the end of last year. In addition to what happened last week.

He had the ball in the wrong hand when he broke the first contact. The backside pursuit from Burfict is what knocked the ball out. It was careless.

Frankly, if it motivates him, fine.

To be honest, the guy has had three or so quality games in his career, which puts him solidly still in Julius Jones territory.

 

[Cotton]

He had the ball in the wrong hand when he broke the first contact. The backside pursuit from Burfict is what knocked the ball out. It was careless.

Frankly, if it motivates him, fine.

To be honest, the guy has had three or so quality games in his career, which puts him solidly still in Julius Jones territory.

And, solidly in line to receive his Jerry scholarship.

 

[boozeman]

And, solidly in line to receive his Jerry scholarship.

To be fair, we didn't re-up Julius when his time was up. We just went apeshit giving Barber the crippling contract.

 

[Cotton]

To be fair, we didn't re-up Julius when his time was up. We just went apeshit giving Barber the crippling contract.

Tomato, tomahto.

 

[Cotton]

Jason Garrett on decision to bench Murray: "You can’t hand the ball to a guy if he’s going to fumble it."

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett showed never seen before toughness in Saturday's preseason victory against the Bengals by benching starting running back DeMarco Murray because of fumble in the first quarter.

Murray finished the series but remained on the sideline for the rest of the first half as he was replaced by backup Phillip Tanner.

Murray returned in the third quarter and played well but the message from Garrett was sent loud and clear: he's not going to tolerate turnovers, especially one week after the Cowboys committed six in a preseason loss to the Cardinals.

"DeMarco Murray is a really good football player," Garrett said. "He’s a really valuable part of our football team. We need to be able to run the football. We need to run it better than we’ve run it in the past. We need to run it more than we’ve run it in the past. He’s a big part of that. You can’t hand the ball to a guy if he’s going to fumble it. Those should be safe plays, control-the-game type plays. If the ball comes out, we really don’t have a chance to be a good football team. Obviously last week in Arizona, we turned it over six times. We made a huge emphasis on taking care of the ball and taking the ball away all through the offseason, all through training camp and then we have a game like that. We make a further emphasis as a staff, as a football team all week long, and then on the fifth or sixth play of the ballgame the ball comes out in the shadow of our own goal post. Can’t happen. I don’t care who you are; we can’t have it. DeMarco’s a man. He understands team. He understands what his role is on this football team. We just felt that was the right thing to do, and he responded exactly how we thought he would respond, came back and played really hard and really well and took care of the rock. Keep doing that going forward."

Garrett asked if he would have done the same if turnover would have occurred in a regular season game and not a preseason game.

He declined to answer, saying, "Hypothetical decisions are hard to deal with from this podium."

Asked a similar hypothetical on whether he felt quarterback Tony Romo would be benched on his first interception, Murray had no problem providing an answer.

"I highly doubt that," Murray said.

Clarence Hill


____________________


Wow. That comment from Murray shocks me a bit. I always saw him as kind of a hard worker willing to do whatever it takes to win, but that comment doesn't reflect that at all.

 

[boozeman]

Wow. That comment from Murray shocks me a bit. I always saw him as kind of a hard worker willing to do whatever it takes to win, but that comment doesn't reflect that at all.

That bugged me as well.

As much as he says he "understands it", you can tell he really doesn't.

I like the move from Garrett. And if it plays with this guy's head, I applaud his approach.

We need that approach with a lot of players on this team. In fact, most of the "stars" of this team need to be psychologically torn down.

Looks like Murray is struggling with the fact that maybe, he's not special. And as much as we rag on Romo, he's got a hell of lot more skins on the wall than some oft-injured running back whose big claims to fame were ripping up bad St. Louis and Buffalo defenses in his rookie season. If he feels entitled, F him. Give Tanner the fucking ball all night.

 

[Genghis Khan]

It's a dumb comparison. Passing the ball is inherently risky. It's a trade off; you can get twice the production passing as you can running, but it's more risky. You can tolerate INTs because of the production and anyway they are virtually impossible to avoid.

Garrett said it right - running has to be a safe play.

 

[boozeman]

It's a dumb comparison. Passing the ball is inherently risky. It's a trade off; you can get twice the production passing as you can running, but it's more risky. You can tolerate INTs because of the production and anyway they are virtually impossible to avoid.

Garrett said it right - running has to be a safe play.

It is a dumb comparison because Romo has won us a hell of a lot more games than Murray every has or ever will.

Know your role, dumbass.