Mike Mularkey and GM Jon Robinson are not messing around. They made the running game a priority, and already found the team a running back. The Tennessee Titans are trading for the Eagles running back Demarco Murray. The terms of this arrangement have not been disclosed, yet. The deal will be completed at the start of the league’s new year, which is Wednesday, March 9th, and will involve a contract reconstruction for Murray. Murray, of course, signed a five-year, $40 million deal with the Eagles $18 mil of that is guaranteed. The running back only accomplished 702 yards on 193 carries and six touchdowns last season, on eight starts. A far cry from his production as a Dallas Cowboy.
Robinson stated that the Titans want a strong, physical runner, “And when I say strong, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s got to weigh 250 pounds. There’s backs in this league that are maybe smaller in stature, but they’re explosive and they’re powerful backs, so when you do hand them the ball they can make yards. They’ve got to be able to run between the tackles and grind out plays that way. And then obviously, in passing situations, they’ve got to be able to know protection to be able to adjust because defenses aren’t just going to line up in one thing and stay in it.”
The Titans have not had a running back rush for 100 yards in a game since Chris Johnson did it in 2013. Murray will join a deep running back roster that contains backs like David Cobb, Bishop Sankey, and Dexter McCluster, and a few more.
HC Mularkey believes that QB Marcus Mariota will have better production with a better running game. Mariota ranked second on the team in rushing with 252-yards and two touchdowns. “Marcus will be a better quarterback if our run game gets going. This offense is built around balance, and if the run game is not functioning like we want it to function, it’s going to affect everything. It’s going to affect our passing game, it’s going to affect our defense, it’s going to affect our team. So the running game, we’ve got to get it going.”- Mike Mularkey stated at the NFL Combine.
