There were a lot of questions about DeMarco Murray upon his return to Oklahoma.
The Sooners let former running backs coach Jay Boulware walk down to Texas as its new tight ends coach. He was at Oklahoma from 2013-2019, spending the last five years as the Sooners’ running backs coach.
The running backs Boulware signed during that time were great, but none of them became elite. Insert Murray, who was one of the best running backs in Oklahoma history.
However, he only had one year of coaching running backs under his belt. That hasn’t stopped Murray from making an immediate impact.
“Juice,” said T.J. Pledger on Tuesday about what Murray has brought to Oklahoma. “He’s brought everything to the table, honestly. It’s been a blessing to have him as our coach. Every day we come in and learn something new, we learn about the game of football outside of just the running back area, but defenses and different positions. He’s opened our eyes up to a lot of different aspects of the game of football that has been a pleasure to be a part of so far.”
Oklahoma’s running game has yet to get going in 2020, but not all of that is on the running backs. The Sooners’ offensive line hasn’t been up to par quite yet despite positive performances out of true freshman Seth McGowan and T.J. Pledger.
Pass blocking has definitely been a skill most Oklahoma running backs have excelled in, but it seems to have taken even more of an uptick in 2020. It’s something Murray has put a major focus on.
“Definitely—Coach Murray has really honed in on pass protection and how important it is to protect Spencer (Rattler),” Pledger said. “Just different fundamentals, he and coach (Bedenbaugh), and I think coach Murray plays a big part in our success in the pass pro area right now.”
As long as the offensive line continues to allow pressure in the backfield, especially from the interior offensive line, picking up rushers is going to be paramount for the running backs. Spencer Rattler has all-world talent, but that all-world talent can’t reach its potential if its not being protected.
Oklahoma’s running backs and the running game have a long way to go, but Murray knows his role to getting the Sooners over the hump and get back into the big game.
“There’s a standard, obviously being associated with this program and obviously Big 12 championship means a lot and playoff means a lot, but the ultimate goal, why you come here and why you play here and why you coach here is to be in the big on,” he said the day he was introduced as the running backs coach. “And by no means do I take that lightly and by no means does anyone in this program, that’s associated with this program takes it lightly. We know what our goals are. But at the same time, gotta take it one day at a time. Taking it one day at a time and working hard throughout the course of the week, throughout the course of off-season programs, mentally, physically, emotionally, it all plays a part.”
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