Murray's return should help improve Cowboys' success on second downs
IRVING, Texas – DeMarco Murray took part in a full practice again Thursday, and that's good news for the Cowboys' offense and coordinator Bill Callahan.
The Cowboys' offense has slowed down in the last two games while Murray has rehabbed a knee sprain. His likely return this Sunday has Callahan excited.
"It will be great," Callahan said at Valley Ranch. "We've been anxious to get him back in so many ways."
One big way, Callahan said, is that Murray gives the Cowboys a better chance at gaining yardage on second downs. Backups Joseph Randle and Phillip Tanner did a good job on first downs, but too often lost yardage when given the ball on consecutive plays.
"Last week we looked at the efficiency of the running game. Our first down runs were efficient, we did a good job there. Interesting enough, as we explored the second down runs and some of the things that occurred on second down, they kind of put us behind the sticks. I think we had three TFLs, or possibly four TFLs – tackles for loss – on second down," Callahan said.
"We were at second-and-three and ended up third-and-six. We were at second-and-four and we ended up at third-and-nine. Those types of situations occurred in the game and they were addressed this week. If we can maintain that consistency, and not losing yardage on a run-to-run type call, that will definitely help."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire
