When I got my first glance and Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray last year, I saw shades of Eric Dickerson, a prolific running back from the ’80s. He has such great vision, and 4.3 wheels that he displayed in his breakout game against the Kansas City Chiefs last year. But in his ensuing games, there were a couple of flaws that started to stick out.
He could make defenders miss, break tackles or make something out of nothing when the big hole wasn’t there. But this year, the work he did in the hills and posted on Instagram is paying off. Murray finishes his runs much better now, breaking a lot more tackles and has even developed some elusiveness.
And his reward, after finding out Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart is going to the Super Bowl, he was added to the Pro Bowl roster on Sunday night. Murray gives the Raiders six Pro Bowlers, if you include suspended fullback Marcel Reece, who is ineligible to participate.
The five players playing in this year’s Pro Bowl are the most the Raiders have had since the 2002 game when they also sent five. The six selections they had last happened in 1994 when they were still in Los Angeles. The franchise record is nine and that happened in both 1973 and 1974.
Murray joins quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper, who were also replacement picks, safety Charles Woodson and edge-rusher Khalil Mack as the five actually playing in the game. It gives GM Reggie Mackenzie four Pro Bowl players that he’s drafted since 2013 too.
McKenzie is more known for his 2014 and 2015 draft classes, particularly since 2013 1st-round pick D.J. Hayden is a bust and 2nd-round pick Menelik Watson is injured. But now, McKenzie can at least say he has one good pick from his Class of 2013. And believe me, there are more on the way like DL Mario Edwards Jr., TE Clive Walford and G Gabe Jackson.
Carr, Cooper and Murray gave the Raiders a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since 2005 and for just the fourth time in team history. Murray was second in the AFC and sixth in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,066 this season and finished with six rushing touchdowns.
Seeing Murray’s improvement shows Raider Nation what McKenzie’s draft-and-develop strategy is all about.
The Oakland Raiders are coming!