DeMarco Murray Comments on His Role, Expectations in Eagles Offense

The Philadelphia Eagles fell to division rival Washington 23-20 on Sunday to drop to 1-3 on the season. The team's prize offseason addition is not happy about it or what he sees as his diminished role on the team.

According to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com, running back DeMarco Murray said, "I don't think I am," when asked if he is getting the ball enough this season. Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com added Murray said he thought he would get the ball more when he signed in Philadelphia for five years and $40 million.

The running back at least had an understanding he wasn't the only one in the backfield even if he is the featured attraction, per Shorr-Parks: "I knew what I was coming in here to do. I knew I was going to be the guy. I knew [Darren] Sproles and [Ryan] Mathews were two great backs. I knew with this offense, a lot of guys touch the ball."

On Monday, head coach Chip Kelly replied to Murray's comments in an interview with Angelo Cataldi on 94WIP's morning show (h/t Andrew Porter of CBS Philly):

"

Yeah, everybody needs the ball more. I've got no issue with that [comment]. We need to play more on offense. That's the bottom line. We're getting off the field on third and most of the time when we're off the field on third down it's our fault. We're not getting stopped. We're doing it to ourselves.

"

In all, Murray has 29 carries and 11 catches in three games this year (he missed one contest with a hamstring injury). He is not exactly doing much with those touches, either, with two total touchdowns, 76 receiving yards and 47 rushing yards. Sunday against Washington was his best individual game yardage-wise, and he only ran for 36.

The frustration is somewhat understandable considering how dominant he was last season for the Dallas Cowboys.    

He led the league with 1,845 rushing yards on 392 carries and added 57 catches for 416 yards in 2014. He even scored 13 touchdowns in an offense that also featured the electrifying Dez Bryant at wide receiver and the steadily consistent Jason Witten at tight end.

Part of that production was the result of a talented offensive line.

Pro Football Focus graded the Cowboys offensive line as the best in the league last season. Murray is a talented running back on his own, but the offensive line can make all the difference for someone looking to pick up chunks of yardage. Dallas also had Bryant as a deep threat who led the league in touchdown catches, so opposing defenses couldn't afford to stack the box against the Cowboys.

For comparison, Football Outsiders ranked the Eagles offensive line as the worst in the league in run blocking through Week 3 this season. Philadelphia doesn't have an established receiving threat like Bryant to take some of the pressure off the running attack, either. 

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer suggested the offensive struggles are partially to blame for Murray's lack of touches:

With the Eagles falling behind in games, being forced to throw and the overall offensive line struggles, Murray has not been nearly the same as last year. If Philadelphia hopes to make the playoffs after a slow start, that must change.