If you were wondering why second-year running back Kenjon Barner was given an opportunity to fumble the ball late in the Eagles' win over the Patriots on Sunday, it's because coach Chip Kelly had demoted DeMarco Murray. This is the very same DeMarco Murray that Kelly signed to a five-year, $42 million contract nine months ago -- you know, after Kelly traded LeSean McCoy to the Bills.
Murray is reportedly unhappy by this turn of events.
Source: #Eagles DeMarco Murray addressed frustrations with role in Chip Kelly offense with owner Jeffrey Lurie. Doesn't want to cause scene
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) December 8, 2015
There's more:
DeMarco Murray is competitive, high-character player who must feel abilities not being used fully and promises not fulfilled. In tough spot
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) December 8, 2015
It's fair to wonder why Murray is suddenly terrible. Against the Pats, he had just eight carries, third behind Barner (9) and Darren Sproles (15). And for the season, Murray is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, a career worst by more than a half a yard. According to Football Outsiders' metrics, Murray ranks 37th in total value among all running backs, ahead of Darren McFadden and Alfred Blue. In case you're wondering: LeSean McCoy is fourth.
But in 2014, when Murray rushed for 1,845 yards in Dallas, he was Football Outsiders' No. 1 back. The season before that, when he averaged 5.2 yards per carry, he was No. 2. But that all changed once Murray arrived in Philly.
Last month, Murray spoke about just how weird things have been this season.
"It's frustrating," he said at the time. "I've never been a part of anything like this ... We're not doing what we're supposed to do on the field and it's hurtful, it's painful to sit back and play the way we've played the last two weeks and all you can do is learn from it and try to work hard and bust your tail and try to go from there."
Meanwhile, Murray wouldn't even be on the Eagles' roster if Frank Gore had signed with the team, which looked like a foregone conclusion until the 11th hour, when Gore changed his mind. At the time, FOXSports.com's Mike Garofolo wrote that "Gore also indicated to a friend he was concerned with what he heard about Kelly's overbearing approach in Philly."
Meanwhile, Kelly said Monday that he has one thing in mind when making personnel decisions.
“We have to do what's the best thing for the Philadelphia Eagles. We are not trying to win a rushing championship or a passing championship or a receiving championship or anything from that stretch of the imagination," he said. "We are just trying to win football games.”
And apparently that means fewer carries for Murray.
“I think everything is a weekly basis depending on who we are matched up with,” Kelly continued. “Who is healthy has a lot to do with it. Where does Ryan [Mathews] fit in when Ryan gets back healthy? But it's a good problem to have when you have some backs that when you used all three of them, all three of them are productive for you. ...
“We have three running backs right now that we felt were productive. There were some things we were trying to do with the big linebackers and with Darren and Kenjon, but [Murray] fits in.”
Not exactly reassuring words to hear for the guy who began the season as the Eagles' feature back.
Has any coach/GM ever signed a player who's a worse fit for his system than Chip Kelly signing DeMarco Murray?
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 8, 2015
Whoever's in the backfield, here's the good news: the 5-7 Eagles are tied for first place in the NFC East.
