For the first time since leaving UCF in 2013 as the Oakland Raiders’ sixth round draft pick, Latavius Murray is the featured back in an offense that has the potential to build around him as a cornerstone player.
The team parted ways with former rushing champion Maurice Jones-Drew and 2008 first round draft pick Darren McFadden as a result in their confidence in him.
Even with the first two seasons as a learning curve with few touches, Murray believes that his skillset will translate well to a full season as the team’s workhorse running back.
“Run the way I know how to run, just get ready for a long season and just be ready to be the guy,” Murray said about his mindset headed into the year.
The Raiders hope that he can breathe life into a historically awful running game from 2014. Murray first showed that he could succeed when given the chance in the NFL in a late-season game against the Chiefs, the Raiders’ first win of the season – a win that snapped a 16 game losing streak.
Murray had 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns on only four carries in that victory.
“High emotions,” he said about the experience. “Just to be able to go out there and put on a big game like that, to get our first win was most important.”
New offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave built a reputation for a heavy-handed running attack with a resume’ that includes orchestrating the best season of Adrian Peterson’s career. Latavius figures to shoulder the burden of this ground game emphasis.
“I think Coach Musgrave has a plan,” Murray emphasized after a disappointing 33-13 loss in the season opener to the Cincinnati Bengals. He was only given the chance to carry the rock eleven times, but amassed 44 yards on the opportunities.
This years’ Knights are in a similar position of disappointment with their uncharacteristic 0-2 start to the year, and Murray is all too familiar with the idea of persevering through this kind of adversity.
“You’ve got to take it one game at a time, just like we’re going to,” the third year back said in reference to his alma mater. “We can’t let this game define us or what we want to be. It’s on to the next week.”
In similar fashion he said that he has not been in contact with Storm Johnson lately but has high hopes for his former backfield partner.
“I haven’t spoken with him much,” Murray explained, “but again I know how this league is and hopefully he gets a chance again somewhere else, and to make the most of it, he has all the ability in the world to do so.”
Murray has all of the potential and ability in the world himself. The running back finally has the opportunity, system and confidence in place to make his name in the National Football League.
