NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No introductions were needed when DeMarco Murray arrived for the start of the team's offseason program on Monday.
The Titans were already very familiar with their new running back, formerly with the Eagles and Cowboys.
Murray made quite an impression on many of them during his trip to Nashville in 2014.
Titans players hit the field for the start of the team's off-season workout program at Saint Thomas Sports Park. (staff photos)
"I think he's a heck of a back,'' Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey said of Murray. "He is someone who can do it all. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and also he is a great runner. He has a great first cut, and when he hits that first cut, he is downhill from there. He is a guy that once he hits the hole, he can take it all the way.
"So we are looking to have that on the offensive side of the ball to give our receivers a break also. We need somebody like him who can put the ball in the end zone running the ball."
Murray ran for 167 yards and a touchdown against the Titans on September 14, 2014, while with the Cowboys.
Murray was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year that season after leading the NFL and setting Cowboys franchise records in rushing yards (1,845), and scrimmage yards (2,261). He scored 13 touchdowns on 392 carries in 2014, an average of 115.3 yards per game that season, when he posted 12 100-yard games.
"(In 2014), our defense, like a lot of the other teams in the league, found out he is a really good running back,'' cornerback Jason McCourty said of Murray.
"He's a tough runner, a between-the-tackles kind of guy. He was kind of a workhorse. Adding a guy like that with our young quarterback in (Marcus) Mariota is only going to benefit our offense. We know he can do it, he is proven, and he is a guy you've watched do it over and over again on Sundays.
"So it's exciting to not only have him as a player, but have him as a guy in that room with the young running backs, somebody they can look up to win him and Dexter (McCluster) in there."
In his lone season with the Eagles last year, Murray ran for 702 yards and six touchdowns on just 193 carries.
The Titans currently have five other running backs on the roster right now – Antonio Andrews, David Cobb, Dexter McCluster, Bishop Sankey and David Fluellen.
Andrews led the team in rushing in 2015 with 520 yards. McCluster (247), Sankey (193) and Cobb (146) ranked behind Andrews, who had a team-high 143 carries.
Mariota called the addition of Murray "huge."
Running back DeMarco Murray arrives at Saint Thomas Sports Park to sign his contract. (Photos: Gary Glenn)
"He is a very versatile back, somebody that can run downhill and make plays and also come out of the backfield and make plays, and also make plays in the passing game,'' Mariota said of Murray. "We're going to find ways to use him, and lean on his to make some plays this year."
The Titans defenders are looking forward to watching Murray work this fall.
It sure beats facing him. Murray averaged 5.8 yards per carry in that 2014 game against the Titans.
"Bringing in somebody who can balance off our passing and running game, I think they made a great move there, someone who can do it as an every-down runner, and give Andrews a break and not have to run over people every day,'' Casey said. "Bringing DeMarco in will balance that out and give him some time, a one-two punch."
TitansOnline.com looks at the NFL career of RB DeMarco Murray. (AP Photos)
