Forget about that whole being tied atop the NFC East business - the Philadelphia Eagles are still a team in turmoil. Or, at the very least, still a team facing an uncertain immediate and long-term future.
While the Eagles' shocking upset victory over the New England Patriots this past weekend quieted much of the rhetoric swirling around the Eagles and, more specifically, head coach Chip Kelly and his job security, it seems not everything is suddenly touchdowns and roses. A Tuesday morning report from ESPN's Ed Werder indicated that running back DeMarco Murray, seemingly demoted during that potentially season-saving and Kelly tenure-defining victory over the Pats, actually went to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie at some point in the recent past to address his frustrations with Kelly's offensive scheme.
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
It's good that Murray doesn't want to "cause a scene," but there's something seemingly wrong when a team's high-paid offseason addition feels as though he can't address whatever issues he has with his role with his head coach and therefore feels the need to go over that coach in order vent to ownership about his usage.
Murray, for all the talk of his league-leading rushing effort last season, has been a major disappointment in Philly thus far. Despite being given an abundance of opportunities by Kelly to get it going and despite being handed a five-year, $40 million contract with $18 million fully guaranteed this offseason, Murray has managed just 569 yards on 163 attempts for a 3.5 yard-per-carry average and four touchdowns through 11 games. Worse, Murray has simply looked bad. He's appeared slow and uncertain and has too often been brought down behind the line. The Eagles zone blocking scheme is tailor-made for backs willing to stick their foot in the ground and get going vertically. On numerous occasions this season, Murray has attempted to string runs out horizontally instead of going north at the first sign of daylight.
It's especially interesting that Murray would go to Lurie either in the week before or week immediately after a pair of other less heralded runners, Darren Sproles and Kenjon Barner, known for their one-cut-and-go style, played a key role in the Eagles' upset over New England. In that game, Sproles saw 35 snaps and carried the ball 15 times for 66 yards and caught four passes for 34 yards. Barner, a former practice squadder, saw 12 snaps and carried the ball nine times for 39 yards. He also had two catches for seven yards.
Murray, the $40 million man, had eight rushes for 24 yards.
Considering his deal carries a $13 million dead cap penalty for next season, the Eagles aren't likely to part ways with Murray anytime soon. And despite this season's struggles, he remains a talented running back.
If Kelly can find a way to utilize him, everyone benefits. But if Murray's way of handling difficulty is to complain to ownership, then it's unlikely he'll last much, if any, longer as Kelly's lead back, especially considering the strong play of Sproles and Barner, as well as the fact that the team is set to see the return of fellow offseason pickup, Ryan Mathews, this week.
