Mike Zimmer: Latavius Murray can aid passing game

Posted by maying on March 24th, 2017

During the NFL Trying to find Combine, Minnesota Vikings general boss Rick Spielman noted he'd been speaking with the coaching staff about the running back they planned to bring in. At the time Spielman's words suggested a conclusion to Adrian Peterson's run in Minnesota. The signing of Latavius Murray a couple weeks ago officially finished All Day's time because face of the Vikings.And cheapnfl17coins is an official site where could buy cheap Madden NFL 17 ps4 Coins.

Speaking Tuesday on KFAN, coach Mike Zimmer observed the positives Murray brings on the position.

"He's very knowledgeable, " Zimmer said, via the team's official website. "Obviously he's a major back... he's got strength throughout his running game, power in his managing game... He catches the ball well outside the backfield and is a good pass protector. "

The final notes tend to be key to why this Vikings would replace an all-time great having a sixth-round pick his past squad didn't seem considering retaining: the passing game.

Peterson never excelled being a receiver or pass protector. His career high 436 lawns on 43 catches came right back in 2009 and his usage in the passing game has waned further lately. Built for offenses in which operate under center, Peterson is becoming an antiquated back when it comes to scheme fit, with most teams applying more shotgun formations.

Murray has never been prolific as being a pass-catching back -- vocation high 232 yards upon 41 receptions in 2015 -- nevertheless Zimmer nonetheless praised this 27-year-old for his capability to be an outlet regarding Sam Bradford.

"Sam does a congrats of getting the basketball checked down when he has to, and I think (Murray's) got a chance to (help with) which, " Zimmer said. "If we can continue to get him to bust tackles and make many long runs, that's what we're seeking. "

(Insert low-hanging-fruit joke about the majority of Bradford's passes being look at downs. )

We're skeptical of Murray's ability to be a dynamic receiving threat outside the backfield -- something Minnesota could add in the draft -- but he'll be serviceable as a outlet. Where the 230-pounder excels is pass protection.

"No. 1 is knowing in which the pressure is coming through, " Zimmer said involving Murray's pass protection power. "Typically the back has a couple of guy in protection... he may have 3 or 4 different guys and he has to choose the one that (blitzes).

"And then being capable of step up in there and undertake a big linebacker as well as big safety. "

Murray ranked third among running backs as a pass blocker in 2016 by Pro Football Focus.

With the Vikings employing more shotgun, the team likely feels Murray's experience from the formation is more based on what offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur wants away from a power back. Last season with your Raiders, 256 of Murray's 480 snaps got their start in shotgun, per Next Gen Statistics -- compare that with just 30 % of Peterson's snaps within 2015 (and 42 percent in a injury-plagued 2016). Signing Murray, however, that shouldn't preclude Spielman through adding a runner in a draft deep at the career.