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Sports TwitterTailback Brandon Murphy looks to get back in the game
Friday, July 27, 2007
DETROIT — Brandon Murphy knows he will have to share with others this season, and both he and Miami University football coach Shane Montgomery agree that it makes good sense.
The shared commodity will be playing time in Miami's offensive backfield.
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Murphy established himself as one of the most dangerous tailbacks in the Mid-American Conference in 2005 when he rushed for 1,070 yards and nine touchdowns, but ankle surgery followed by a nagging ankle injury restricted him to just 280 yards and one TD a year ago.
The 5-foot-8, 177-pound senior said he is ready to go all-out again, to run with — as they say — reckless abandon.
"It's pretty much 100 percent right now," Murphy said at this week's MAC Football Preview. "I've been working out all off-season, all summer. I've been going all out. The ankle's feeling great."
Murphy injured his ankle on the day before Miami's final summer scrimmage last year. He missed the first two games, and although he ran for 92 yards against Kent State on Sept. 16, he spent the rest of the season trying unsuccessfully to return to full power.
"Football is a rough and tumble game, especially running back," he said. "You're going through a lot of physical contact. For me personally, I look at it as just part of the game.
"I don't think I've changed (because of the injury), I don't think it's affected me in terms of confidence at all," Murphy added. "You can't worry about those things that have happened in the past. The second you worry about the injury you've had in the past, you're not going 100 percent and that's when you end up getting hurt."
Montgomery said he wants to be careful not to use Murphy too much too early.
"Running back is a physical position," the Miami coach said. "They take a pounding, and I think the key for us to keep him healthy, just like it is for (offensive linemen) Charlie Norden and Matt McKeown, guys that have been banged up.
"We've got to get them as much work as we can in the fall camp, and we've got to make sure those guys go into Aug. 30 healthy," he added, referring to Miami's opener at Ball State that day. "The thing is, we've got to play some of the other guys at the running back position. We don't want Brandon out early in the season."
Montgomery said Murphy might have carried the ball too much two years ago.
"When you look back at the 2005 season, even though Brandon had a great year, he probably was a little bit worn down toward the end of the year,"Montgomery said.
"He had a three or four-game span there where he averaged over 30 carries a game," the Miami coach noted. "Even though he was playing great games, when you play a 12-game season, you've got to make sure they're ready at the end. We've got to be smart there."
Sophomore Andre Bratton, who led Miami in rushing yards (285) and yards per carry (4.5) last fall, and senior Austin Sykes (204 yards, 2.9 average) will help take some of the load off Murphy's shoulders, or legs.
Which is fine with Murphy.
"I would say I'm a pretty good team player," he said. "We have guys at running back with a lot of talent, and they should get in there and showcase their talent.
"Whatever it takes to win, I'm willing to do," Murphy added. "I'm going to work as hard as I can on my end. If it's another running back who comes out and brings us home a victory, that's all I care about."
