Tired Out? Not Marques Murrell Published: Tue, April 8, 4:27pm EST By Eric Allen Allen is the senior managing editor of newyorkjets.com. He is in his seventh season with the Jets. File Under: Marques Murrell, linebacker tire change font email article 04/08 ? A couple of weeks back, Jets PR guru Jared Winley informed us that Marques Murrell had an interesting traveling partner. Murrell, an OLB who?s entering his second season, never goes anywhere without a tire. ?The tire started my freshman year of high school,? Murrell said today. ?The main thing was just working on speed and endurance, running up hills with a tire. Now I almost always carry it with me. I took one from the workout facility ? the track we ran on.? If time permits, Murrell returns to his hometown of Fayetteville, N.C., from April to June and heads to Reid Ross Middle School. Then in the early summer, he moves his old-school training to a local high school. ?There are two hills we run to. You have to jog with the tire,? he said. ?We still use the same hill ? we haven?t changed up anything.? After a voluntary team workout this morning, the 6?2?, 246-pounder explained how he hooks the tire up to his body. ?I have two mount clips, one end that?s connected to the tire that has a hook and a washer to it. And then I hook the other mount clip around the innertube of a bicycle tire and pull it over top first and then wrap it over my neck,? he said. ?So it?s pretty much like a little vest.? When first introduced to the tire method, Marques wasn?t exactly intimidated. ?When I first looked at, I thought this can?t be hard. But then you pick it up and you have to jog with it for a little bit and then you have to put it down and run back up the hill with it and do drills with it going up the hill,? he said. ?After the drills, I was like, this was a little bit harder than what I was expecting.? Since the tire adds resistance and can increase fatigue, the key is to maintain proper running technique. ?I haven?t weighed it yet but it?s a lot of resistance. It?s a little bit smoother than pulling a metal sled. A metal sled kind of doesn?t feel natural ? it?s more herky-jerky to me,? Murrell said. ?I thought it was more of a natural, smooth transition for me. The thing about a metal sled is you can?t run with it on the street or anything like that. The great thing about the tire is I can take it anywhere I want.? Last November, the Jets plucked Murrell from the Eagles practice squad and signed him to their active roster. He played in four games and got some valuable experience on special teams. Murrell, who left Appalachian State second on the school's career lists for sacks (36) and tackles for loss (59), is the younger brother of former Jets RB Adrian Murrell. ?Coming into the frying pan, it was crazy. It was hard just understanding what I had to do on certain plays,? he said of his rookie campaign. ?But now everything is coming easier and today I really felt confident about myself. I was just going over plays in my head and I could just roll them off if anybody asked me. That makes me feel more comfortable.? The former collegiate end should benefit from his first professional off-season. He?s getting more confident with the 3-4 system and is also enjoying strength coach Sal Alosi?s program. And when he gets a free minute, the tire is never far away. ?I go in the bubble sometimes or I go find me a hill,? he said, ?just to work on my technical drills and do a couple of running drills.? just sending out some love for Adrian's little brother
The purpose of this article is to give insight into one of the Jets under the radar guys... I think Murrel will have a big impact on special teams this up coming year, and may play a few snaps on defense in the right situations...
I mean, I'm not sure why he would be fodder or PS material when as a rookie he got PT on special teams... Last November, the Jets plucked Murrell from the Eagles practice squad and signed him to their active roster. He played in four games and got some valuable experience on special teams.
did you see the Jets roster last year... it was mostly devoid of talent after most of the starters, and in some cases, including the starters... so they could have picked up a couple fast guys off the playground to go play special teams
such great dismissive douchebaggery. thanks for the article murrell it was a good read and he is someone that will definitely catch my eye if he does anything. that probably wouldnt have happened without seeing this article. thanks again dont let the angry people keep you from posting good stuff.
Nice read Murrell. Its interesting to hear stories like that and rams home exactly how hard it is to make it in the NFL.
reminds me of anthony schliegal, the guy that used to hunt wild bore with a bowe knife. now i think he's packing grocery's at c-town
Sorry, I have the highest of hopes for our camp fodder and a guy with decent size like Murrell and NFL (and Jets) bloodlines is one of those I'm most excited to see get a chance.
If he has any of his brother's quicks this guy could make a nice backup at OLB. Marques Murrell #94 LB Height: 6'2" Weight: 246 lbs Age: 23 Years in NFL: 2 College: Appalachian State 40 Time: 4.76 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mQ3YNYFo10
By Gregg Hayim Posted Nov 8, 2007 The Jets have struggled all season long finding a sufficient pass-rush, so they have decided to take a chance on a familiar name; a familiar surname that is. On Wednesday, the team announced that they have signed rookie defensive end Marques Murrell. Murrell is the younger brother of former Jets running back Adrian Murrell, who had a solid Jets career spanning five years in the mid-90's. Marques played his college ball at Appalachian State, and was signed as a rookie free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles during the off-season. He eventually earned himself a spot on their practice squad. Ironically, a key component to Murrell's ability to make the Eagles practice squad roster, was his performance against the Jets in the final game of the pre-season. He was credited with two sacks, and two forced fumbles as he wrecked havoc on the Jets second team offense. With another family member now donning Green, Marques wasn't the only Murrell thrilled with the news. "He was pretty happy and excited," Marques said of his brother's reaction to finding out the Jets had signed him. "He is going to be up here for (my) first home game against Pittsburgh. He has been pretty excited and so has the rest of the family." Murrell was a two-time All-American at Appalachian State, helping his team to consecutive 1-AA National Championships. He finished his collegiate career with 36 sacks and 18 forced fumbles. Although Murrell has played the bulk of his career as a defensive end, the Jets plan on utilizing his pass-rushing skills at linebacker. A logical transition, given the Eric Mangini 3-4 scheme that relies so heavily on the linebacker's ability to get to the quarterback. If Murrell can successfully make the shift, he would not be the first Mangini coached player to do so. "In the linebacker types you always want the ability to play the run, be a downhill player but also transition and have the pass rush ability," Mangini said during his Wednesday press conference. "(Teddy) Bruschi is a great example of that. He had a zillion sacks in college and ended up transitioning into the inside linebacker role. Now when he rushes from that spot, he's pretty difficult to block and you see the same savvy that you saw in college." Although Murrell's linebacking experience is limited to a few all-star games and the Eagles practice squad, the Jets brain-trust felt comfortable enough in his ability to grasp the system to sign him to the active roster.
Two things I notice about this guy. His arms and legs are crazy long, but thin compared to his torso, which is pretty hefty for a OLB. With a couple years in our strength and conditioning program he could be playing in the 255-260 range. He has a great closing burst, and has another gear when in persuit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwFLnC7iZs
Just thought that a Murrell thread was worthy of a bump today. This guy has to make the team, no questions about it. He's got a nonstop motor and I'd be so bold as to say that behind Pace, he provides the next-best in terms of pass rush- better than Vernon G., better than Brian "I play like crap" Thomas. I've noticed after watching a few plays that he doesn't give up after the first or second contact, and really finds his way through or around his opponent, which is impressive when you consider that he's only a LB, not a DE or DT. For the time being, we're set at OLB, but you never know when a guy will be called up to fill a void. What's the knock on him for MLB? Jonathan Vilma syndrome, i.e. too small for the prototype MLB?
Nice bump KOZ. Murrell should definitely make the team. I think he's played more DE than OLB during the preseason and I agree he is real good at getting pressure.
Murrell has definitely looked good in the preseason games I've seen him in. I think it would be a mistake not to put this guy on the active roster. He's a solid special teams player and backup OLB. One thing I notice about Murrell - he looks a lot bigger than 246. I wonder if the off season training program has already put some pounds on the guy?
