BOB, GROZ AND TOM

Cowboys’ Murray has respect of Hill, Seahawks defense

Sep 13, 2012, 2:36 PM | Updated: 2:51 pm

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By Brady Henderson

Seahawks fans might remember a Week 9 loss to the Cowboys last season as a turning point for Marshawn Lynch, who ran for 135 yards on his way to leading the league in rushing over the final nine weeks.

That game, a 23-13 loss in Dallas, was also significant for Seattle’s rushing defense. DeMarco Murray became the first running back to top 100 yards against the Seahawks.

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DeMarco Murray rushed for 139 yards against Seattle in 2011. “He’s a hell of a back,” linebacker Leroy Hill said. (AP)

That was on Leroy Hill’s mind when the Seahawks linebacker joined “Bob and Groz” on Thursday to discuss Seattle’s Week 2 matchup with Dallas.

“DeMarco Murray, he’s a hell of a back,” Hill said. “He was I think the only back last year to put up 100 on us, and this past week against the Giants put up another 100. He’s running the ball really, really well.”

Murray was actually the first of two running backs to gain 100 yards against the Seahawks last season – Washington’s Roy Helu was the other – but Murray’s 139 yards were the most they allowed. Murray’s 6.3 yards per carry in that game was the highest average against Seattle, and his 32-yard run in that game was the second longest allowed by the Seahawks.

Murray, then a rookie third-round pick, overtook Felix Jones as the Cowboys’ starter early last season and finished with 897 yards in 13 games. That included a Cowboys-record 253 yards in his first game as Dallas’ primary rusher. He missed the final three games with a broken ankle that threatened his availability early this season.

Based on his performance in Week 1 – 131 yards on 20 carries against the Giants – Murray is fully healthy.

The good news for the Seahawks? They held Arizona to just 43 rushing yards and a 2.2 average in their season-opening loss.

“That’s our number one thing every week, stop the run,” Hill said. “We did it last week and they have pretty good backs themselves – the Cardinals, that is. Murray is going to be a challenge. He’s going to be a good challenge. The Cowboys are going to be a good challenge for our run D.

“We already know that. Everybody across the country knows that and we’re prepared to bow up and let’s do this.”

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