ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Latavius Murray enjoyed a breakout season for the Oakland Raiders in 2015, rushing for a career-best 1,066 yards and six touchdowns and getting named to his first Pro Bowl.
It was his first season a full-time starter, but Murray wants more.
“I want to make sure I get there next year on my own terms and on no one else’s,” he said after the Raiders’ first OTA practice this week, referencing his going to the NFL’s All-Star game last January as a replacement player.
“It was a great experience. I had a lot of fun. I was definitely stoked that I got the chance to go. Again, I want to make it there on my own terms and what I do on the field.”
Even if Murray has the look of an every-down back, the Raiders still have Roy Helu Jr. and Taiwan Jones on the roster. They also drafted DeAndre Washington from Texas Tech in the fifth round and signed undrafted rookie Jalen Richard from Southern Mississippi.
The relatively diminutive Washington, who is 5-foot-8 and 204 pounds, figures to be a complementary back to the bigger Murray, who is 6-3, 225.
“He’s good; quick guy, great speed, great vision,” Murray said of Washington. “I think he looks real good. Excited to get to work with him, learn from him and, hopefully, he’ll learn from me.”
Still, many observers thought the Raiders should have addressed even more depth at running back.
“I knew that was going to be their decision going into the draft,” Murray said. “For me, it doesn’t change anything. I have to do what I have to do when I’m in the game. Coming in here and getting better every day, I just have to do my job.”
The Raiders are counting on it.
And self-assurance should not be issue -- not with Murray’s success last season. And not with a track record to build on now, even with four fumbles in 2015.
Murray, who averaged 4.0 yards per carry last season, also has eight career rushing touchdowns after being drafted in the sixth round out of UCF in 2013 (he sat out his first season on Injured Reserve).
“Going into my fourth season, coming off of last year where I was a full-time starter, I’m definitely more confident,” he said. “I still have a lot to prove and a lot that I want to improve on as far as my game. Looking forward to it.
“I think now it’s a matter of really learning the playbook inside and out, knowing it like the back of my hand so I can play a lot faster. Any time you’re out there thinking, you play slow or you’re not confident. So me knowing it now, going into my second year (as the starter), I think I can do a lot more. I feel a lot more confident.”