The Daily Nole

Why Was Nyqwan Murray Not Playing Before Now?

Colin Abbey/FSU athletics

Sophomore wide receiver Nyqwan Murray continued to turn heads with another outstanding performance against the N.C. State Wolfpack on the road Saturday night. Murray went for a career-high nine receptions for 153 yards.

This comes only a week after getting his first start against the Clemson Tigers and leading the team with six receptions for 96 yards to go along with his first career touchdown. The man they call “Noonie” is quickly making a name for himself in Tallahassee.

Murray only saw significant playing time after wide receiver Jesus Wilson went down with a season-ending foot injury. The past couple performances have many convinced that Murray was the obviously better option all along, and the fact that he wasn’t playing is because of an incompetent coaching staff. A sizable amount of fans have pointed fingers at head coach Jimbo Fisher as the lone reason that Murray was on the bench while Wilson started.

But maybe these people aren’t considering the full picture here.

Perhaps Murray’s arrival is not completely due to his talent alone. That is not meant as a dig towards his ability, of course. He is very obviously worthy of a starting position.

Murray has reliable hands and his speed when route running is impressive. The question is whether or not those are the sole reasons he has had the past couple games he did, and if he should have been playing all along.

The evidence currently displayed tells a more nuanced story than just “Jimbo was afraid to play him”. Wilson was having a great start to his senior season before his foot injury against Wake Forest sidelined him for the foreseeable future. In fact, for most the season, he was by far the best receiver on the team.

It isn’t particularly debatable either. Wilson had fixed his drop problem and used his quickness after the catch more effectively than prior seasons.

Prior to the Wake Forest game on Oct. 15, Wilson had 388 total receiving yards and averaged 13.3 yards per reception. The next closest player was Dalvin Cook with 345 yards (17.3 yards per reception), and the next closest receiver was Travis Rudolph with 259 yards (13.6 yards per reception). Wilson had two 100-plus yard receiving games against Ole Miss and North Carolina. Cook had two as well against the same opponents, while Rudolph only had one against Charleston Southern.

In fact, Rudolph only surpassed him after the absurd 13-reception, 238-yard receiving game against the Demon Deacons. It was a fantastic performance and reminded observers how good the junior could be if given the opportunity.

Those who have watched the whole season however, have realized that Rudolph is not progressing at the rate many thought he would. Rudolph has oddly begun to have a slight drop problem, and he had gone six straight games without a receiving touchdown before hauling in the game-winner Saturday night. Wilson was the lone receiver who could consistently come onto the field and provide a reliable target for redshirt freshman quarterback Deondre Francois.

Why is all of that relevant?

Because Wilson and Murray play the same position as slot receivers. They are in fact very similar receivers from a skill set standpoint. Both are small (Wilson is listed at 5-10, Murray at 5-11) and utilize quickness rather than straight line speed, making them natural fits for the slot position.

The connection should then begin to seem obvious. There is not a substantial difference between Murray and Wilson when it comes to talent. Instead, the system they play in and the quarterback they play with are the reason that both have excelled in 2016.

Quarterbacks often have their favorite targets, and it is not surprising that when Wilson went down, a player very similar to him took his place and did not miss a beat. There are a few reasons that Francois might be looking towards the slot a bit more, and our film review of the first two games in 2016 might shed some light on that.

If you’re Fisher, it makes little sense to bench the senior receiver who has completely grasped the playbook and improved on his weaknesses. The only justification would be if the other option brought things to the table that the first one did not, but Murray doesn’t necessarily do that.

Going strictly off the eye test, the only area where there seems to be a noticeable difference between him and Wilson is when they break on their routes. Murray does seem quicker and more shifty, allowing him to create more separation from the defender. Heading into the season, that simply was not enough to put him in over Wilson, who does pretty well in this aspect already.

Florida State fans need to realize that if there was a legitimately better option, coaches would not hesitate to play that option. One of the big draws in recruiting has been Fisher’s willingness to play those who have earned their spot, regardless of their class year. That’s why guys like Landon Dickerson and Derwin James gained their starting jobs as true freshmen. That’s why Dalvin Cook received carries as a true freshman in 2014, despite having Karlos Williams and Mario Pender in front of him to begin the season.

Early returns have been very encouraging for Murray, and he very well might lock down a starting spot for next year if his play keeps up. Fans should be happy that he got the opportunity to display his talent and stepped up to the plate in a big way. They should also recognize how good Wilson had been in 2016 and hope he is able to make a full recovery from his injury.

Both players assume their roles well and get the offense churning when it has stagnated. With Wilson sidelined for the rest of the year, the job will likely stay with Murray. If the last two weeks are any indication, the Seminoles, pun intended, are in good hands.

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