6 - It’s going to be interesting how the running back situation plays out
I have no idea how the Eagles’ running back situation is going to play out.
LeGarrette Blount, who figures to be the starter, hasn’t looked very effective. He has 17 rushing yards on nine carries through two games. I know a lot of people will complain about Doug Pederson running him to the outside, but guess what? Blount isn’t actually a bad outside runner, statistically speaking. The 250-pound rusher ranks 10th out of 59 running backs on runs to the outside over the last three years.
I’m not too worried about Blount. It’s not like he’s looked great but I think he’ll be fine if/when the offensive line gets it together.
Outside of Darren Sproles, an obvious lock, who else fits into the running back picture? Wendell Smallwood might be the team’s best runner but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Byron Marshall looked decent but he was playing against third and fourth stringers.
Corey Clement could be pushing for a roster spot. He rushed for 34 yards (4.3 average) and a touchdown on Thursday evening. I don’t have anything against Clement, but I’m wary of preseason running back performances based on recent Eagles history. Remember when everyone thought Henry Josey and Raheem Mostert were studs? They didn’t amount to anything in the NFL.
A number of people have pointed out Clement was more productive than those players in college. That’s certainly true in the case of Mostert, but Josey’s college stats aren’t all that far off from Clement. And Josey only played three seasons while Clement played four.
We’ll see what Clement can do in the final two preseason games. I still think he’s a practice squad guy, unless …
… unless the Eagles stash Donnel Pumphrey away on the injured reserve list this season. I’m trying not to overreact to two two preseason games, but I haven’t been very encouraged by what I’ve seen out of Pump. He doesn’t have the kind of explosion one would expect from a smaller player. I don’t think he looks ready to contribute right away. Even Dave Spadaro suggested Clement is ahead of Pumphrey.
So maybe the Eagles will try to roll with Blount, Sproles, Smallwood, and Clement. Or maybe Pumphrey will look better when the Eagles put together an actual game-plan for him. For now, I’m skeptical of what the Eagles have at running back. It really stinks that this year was a great running back draft class and they didn’t come away with a full-time answer at the position.
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I didn't see the game but I think that I know what Gowton was talking about with Pumphrey. The kid really doesn't have the "explosion" that you would expect from a scat back and frankly I'm surprised that they drafted him. It's not like he's another McAllister (KC) who could win a couple of games for you running wild in the secondary. Very disappointed so far.
I have no idea how the Eagles’ running back situation is going to play out.
LeGarrette Blount, who figures to be the starter, hasn’t looked very effective. He has 17 rushing yards on nine carries through two games. I know a lot of people will complain about Doug Pederson running him to the outside, but guess what? Blount isn’t actually a bad outside runner, statistically speaking. The 250-pound rusher ranks 10th out of 59 running backs on runs to the outside over the last three years.
I’m not too worried about Blount. It’s not like he’s looked great but I think he’ll be fine if/when the offensive line gets it together.
Outside of Darren Sproles, an obvious lock, who else fits into the running back picture? Wendell Smallwood might be the team’s best runner but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Byron Marshall looked decent but he was playing against third and fourth stringers.
Corey Clement could be pushing for a roster spot. He rushed for 34 yards (4.3 average) and a touchdown on Thursday evening. I don’t have anything against Clement, but I’m wary of preseason running back performances based on recent Eagles history. Remember when everyone thought Henry Josey and Raheem Mostert were studs? They didn’t amount to anything in the NFL.
A number of people have pointed out Clement was more productive than those players in college. That’s certainly true in the case of Mostert, but Josey’s college stats aren’t all that far off from Clement. And Josey only played three seasons while Clement played four.
We’ll see what Clement can do in the final two preseason games. I still think he’s a practice squad guy, unless …
… unless the Eagles stash Donnel Pumphrey away on the injured reserve list this season. I’m trying not to overreact to two two preseason games, but I haven’t been very encouraged by what I’ve seen out of Pump. He doesn’t have the kind of explosion one would expect from a smaller player. I don’t think he looks ready to contribute right away. Even Dave Spadaro suggested Clement is ahead of Pumphrey.
So maybe the Eagles will try to roll with Blount, Sproles, Smallwood, and Clement. Or maybe Pumphrey will look better when the Eagles put together an actual game-plan for him. For now, I’m skeptical of what the Eagles have at running back. It really stinks that this year was a great running back draft class and they didn’t come away with a full-time answer at the position.
__________________________________________________ ______
I didn't see the game but I think that I know what Gowton was talking about with Pumphrey. The kid really doesn't have the "explosion" that you would expect from a scat back and frankly I'm surprised that they drafted him. It's not like he's another McAllister (KC) who could win a couple of games for you running wild in the secondary. Very disappointed so far.
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