The Eagles made some waves on Friday night when they drafted Penn State running back, Miles Sanders, in the second round of the NFL Draft. Fans had been pining for the front office to bolster the backfield all offseason, and with Jordan Howard already in town...things just got a lot more exciting.
The only problem is, there's now an abundance of talent in the backfield. Here's a look at the depth chart as things currently stand:
RB1: Jordan HowardRB2: Miles Sanders?RB3: Corey Clement-------------------------------RB5: Wendell SmallwoodRB6: Josh AdamsRB7: Boston Scott
You see my point.
It's probably a little too early to anticipate the workload Sanders will encounter during his rookie season, but it's safe to say the Eagles have some interesting decisions to make.
Firstly, it's almost safe to assume that veteran running back, Darren Sproles, won't be returning. Currently a free agent, his future has been uncertain for a while now after injuries stripped Sproles of being on the field to win a Super Bowl ring, and then the season that followed. The Eagles just about got by without him, but the lack of a real return specialist hurt. That niche has now presumably been filled by speedy receiver DeSean Jackson, leaving the Eagles one less running back decision to make. As for the other running backs...it's not quite as simple as cutting them.
Continued on the pages below:
Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Meet the new guy:
If the Eagles want a back that truly resembles what LeSean McCoy used to bring to the table, Sanders has the ability to cut, in buckets. He has a real spring in his step and bounces out of his cuts so smoothly, it’s impossible to stop him once he jukes and blows past a defender. He drops his hips well and is a real finesse runner.
Sanders spent much of his career with the Nittany Lions basking in the light of Saquon Barkley and after finally getting his shot in the big time, provided enough of a sample size to earn himself a second-round grade. Tallying 1,274 yards on 220 attempts, Sanders showcased his acceleration and ability to be a home-run hit.
The Eagles did a great job of adding some short-term backfield stability by trading for Jordan Howard. They did a great job of finally adding long-term stability, by drafting a man who not only stacks up as his perfect running-mate, but a back who could one day take the reins for his own.
But what about the thest of the backfield?
Corey Clement
Morgan Burkett posted this article just last week positioning a potential resurgence for Corey Clement and it's hard to disagree.
https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2019/04/18/clem-4/
Rec
Tgt
Yds
TD
Rush
Yds
TD
Projected (16g)
41.6
52.8
395.2
0
144
596.8
4.8
Projected (11g)
28.6
36.3
271.7
0
99
410.3
3.3
Actual (11g)
22
25
192
0
68
259
2
Above show what Clement was predicted to tally and what he actually accumulated. To paraphrase some of Morgan's in-depth investigation:
"Whether by injury, under-preparedness or a fall back to reality, it is reasonable to believe the drop in production illuminates what is possibly a larger in-house issue. The second state of mind is to focus on Clement’s slump within the context of the entire Eagles offense. Last year’s iteration of the Doug Pederson offense was nowhere near as efficient as the previous year and wore many masks as the team clambered to find an identity that would lead them back into the playoffs. For the soon-to-be third-year back, the reality is likely a result of both phenomena."
Clement will now have a full offseason to recover from the injuries that plagued his sophomore campaign, perhaps one that was inflated after the Super Bowl win...but he's now facing a head-to-head battle with Wendell Smallwood.
The Jordan Howard trade may have already put the writing on the wall for Josh Adams, who actually led the team in rushing last year with 511 yards. Adams and Howard run in very similar veins and that could effectively put the Notre Dame product on the backburner now that Sanders is in the fold.
Wendell Smallwood
Smallwood's development from an overly antsy runner, into an aggressive one is clear as he enters his contract year. Sure, there are still setbacks and he can still sometimes worry too much before committing to a hole, but his involvement in the passing game (2018 saw a career-high in receptions) and pass-protection raised so many eyebrows, it almost made up for those flaws.
The problem here is that Sanders replaces Smallwood's skillset and adds a little bit of 'Saquon' to the table. A zonal rusher who can bounce out of cuts like LeSan McCoy and make highlight-reel plays. However, Sanders does lack pass-protection prowess as of right now...which may, just may, give Smallwood a sign of life.
However, Smallwood has long-been the jack of all trades, master of none. That could be his ultimate downfall despite clearly growing as a rusher year-on-year during his time with the Eagles.
The big training camp battle
Wendell Smallwood vs Corey Clement is going to be the backfield battle to note. The Eagles may well carry four running backs, which could theoretically eliminate Josh Adams unless he makes the above matchup a triple threat, but it seems as though the regular rotation would make sense to consist of Howard, Sanders and Clement.
