Duck, Duck, Goose For Philadelphia Eagles Running Backs

We are less than two weeks away from Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott ascending to the top of the depth chart among current Philadelphia Eagles running backs. Perhaps we don’t have a conclusive theory for how the Eagles are going to address the eighth pick in the NFL Draft. Perhaps Elliott, despite his fantastic measurables and pro-readiness, goes higher than expected. Maybe Howie Roseman in all his infinite wisdom decides to select a pass-rusher or cornerback. The rest of the Eagles running backs could still serve a critical role in head coach Doug Pederson’s offense.

Of the 17 NFL franchises that rushed for over 1,700 yards, only four failed to surpass four yards per attempt. Eagles running backs are a member of that exclusive-club. DeMarco Murray and his 3.64 yards-per-carry certainly contributed towards that dubious honor. But a larger issue was the offensive line, not the Eagles running backs. The departure of guard Evan Mathis and tackle Todd Herremans were bad enough. Paired with the fact that Chip Kelly only drafted one offensive lineman in his three years, the Eagles fared pretty well in the running game, all things considered.

So the underlying question is this: Can the Eagles running backs currently on the roster get the job done? Let’s take a look at what each brings to the table, and how they would fit into Pederson’s scheme on offense.

Next: Is Ryan Mathews A Lead Back?