Into The Depth Chart: The Philadelphia Eagles Running Backs
Wendell Smallwood
Other than having the best name on the team, Wendell Smallwood has a real chance at becoming the lead back in an offense that may very well be void of one. If you haven’t gathered what this article has been building up to already, then it’s time to clear that up. Even though the Eagles definitely have talent at the running back position, none of the players mentioned so far are truly locks to be number one on the depth chart. At least, not yet. Mathews has the best shot, and has had starred in the lead role with the current offensive coordinator before, but Smallwood could surprise some people.
Playing for West Virginia, Smallwood transformed a “pass happy” team into a “run it down your throat” squad. Before coming to Philadelphia, Doug Pederson ran the offense for the Chiefs. That offense was all funneled through Jamaal Charles, and when Charles went down, the offense kept pounding the ball on the ground.
Smallwood should allow Pederson to continue to run the type of offense that he enjoys running. Smallwood has decent vision and is more than capable of being a threat as a receiver. He may not take those duties completely away from Sproles, but it is fair to assume it will only be a matter of time before Smallwood is splitting time on 3rd down plays. Other than what we’ve heard about some possible character issues, there is a lot to like about this kid. He runs with a chip on his shoulder and fights for extra yards. His blocking will determine how much playing time he actually gets, but this rookie could easily be a lasting part of Philadelphia’s future.