Roadmaps for Eagles RB committee to set a standard Philadelphia hasn't seen in nearly a decade

Believe it or not, as good as they have been on the ground, it has been nine years since the Philadelphia Eagles have had someone crack 1,000 yards rushing in back-to-back seasons. They haven't even been able to have two different tailbacks do so. Something tells us that this is the year though. Why are we so confident? It's simple actually.

They have two running backs that can get the job done, Rashaad Penny and D'Andre Swift. No one should be shocked if one or the other eases past the 1,000-yard threshold. There's just one question, and it applies to both of them. Can either or both of them stay healthy for an entire season to allow them to get it done?

It hasn't happened since LeSean McCoy was the last Eagles halfback to do so by posting 1,000-yard seasons in 2013 and 2014. He also hit the mark in 2010 and 2011. Last season, Miles Sanders eclipsed the 1,000-yard threshold for the first time in his career with a career-high 1,269 big ones.

Can Smith or Penny get it done or will Philadelphia's committee system and their rotation keep this from happening? We're placing our money on the former.

D'Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny will enjoy a highlight-fueled season behind the Eagles' O-Line and set a new rushing standard.

There are several reasons we believe Rashaad Penny or D'Andre Swift will hit eclipse the 1,000-yard threshold. Here's the biggest one. They'll be running behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.

Pro Football Focus ranked the Birds as the top O-line in the NFL in their final 2022  offensive line rankings. The Detriot Lions, D'Andre Swift's former team, ranked eighth. The Seattle Seahawks, Rashaad Penny's former club, landed at 27. You can see where this is headed, can't you? Let's make long stories short. Those guys are going to have a ball in Philadelphia. Penny may have left the Pacific Northwest for that reason. Seattle hasn't had great offensive line play in a long time.

It's hard to break off long runs in the NFL when your O-line is creating holes. If the offensive front can't do so, the job of a tailback is much harder. Philadelphia's big boys up front will give Philly's rushers some help. They won't have to deal with having guys in their faces as soon as they take the handoff before they have time to assess the field.

Put it this way.

Rashaad Penny and D'Andre Swift must stay healthy for the Eagles all season.

We know Rashaad and D'Andre are talented running backs. Both have 1,000-yard rushing seasons on their resumes, but when they have failed to reach the standard, it has often been due to injuries.

Over the last three seasons, Penny has only played in 18 games due to various injuries he has suffered. The last time he played ten games or more in a single season was in 2021. He racked up 749 rushing yards with six touchdowns that season.

Swift has averaged 13.3 in-game appearances during the last three seasons but has also missed a chunk of time due to injuries. His best season during that stretch came in 2021 (617 rushing yards with five touchdowns).

Both running backs have spent time on teams where they weren't the focal point of the rushing attack. Philly's committee system should suit them fine. Their former teams wanted to keep them fresh. Having Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott as teammates will aid in that and help both stay on the field longer. Injuries can't be planned for or predicted accurately, but Penny and Swift should be fine.

So how will the Birds use both players in their rushing attack?

In a 17-game season, a 1,000-yard rusher needs roughly 58.8 yards on the ground per outing.

In theory, utilizing the running back committee could lessen the chances of any one player reaching 1,000 yards. Then again, in a 17-game season. any one player only needs just under 59 yards per outing. That isn't impossible. Even with a tougher schedule, Philadelphia might see some garbage time, and we could see some running plays to influence ball control.

Kenneth Gainwell came up big for the Eagles during the postseason. He deserves more carries this year, even with the backfield additions. We also shouldn't forget about Boston Scott. He simply doesn't get nearly enough carries.

Will someone crack 1,000 yards this season? In truth, no one can guarantee that, but with two talented rushers on the roster and after witnessing what Miles Sanders did last season, no one should rule out the possibility.