The Philadelphia Eagles running back situation last season was decent at best. On the positive side, they ranked tied for tenth in touchdowns and 11th in yards per game and total rushing yards. However, they were the sixth worst team in total fumbles, 18th in yards per carry and were tied for 30th in longest run. Those are totals and ranks that are decent but overall pretty meh. There was never a clear lead running back; injuries were plenty and fumbling was an issue. A lot has changed with the running back corps since last season and that position group has been a focal point of the Eagles off season so far. Just how close is the Philadelphia Eagles position battle between the running backs, how have the backs stacked up this summer and who can expect to make the roster as of now?
Philadelphia Eagles Position Battle: Running Backs
So, What’s Changed Since January?
In 2016, the rushing attack was led primarily by Ryan Mathews. Mathews was the only Eagle back with over 100 carries and finished with 155 attempts, 661 yards and a respectable eight touchdowns. Mathews struggled with ball security and health in his years in Philadelphia and he has since been cut by the Eagles.
The next man up was Darren Sproles, but he mainly thrived in the passing and return game and never made splashed rushing. Wendell Smallwood was supposed to be the backup to Mathews, but health and inconsistency plagued his production. There was a steep drop off after those three. Sproles remains heading into 2017, but at age 34 and in the last year of his contract, this could be his curtain call. Smallwood also remains but could have one final chance to prove himself.
The Eagles brought in some new faces as well. They signed free agent running back LeGarrette Blount to a one-year contract. Blount came off a career year for the New England Patriots after rushing 299 times for over 1,000 yards and a league high 18 touchdowns.
The team drafted Donnel Pumphrey in the fourth-round of this year’s draft. Pumphrey is the NCAA career rushing leader with 6,405 yards at San Diego State. Corey Clement, the former Wisconsin Badger, was signed as an undrafted free agent.
These three, Sproles and Smallwood came into training camp looking to either become starters and have expanded roles or even fight to stay on the team. How have they looked so far?
LeGarrette Blount
Blount’s best years were in New England, especially last year. Blount’s signing with Philadelphia almost immediately shot him to the top of the depth chart as the bell cow, multiple down starter.
Unfortunately, so far through camp, he has not looked all that impressive. He has taken most of the first team reps, but nothing that wows the fans or organization. In two preseason games, he a measly 17 yards on nine carries. It is very justifiable to blame those low numbers on poor blocking schemes from the offensive line, a recurrent theme this preseason.
Blount has also been overweight this training camp. His contract has weight clauses, but he is listed at 250 pounds which is outside the clause. It is even now being reported by NFL insider Adam Caplan that Blount’s roster spot is not guaranteed by the end of training camp. Eagles running backs coach and former Eagle running back Duce Staley has vouched that Blount looks fine and it may just be a matter of patience. Whether this lights a fire under Blount to perform better is yet to be seen. The struggles are there for the former Patriot.
Darren Sproles
Sproles is probably the safest bet of the running backs to remain on the roster by week one. One of the most respected and versatile tailbacks at his position, Sproles has been the Eagles third down back for years now and made multiple Pro Bowls with them in the return game.
Wendell Smallwood
Smallwood is the most curious case to study from training camp. To start camp, Smallwood looked sharp and on point. He was making plays and looking completely revamped compared to the previous two seasons. Just before the preseason games started, Smallwood injured his hamstring and has been sidelined since.
If he had played in those games and with the ferocity he did in camp, he would be almost a lock to make the final roster. The injury puts the team in a tough spot to find him a roster spot, especially if he remains sidelined for the final two preseason games. Coach Staley even went as far as to say Smallwood was having the best camp of anyone before the injury.
Donnel Pumphrey
Many expected Pumphrey to become a mini-Sproles this season with his similar tool set. Those plans may have to wait. Pumphrey has certainly been hitting a rookie wall this camp, learning the offense and NFL playing style at a slower pace than others.
So far in two preseason games, his running ability has struggled but he has been a better pass catcher out of the backfield. His return game skills have lacked and he has botched some returns as well. At only 5’9” and 170 pounds, he is undersized and needs to build strength and agility. Coach Staley likes the strides Pumphrey has made so far, but it remains to be seen if it is enough to secure the roster spot.
Corey Clement
Clement had a fantastic senior season at Wisconsin in the Big Ten, making his undrafted status an oddity. He ran for 1,375 yards and 15 touchdowns and was elite in one of the best conferences in the country. The hype around him was high when the Eagles signed him after the draft, and so far this preseason it hasn’t been for nothing. The 227-pound trucker has impressed his peers at practice and learned the offense quickly. He has the size, speed, and power to fight for yards and beat tacklers, unlike running back partner Pumphrey.
His first preseason game was nothing special against the Green Bay Packers, but against the Buffalo Bills last week he stepped up for 34 yards on eight carries, including a scamper touchdown at the end of the first half. He found holes that weren’t there when his offensive line broke down. His play has really stood out to the coaching staff and he has been a bright spot in camp.
Final Roster Predictions and Depth Chart
Week 1 Running Backs Depth Chart
- LeGarrette Blount
- Darren Sproles
- Wendell Smallwood
- Corey Clement
The Eagles will be left with a very tough choice of who to keep of the team. Assuming they take four halfbacks into Week 1, two backs will be left off: Pumphrey and Byron Marshall. Pumphrey just doesn’t have the size, speed or power to be an NFL back right now. He also has had too many mental mistakes, especially on returns and missing holes in the run game. Hopefully some time on the practice squad should help him develop. Marshall has played well this off season but he’s too far down the depth chart and has not done enough to beat out Clement or Smallwood.
This is not a stable depth chart, though. If one of the four struggles at all, it can be expected a significant fall in the pecking order. The depth chart of running backs heading to the season should feature a good balance of power, speed and pass catching.
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