Where did the Eagles land in a PFF ranking of all 32 running back groups?
So, how good is the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive line? They're led by Jeff Stoutland, perhaps the best position coach in the game. Lately, any tailback behind them is assured of a Pro Bowl season.
Miles Sanders made the NFL's all-star team in 2022. Philadelphia let him walk during the following offseason and didn't think twice about it. D'Andre Swift replaced him... another Pro Bowler...
A tad over a year ago, Philadelphia did what most never thought was possible. They paid a running back a lot of money. There isn't anyone in the Delaware Valley who doesn't know how that turned out.
For years, people asked a question. What might happen if the Eagles put an elite running back behind that offensive line? We have been answered. What happens is the best rushing season in franchise history.
Pro Football Focus names the Eagles' RB unit among the top four in the NFL
As good as Saquon Barkley has been for the Eagles, some pundits, while tossing around ideas about strategy, have suggested that maybe Philadelphia ought to hand him the ball less often. It sounds strange to say, doesn't it? The goal is to win. Saquon poses a threat to go the distance every time he touches the football. How do you give that guy fewer opportunities to do so?
The answer is simple... After a heavy workload during the 2024-25 campaign, there's a fear that he may have taken too much punishment, so theories have shifted.
There's a desire for a more balanced attack from the Eagles this time around. Less physical strain on Saquon means he is hopefully fresher and better rested for another postseason run.
They have plenty of weapons for the passing game, and this next nugget might be the best news they receive all summer.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked every NFL team's running back room.
"Saquon Barkley's incredible 2024 season alone earns Philadelphia a high mark on this list. Postseason included, Barkley rushed for more than 2,500 yards last season while forcing 83 missed tackles and generating an astonishing 55 explosive runs."
Those were the words of Dalton Wasserman. He's this story's author. He also sees value in A.J. Dillon and Will Shipley.
"AJ Dillon and Will Shipley will be Barkley's backups in 2025. Dillon missed all of last season due to a neck injury but earned a solid 76.1 PFF rushing grade in 2023. Shipley tallied just 34 carries during his rookie campaign but could be the team's primary kick returner this season."
This isn't rocket science. Rushing for 2,000 yards takes a lot out of the guy who does so, which is why we haven't seen any of the eight guys who have done it previously repeat the feat during the following season.
The Eagles are going to score a lot of points, but less Saquon and more of a committee approach could unlock something dangerous. Will Shipley and A.J. Dillon are potentially two more secret weapons for the Eagles' offense
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Signed by Cowboys, La'el Collins last played in NFL regular season for Bengals in 2022
Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman La'el Collins is signing with the Dallas Cowboys after a workout with the team, according to Tommy Yarrish. Collins, 32, last played in an NFL regular-season game for the Bengals in December 2022, when he suffered a knee injury. Released by the Bengals in September 2023, Collins signed in 2024 with the Buffalo Bills, which moved him from tackle to guard. He was released in August 2024 by the Bills. Collins started all 15 games in which he played in his only season in Cincinnati. Collins played 74 games over six NFL seasons with the Cowboys to start his career. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: La'el Collins signs with Cowboys, last played in NFL for 2022 Bengals
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Steelers fans soak in the excitement at annual Friday Night Lights practice
The energy was electric when the Steelers showed up to Latrobe Memorial Stadium for their annual Friday Night practice under the lights. 'Just the atmosphere,' said Jason Stone of Uniontown, attending his third Friday Night Lights. 'The people the crowd, the noise, you can't get anything better than being here! Friday Night Lights!' Fans told Channel 11's Andrew Havranek they look forward to this practice all summer. They said there's just something special about seeing the pros up close, and getting their autographs. This year, a highly coveted autograph was that of the four-time NFL MVP Quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 'I've gotten Aaron Rodgers, [Spencer] Anderson, Pat Friermuth, that was awesome!' said Lexi Thurston of Chesterfield, Virginia. '[Rodgers is] an absolute legend like you can't get any better than that. It's like crazy it made me freak out, I didn't know what to do.' 'I'm hoping he leads us to the Super Bowl, obviously getting him that last one before he retires,' said Landon Thomas of Lancaster, Ohio. Before practice started Channel 11's Andrew Havranek caught up with fan who shares the Aaron Rodgers name. Of course, her first name is spelled a bit differently, but it's still caused her some hardships, especially after Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. 'Growing up I always got name like, all kinds of jokes about me, when I go into restaurants, everyone thinks I'm joking most of the time, they're like 'you're Erin Rodgers?'' she said. Now, she's just hoping that since Aaron Rodgers is in the black and gold, she won't be booed anymore. 'It makes it a lot better instead of it being kind of an exciting but also booing me it will be more an all around 100% good because now I can outwardly support him and not be shunned,' Rodgers said. And as for that Rodgers Packers jersey she owns? 'Are you going to be replacing that with a Steelers' Rodgers jersey?' Havranek asked. 'I am considering it,' Rodgers said. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The updated Deion Sanders Hall of Fame "upper room"
The answer to the overcrowding of the Hall of Fame isn't to raise the bar on the fly. It's to build an upper room. Changes to the voting process, spurred by concerns that too many get in, resulted in a lighter-than-usual class of four new members in 2025. It's the smallest class since 2004. And while a thicker filter could indeed be the new normal, the impact of limited membership will impact the bottom line for Canton's annual spotlight weekend. Why not instead create a brighter spotlight for the all-time, no-brainer, absolute best of the absolute best? Deion Sanders made the argument in 2022. In 2023, we took a crack at crafting a proposed upper room. Here's the current version, which adds Devin Hester as the upper-room return specialist. The standard is simple. You know them when you see them. Here's our list, by position. The actual list, if they ever make one, would be crafted by the Hall of Famers. They alone know the names of the men who deserve a special place among their ranks. Quarterback: Sammy Baugh, John Elway, Brett Favre, Otto Graham, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas. Running back: Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Marion Motley, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith. Receiver: Marvin Harrison, Don Hutson, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Jerry Rice. Tight end: Mike Ditka, Tony Gonzalez, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow. Tackle: Walter Jones, Anthony Muñoz, Jonathan Ogden, Art Shell, Joe Thomas. Guard: Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel, Gene Upshaw. Center: Jim Otto, Mike Webster. Defensive end: Deacon Jones, Gino Marchetti, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Jack Youngblood. Defensive tackle: Joe Greene, Bob Lilly, Alan Page, John Randle, Randy White. Outside linebacker: Chuck Bednarik, Bobby Bell, Derrick Brooks, Jack Ham, Lawrence Taylor, Derrick Thomas. Middle linebacker: Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert, Willie Lanier, Ray Lewis, Junior Seau. Cornerback: Mel Blount, Willie Brown, Darrell Green, Dick "Night Train" Lane, Darrelle Revis, Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson. Safety: Ken Houston, Ronnie Lott, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed. Kicker: Jan Stenerud. Punter: Ray Guy. Return specialist: Devin Hester. Coach: Paul Brown, Tom Landry, Vince Lombardi, Chuck Noll, Don Shula, Bill Walsh. Owner: Al Davis, George Halas, Lamar Hunt, Art Rooney Sr. That's our rough guess at who would make it. To officially do it, put Deion in charge and add a few other no-brainer selections, like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Barry Sanders, and let them figure it out. It's not a slight to those who merit enshrinement. It's a way to acknowledge those who have earned something more than the gold jacket and the bronze bust.
