With DeMarco Murray out of the picture, the Eagles need a starting running back. Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles are both still on the roster but with Mathews reportedly previously shopped by the Eagles and Sproles not getting any younger, the birds need to find their next franchise running back for years to come and many think that Ezekiel Elliott is that guy. With over 1800 yards and a total of 23 touchdowns for the Buckeyes last year, Elliott certainly boasts an impressive resume and has a very physical running style..but here’s why the Eagles would be smart to pass on him with their 8th overall pick.
The importance of the pick:
Howie Roseman doesn’t exactly have the most consistent record when it comes to drafting in the first round. He has done an incredible job through Free Agency and signing some of the future stars to long term deals but where he will really be critiqued is the draft. This could well be the most significant Eagles draft for quite some time and the last thing the Eagles need is another “Marcus Smith” situation.
It’s crucial that the Eagles pick at number eight is a player who can turn a franchise around. The saying “build from the ball out” could be useful here. Sure DeMarco Murray was a huge cap hit and his heart probably wasn’t in it but if he had a stronger line going into next season then he may well have proved people wrong..the Eagles didn’t HAVE to trade him and it certainly would not have made sense to trade one of the best downhill runners to sign a future downhill runner in the draft when there are already prominent holes to fill without creating more.
If the birds signed Elliott they would be neglecting not only their Offensive Line (even with Brooks signed, they still need a few extra bodies to bolster the guard and tackle positions) but the receiver position. If Elliott was to sign and the Eagles missed out on signing a first round lineman, who’s to say that the issues Murray faced last season won’t be replicated on a smaller scale? Who’s to say that Elliott won’t struggle in his first season?
The Eagles need someone who can come in and make an impact straight away and Elliott could well be that guy..but if he isn’t and the Eagles fail to strengthen their receiving core, it’s not only giving Sam Bradford yet more problems to overcome and failing to create a balanced Offense for the second consecutive season, but it’s failing to build the foundations before you start firing the cannons.
The Eagles need stability in front of the ball for someone like Elliott to be able to run through holes and make the big plays that Jamaal Charles is able to. They don’t have a stable receiving core (with the exception of Jordan Matthews) and whilst the line is stronger, it’s far from what it could be and needs to be for Pederson to build the Offense he wants.
The system:
As of right now, it’s still hard to predict what Doug Pederson’s system is going to look like. The “West-Coast hybrid” could be a culmination of things we’ve seen the Chiefs try last season and his own ideas.
We could see Murray was a mismatch last year because Chip runs a horizontal run game and was trying to turn three different styles of running back into one..it just wasn’t going to work. As of right now, we have no idea what kind of running back Pederson is looking for.
Is it safe to assume he’s looking for a powerful back like Jamaal Charles, or did Pederson prefer the committee effort by Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware towards the end of last season? Does he want a power runner or will he prefer versatile backs who can line up as receivers?
For this reason alone I think we need to see a full season of the Offense in place first. It’s his debut season as a Head Coach and drafting a certain style of running back with what would be minimal scouting efforts after the Eagles purged their staff would be quite a big risk. Quarterbacks are different. Receivers are different. Running backs have to fit what you’re doing because they’re the engine to the car..and if there’s one thing we learned last season it’s that when the engine isn’t running..the car isn’t going to get very far without a lot of pushing from behind..something you can’t always rely on.
If after a season with a running back already on the roster, the running game is stagnant..then turn to the draft. If the Eagles find a way to kick start their backfield that’s still very versatile then they have spent a pick on a position of need as opposed to a position of want by the fans who realistically want to see the next LeSean McCoy to get behind which is absolutely fine, if you remember to take off the rose tinted glasses when evaluating the draft scenario.
Bridge back:
A lot of the media attention this offseason has been directed towards the Quarterback and Doug Pederson’s plan to groom a young Quarterback behind Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel..so why can’t the same apply to the running back position?
I have already stated that I think the Eagles should go after Charcandrick West of the Chiefs, even if it is as a backup..and with such an impressive running back class entering the 2017 draft..it makes you wonder if its worth holding back for just one more season.
Leonard Fournette of LSU, Nick Chubb of Georgia, Royce Freeman of the Ducks..there is an abundance of powerful running backs primed to become first rounders in 2017. Would it not make sense to let them play their final College years and see if they develop into the back that Pederson is looking for as opposed to drafting a guy who is impressive..but not quite the match made in heaven? Which brings us onto my final point…who the back to fill the void would be.
As it stands, the Eagles have Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles on their roster. But one man many are overlooking is Kenjon Barner. Barner ended his first season in Philadelphia with 124 yards on 28 attempts, averaging 4.4 yards per carry..not bad considering he was rarely utilised on Offense until the closing stages of last season.
The 26 year old still has enough potential to develop into the starter the Eagles are looking for and with one year left on his contract, if things do turn sour it’s not as if they’re going to lose money or find themselves in a “Murray hole” to dig out of.
The Eagles could enjoy great success with Ezekiel Elliott at running back and I am by no means claiming he isn’t the guy the team are looking for. He is absolutely worth a first round pick but as of right now, the Eagles need to focus on building a strong army as opposed to spending their assets on Castle Towers and buildings with nobody to protect them.
photo credit: USATSI
