Fussball » Expectations aren’t too high for these four Eagles

Mack Hollins Jersey , but they have the potential to be impact players this season." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesBleeding Green Nation homepageHorizontal - WhiteBleeding Green Nationa Philadelphia Eagles communityFollow Bleeding Green Nation online:Follow Bleeding Green Nation on TwitterFollow Bleeding Green Nation on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchBleeding Green Nation main menuFanpostsFanshotsEaglesOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Eagles StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Eagles NewsYahoo Eagles Team PageYahoo Eagles ReportYahoo Eagles Depth ChartYahoo Eagles TransactionsYahoo Eagles PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Four key Eagles who could be huge cogs in 2019New,58commentsExpectations aren’t too high for these four Eagles, but they have the potential to be impact players this season.EDTEvery successful Eagles season always has a few surprises.In 2017, Corey Clement burst onto the scene and made some huge plays down the stretch and in the postseason and, of course, Nick Foles caught fire and won Super Bowl MVP. Last year, with the secondary in flames, Avonte Maddox, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Rasul Douglas stepped up and provided enough stability to help the Eagles go on a playoff run.This year, if the Birds are going to go on another Super Bowl run, they’re going to need some unheralded players to step up. Below are three who have their flaws and question marks, but also a tremendous upside that could help the team soar in 2019.Boston Scott - RBTwo weeks ago, Corey Clement seemed to be the obvious choice to be the Eagles’ No. 3 back, were he healthy enough. But Clement hasn’t been able to get on the field, and that has given players like Boston Scott a chance to shine and potentially take Clement’s job. Scott has shown a solid ability to catch the ball so far this off-season, and getting a comp to the great Darren Sproles is certainly a feather in his cap. Scott, who played for Louisiana Tech and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 6th round of last year’s draft, was signed by the team in Week 15 of last year from New Orleans’ practice squad. He rushed for 1,840 yards and 14 TDs during his college career and was a return specialist as well.Scott appears to be the front-runner to get the first reps as the Eagles’ punt returner (kick returning in the NFL generally doesn’t exist anymore) and if Pederson’s accolades are any indication, he could enter the season as the team’s No. 3 running back.Corey Clement - RBCorey Clement was never quite right last season. The undrafted free agent surprised everyone in ‘17 when he rushed for 321 yards and 4 TDs and caught four balls for 100 yards and a TD in Super Bowl 52. Last year, he was expected to be a major part of the running game, but as injuries sidelined Darren Sproles and Jay Ajayi, Clement was dealing with nagging injuries of his own and rushed for only 259 yards last season http://www.eagleslockerroom.com/authentic-brian-westbrook-jersey , just 3.8 yards per attempt. He also caught just 22 balls out of the backfield, and saw his yards per reception drop from 12.3 his rookie season to 8.7.Clement has now become an afterthought, battling Wendell Smallwood for the No. 4 running back job. Jordan Howard, added via trade, will get most of the carries on the ground, Miles Sanders, one of the team’s second-round picks this year, is expected to get a lot of action on the ground and in the passing game, too, and now Scott is essentially being groomed as Sproles’ replacement.Clement never seemed to be totally healthy last season and, so far this off-season, Clement’s injuries are still a concern. He hasn’t practiced with the team yet, and that’s a worry. But if he can get healthy, he’s shown an ability to make plays, especially out of the backfield as a receiver. He also has more experience in this offense, so a return to his late-season 2017 self could be a huge key for an offense that clearly needs production from the backfield in order to succeed.Sidney JonesWhen Sidney Jones was preparing for the 2017 NFL Draft, he was a consensus first round pick. But then he tore his Achilles in pre-draft workouts and the Eagles spent a second round pick on Jones, red-shirting him for his rookie season in the NFL.After a long road back to the field, Jones missed large portions of last year, playing in just nine games and, when he did play, he wasn’t terribly effective. He certainly didn’t play up to the level of a potential first round draft pick. But so far this off-season, Eagles coaches are high on his performance.The Eagles have a loaded group of cornerbacks already. Jalen Mills Womens Destiny Vaeao Jersey , Ronald Darby, Rasul Douglas, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Avonte Maddox can all play. But the talent is there for Jones to be better than all of these players and, if he reaches his ceiling, could be an impact player in Jim Schwartz’ secondary.Andrew SendejoIt was two seasons ago Sendejo was rated as the 11th best safety in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings, but all we remember is him getting steamrolled by LeGarrette Blount during the Eagles’ 38-7 dismantling of Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game. Last year, Sendejo started the first five games before a groin injury ended his season. He was signed by the Eagles this off-season and the assumption has been that he could be cut so the Birds could get back the compensatory draft pick they would lose if they were to keep him. However, Schwartz has already given the veteran hard-hitter a nickname “Dejo,” and you generally don’t do that if you’re going to cut the guy in a couple months. Schwartz has also specifically singled out Sendejo’s performance this spring. His role on the team remains unclear, but Sendejo has the ability to be an impact stopper against the run, if he can stay healthy. Eagles training camp position preview: Running backs." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesBleeding Green Nation homepageHorizontal - WhiteBleeding Green Nationa Philadelphia Eagles communityFollow Bleeding Green Nation online:Follow Bleeding Green Nation on TwitterFollow Bleeding Green Nation on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchBleeding Green Nation main menuFanpostsFanshotsEaglesOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Eagles StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Eagles NewsYahoo Eagles Team PageYahoo Eagles ReportYahoo Eagles Depth ChartYahoo Eagles TransactionsYahoo Eagles PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕The Eagles’ backfield will be much better in 2019 ... right? New,65commentsEagles training camp position preview: Running backs.EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:The Eagles’ backfield will be much better in 2019 ... right? TwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesPhiladelphia Eagles training camp is almost here. Players report to the NovaCare Complex on Wednesday, July 24. As we count down the days together, Bleeding Green Nation will be previewing every position on the Eagles roster. We continue today by taking a look at the running back position. Previously: Quarterback.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="05cZkm">OverviewA look back at the Eagles’ 2018 rushing stats is ... depressing. Only two NFL teams ranked worse than Philadelphia in terms of rushing yards per play. Undrafted rookie free agent Josh Adams actually finished last year as the Eagles’ leading rusher with 511 yards. And yet he was entrusted with just one carry (for two yards) in two playoff games. Wendell Smallwood, who was phased out of the running back rotation at one point, finished second on the team in rushing. It’s entirely possible neither Adams nor Smallwood are even on the 53-man roster in 2019 and it’ll likely be one of them at most. The Eagles addressed the running back position during the 2019 offseason by both trading for Jordan Howard and drafting Miles Sanders. On paper, those additions seem like a significant improvement over last year’s backfield. How reliable is that projection? Let’s take a closer look.The PlayersJORDAN HOWARDThe Eagles traded a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick (that could potentially elevate to a fifth-round pick) to the Bears in exchange for Howard. The 24-year-old rusher was available for such a low cost in part because his efficiency has sharply declined over the past three seasons. 2016: 5.2 yards per carry2017: 4.1 yards per carry2018: 3.7 yards per carryStylistically, Howard isn’t a highly coveted running back by the modern game’s standards. He’s not a dangerous weapon who excels in space. He’s only averaged 1.5 receptions per game over his career. This doesn’t mean he can’t be useful to the Eagles, though. Howard has proven he can handle a big workload; he’s averaged 16.6 carries per game. His red zone and short-yardage situation numbers are strong, which makes sense for a powerful runner who measures in at 6-1, 225 pounds. And though he’s not going to bring much value as a pass catcher (don’t fool yourself into thinking there’s significant untapped potential in this area), Howard has a good track record when it comes to pass protection. Howard is set to be a free agent after this season so there’s pressure on him to perform well in order to get a new deal. He could easily be a one-year rental for Philly but they should get some good usage out of him while he’s here. Howard seems primed to fit in the 2017 LeGarrette Blount role.MILES SANDERSHowie Roseman couldn’t resist poking fun at media members who’ve questioned how the Eagles value running backs after selecting Sanders in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.Prior to selecting Sanders, the Eagles hadn’t selected a running back as early as Day 2 since LeSean McCoy. So Corey Graham Jersey , one has to figure the Eagles must really see something in the Penn State alumnus. The Eagles being so high on Sanders makes one believe he could have a big role in the backfield. The question is: how soon will that day come? While it’s easy to get excited about Sanders’ potential, the feeling here is that expectations should be tempered. Howard isn’t suddenly chopped liver; the young veteran is still going to have a role. Not unlike many rookies, Sanders is very much a projection. The 21-year-old has questions to answer in terms of ball security and pass protection. To what extent can he be counted on? It doesn’t help that he missed the entirety of spring practices with a hamstring injury. Then again, Sanders’ ability to contribute in the passing game and make defenders miss is valuable. If he really excels in those areas, it could be hard to keep him off the field. Even if that means at the expense of Howard’s playing time.I think Sanders might be a player who starts to come on as the season goes along. I see him starting the season as the Eagles’ 1B to Howard’s 1A in the running back rotation. Sanders can earn more playing time by making the most out of his touches. I could also see the rookie losing carries if he’s struggling and it’s Howard who is excelling. Sanders will be one of the most fascinating players to watch in training camp and preseason. COREY CLEMENTClement’s unexpectedly promising rookie season was followed by a 2018 campaign marred by injury and ineffectiveness. The 24-year-old missed OTAs and minicamp since he’s still on the mend from a nebulous knee issue. It’d be great for the Eagles if Clement could return to 2017 form and provide value as a rotational player with third-down back skills. It’s just hard to know how much we can count on that happening. Assuming he’s healthy, Clement should be the third running back behind Howard and Sanders. WENDELL SMALLWOODSmallwood ranked dead last in Pro Football Focus’s “breakaway percentage” stat last year; he had just one run of 15+ yards. That’s hardly a shock considering Smallwood isn’t known for explosiveness or good vision.If Smallwood is your fourth running back, well, you could do worse. He’s not actually good but he’s “fine.” I wouldn’t call Smallwood a roster lock but I lean towards thinking he’s going to make the team. The coaching staff likes him to some extent. He actually led the Eagles in playoff carries with 18.BOSTON SCOTTScott’s an intriguing player to watch in camp. He flashed at times in the spring. Doug Pederson specifically talked about Scott having a Darren Sproles role.Scott could make his way on to the 53-man roster with a strong summer. He seems like the current favorite as the team’s kick/punt returner. Of course, Scott’s job could be in jeopardy if the Eagles actually bring Sproles back. Not impossible.JOSH ADAMSBarring injury, I just don’t see Adams’ path to making the roster. Sure, he had a nice season last year as an undrafted rookie free agent. But what’s he contributing to this team in 2019? He’s not a dangerous or dynamic player in space. He struggled in short yardage situations (zero first downs and negative 8 yards). He’s not some special teams maven and he doesn’t offer return ability. Adams also missed the entirety of spring practices for the second year in a row as he recovers from a shoulder injury. I think Adams is playing to make some other team’s 53-man roster this summer. Maybe the Eagles can keep him on their practice squad. DONNEL PUMPHREYThis summer is probably Pump’s last chance to stick in the NFL. The 2017 fourth-round pick was showing a little promise last offseason before suffering yet another hamstring injury that prevented him from practicing/playing much. Maybe Pump will surprise us all and win a roster spot. The odds are against him. How will it play out?Let’s do some math.The Eagles have averaged about 27 rush attempts per game in the Pederson era. If we assume Howard’s workload will resemble Blount’s from 2017, we could peg him for about 12 attempts per game. That leaves about 15 attempts for two or three other backs to split. Sanders might be around 10 per game, which would leave five for Clement. That seems about right considering the Eagles tend to heavily rotate their backs. The rotation has the potential to evolve and change. The Eagles could stick with hot hand if one emerges. To start, though, I think it’ll be Howard as the 1A in Philly’s running back rotation. He could lose that spot if he struggles and/or Sanders comes on strong. Clement seems bound to be a role player/complementary piece in the rotation. Smallwood, Scott, Adams, and Pump are battling it out for a fourth running back spot. And maybe the Eagles even keep five backs? It wouldn’t be unprecedented; they originally kept that many back in 2017. Smallwood and Scott are the favorites from their group. Who could be a surprise cut?It’d be at least a little surprising to see Smallwood get cut because it feels like he’s going to somehow stick in Philly forever even though he’s not that great. Adams would be more of a “noteworthy cut” than a “surprise cut.” Again, he friggin led the team in rushing last year. Scott getting cut wouldn’t be a shocker. But if he’s not around, who the heck is returning kicks and punts?