Eagles Training Camp Preview: The Running Backs

It’s always been running back-by-committee in the Doug Pederson era but Miles Sanders could change that

It’s always been running back-by-committee in the Doug Pederson era but that could be about to change with the hype surrounding second-year back Miles Sanders reaching a fever pitch, at least at the local level.

An explosive and versatile modern back Sanders certainly has the ceiling to be the best RB1 since Pederson returned to Philadelphia as the head coach.

That’s the good news, the bad is that the depth on paper entering training camp is the lightest it's been on over that same span.

DEPTH CHART:

RB1 Miles Sanders; RB2 Boston Scott; RB3 Corey Clement; RB4 Elijah Holyfield; RB5 Michael Warren; RB6 Adrian Killins Jr.

WHAT’S CHANGED: The big shift comes with Jordan Howard leaving vis free agency to Miami. The Eagles tried to bring in a similar player in Carlos Hyde but lost out to Seattle when the numbers got too high. For now, that means Boston Scott moves into the No. 2 role behind Miles Sanders but Pederson has always preferred having a between-the-tackles-runner (think LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, and Howard).

Two undrafted free agents were brought in and both Michael Warren and Adrian Killins, Jr. were given draftable grades by the organization, according to a team source. Warren of Cincinnati is a big, bruising runner while Killins is a speedy manufactured-touch type who could also help in the return game.

HIGHLIGHT REEL

Sanders got the fanbase skipping steps earlier this offseason when he said he was working to become the “the best running back slash receiver ever.”

The real goal should be a more moderate one. Taking the next step in a young career after an 818-yard, 50-reception rookie campaign.

Typically young RBs struggle at the three things needed for the position that does not require running -- catching the football out of the backfield, pass protection, and ball security.

Sanders proved to be a natural catching the football, although he struggled at times finding his landmarks as a route runner resulting in some perceived Carson Wentz crazy throws that weren’t actually the quarterback’s fault. He also showed a willingness to pick up the blitz, which is half the battle there and only put the football on the turf twice in 229 touches correcting a problem he had at Penn State.

As far as the main job description, Sanders tried to bounce things outside far too much early and didn’t run with the conviction needed until essentially being demoted for Howard and then regaining the job once a shoulder injury effectively ended Howard’s time with the Eagles.

So, there are two levels to the projection here.

The Eagles are thrilled with Sanders’ progression and expect him to make a major leap in Year 2. More so, Sanders certainly has the skill set Pederson is looking for, and with no clear, proven No. 2 option like Hyde to lean on Sanders should get the traffic to put up some very good numbers.

If, however, you’re expecting the best RB in football you’re skipping those aforementioned steps.

“Right now, we're going to continue to look and see if we can add value, add depth, add competition to that room. But we are very comfortable and excited about Miles,” Pederson said during the spring. “... He's excited about the upcoming season. He's excited about getting back to training camp.”

Sanders echoed that on social media.

“My confidence is through the roof and I know what I can do for this team, I ain’t apologizing for saying that, just don’t be surprised when it happen!” Sanders wrote.

CAMP BATTLES

Scott will enter camp as the RB2 and proved some things to the coaching staff late last season. His performance during the late playoff push was integral to Philadelphia’s offensive success and he brought more juice to the field.

Over the final five games, which includes the playoff setback to Seattle, Scott rushed for 176 yards on 44 carries and added 222 more receiving yards on 26 receptions.

In many ways, Scott is very similar to Darren Sproles from a physical perspective -- short at 5-foot-6 but by no means small at over 200 pounds with a powerful lower body cultivated by a love of the weight room. His height will always be seen as a deficiency but like his mentor Sproles, Scott’s power sets him apart from those who try to pigeonhole him as a scatback.

Pederson, however, has always preferred having a between-the-tackles runner as well (think LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi or Howard) and that’s where Clement or Warren could fit in.

Clement, a South Jersey native, and Super Bowl LII hero, has had injury problems ever since and wasn’t tendered heading into free agency before the Eagles’ ultimately brought him back at a discount. At 220 pounds Clement was once a high volume runner at Wisconsin and could have an opportunity to earn a role in the committee if he can stay on the field.

Warren could also be in the mix as a 222-pound chain-mover who rushed for over 1,000 yards twice at Cincinnati.

“Boston Scott came on at the end of the season for us and performed well,” Pederson said. “Corey had a heck of a year in 2017 for us as a rookie. It’s unfortunate again, but he's put himself in a position to come back and help us through injury.

“Then we have some young guys that we are excited about looking at."

ROCKY: THE LONGSHOT

For all the talk about the speed the Eagles added to the roster, the 5-7, 170-pound Killins might be the fastest player added and few talk about him.

A two-time 200m champion in high school, Killins was a big-play machine at Central Florida with nearly 60 X-plays of 20 yards-or-more despite a part-time role. Killins, like Jalen Reagor, the Eagles’ first-round pick, has a trait Philadelphia desperately wants, the ability to stretch the field horizontally. He is, however, a very raw player and would need to be factored in as a manufactured-touch option.

WHO STAYS ON THE 53?

Figure on the Eagles keeping four with Sanders, Scott and Clement being joined by the undrafted Warren, who wins the final spot very late 2019-20 addition Elijah Holyfield, the son of the former heavyweight boxing champion of the world Evander Holyfield.

WHO GOES?

Holyfield and Killins, with the latter almost a sure thing for the expanded practice squad.

"You know that the running back position for us has been sort of by committee," Pederson explained. "It's been two, three guys each and every week that not only help us in the run game but can also help us on special teams and that's also a big part of this.

"I'm looking forward again to getting these young guys in the building, getting them on the grass and showing us what they can do.”

-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's EagleMaven and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John every Monday and Friday on SIRIUSXM’s Tony Bruno Show with Harry Mayes, and every Tuesday and Thursday with Eytan Shander on SBNation Radio. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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