In 2017, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl. The Eagles got great quarterback play from Carson Wentz and Nick Foles during that season. In addition, they had a very good running game, but it wasn’t just one running back; it was running back by committee, which was led by LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, and Corey Clement.
Philadelphia was third in the NFL in rushing yards per game.
Fast forward to 2023, with Miles Sanders off to the Carolina Panthers, it appears that the Eagles will be running back by committee again. In the offseason, the Eagles signed running back Rashaad Penny and acquired D’Andre Swift from the Lions to go along with what they have with Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott(re-signed), and Trey Sermon.
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked how he will utilize his running backs this season, and based on his answer, it could be by committee.
It can look any way,” Sirianni said about running back by committee on Thursday, “Again, we’re early on with pads. Running backs show out when their pads are on even more so.
“Again, you’re just looking for different things that they can do. You always adapt to what your players do well, but also, there are some things that you want to be able to run. You want to be like, ‘All right, who can do this job well and who can do this job well and who can do this job well?’ Sometimes it’s the same person throughout, and sometimes it’s by committee.
“We’ll see how it plays out. We’re still learning some of the new guys and what they’ve done, but I’m really pleased with the new guys, and I’ve really liked with [RB] D’Andre [Swift] and with [RB] Rashaad [Penny].
“And then I’m really pleased. Obviously, we’ve been through [RB] Kenny [Gainwell] and [RB] Boston [Scott] have been productive the last two years and have made a lot of plays for us the past two years not only in the season but in the playoffs.
“Then I can’t say enough about [RB] Trey [Sermon]. We were really excited to get him last year. He was able to get some game reps. We really liked him in practice. So, it’s a good thing when you have competition at a position because it just brings out the best in everybody.
“But, again, it can look any way we need it to look. We’ll see. We’ll see as we continue down the road, we’ll see. Good thing is I don’t have to make a decision on how it needs to look quite yet.”
Sanders would be the best back in the room if he were on the roster. However, this is a solid collection of backs for the Eagles, and if they stay healthy, they can definitely get the job for Philadelphia.
