On Air
Home
Eagles News

Eagles Positional Needs: RB

11 March 2019 Eagles News

The Running Back position has been one of the most talked about positions by Eagles fans since Shady was traded. The position has been a constant patchwork of free agents, low draft picks and UDFAs that have yielded very little stand-alone success.

As we are on the verge of another Free Agency and Draft RB is still a position that the Eagles must figure out. The only players under contract are Clement, Smallwood, and Adams. All were either hurt or just ineffective at some last season. Going into the 2019 season with the previously mentioned group and Donnell Pumphrey would be a mistake. The Eagles should take this opportunity and create some stability at the position to help alleviate pressure off Carson Wentz.

Here are some Free Agent and Draft Targets that are realistic options for the Eagles.

Free Agent Targets

Spencer Ware- 5’10 225
Age- 27
2018 Stats: 51 Carries 246 yards 2 Touchdowns & 4.8 yards per carry.

Coming off an injury and having Kareem Hunt as the starter there for most of the season limited Ware’s production. However, the previous seasons he showed good ability to be able to be a 1a in a committee approach. Ware has ties with Doug Pederson having been with him for two seasons and we know how much the Eagles put stock in past relationships. Ware is a stout runner with solid balance who provides some ability out of the backfield and should come at a relatively low price tag.

Mike Davis- 5’9 220 (signed with Bears)
Age- 26
2018 Stats: 112 Carries 514 yards 4 touchdowns 4.6 yards per carry, 34 receptions 214 yards 1 touchdown

2018 was Davis’ best year where his skills were in full display. He has solid vision, burst and a compact build that allows him to generate power behind his pads. He also has good lateral agility and can string cuts together to make defenders miss. Davis also showed proficiency in the passing game. He was a solid outlet for Russell Wilson in swing patterns and check downs. He caught the ball well and was good after the catch. He could provide a well-rounded skill set to an offense that sorely needs it.

TJ Yeldon- 6’1 225
Age- 25
2018 Stats: 100 carries 401 yards 2 touchdowns 4.0 yards per carry, 55 receptions 487 4 touchdowns

Yeldon is a good in between-the-tackles runner with solid vision, burst and quick feet (for his size). He shows flashes of the skills that made him a second-round pick, but has never been able to put it together consistently. This past season he was able to display that his skill set was more well-rounded than some might have thought and he made an impact in the passing game. With a change of scenery in a much better scheme, Yeldon could be a solid running back for the Eagles.

Draft Targets

Damien Harris- 5’10 216

College: Alabama
2018 Stats: 150 Carries 876 yards 9 touchdowns 5.8 yards per carry

Harris came into the year as the consensus number one running back, until the emergence of his teammate Josh Jacobs. However, he boasts a well-rounded game that should keep him on the field all three downs. Good size, solid burst, and hands make Harris a reliable option for a team like the Eagles searching for their 1A in their committee.

Devine Ozigbo- 5’11 220

College: Nebraska
2018 Stats: 155 Carries 1,082 yards 12 touchdowns, 7.0 yards per carry

I wanna preface this by saying Ozigbo is my favorite running back in the class. He got snubbed by the combine but still showed off his athleticism at his pro day posting a 4.54 40 yard dash and 37 inch vertical. Watching him on film, you see a big guy who has smooth feet and hips able to make nice cuts making defenders miss one on one. Ozigbo also has good burst through the line and second level that allows him to pull away from defenders. Also by his own words, he has “small back skills in a big back body” when referring to his ability as a receiver. He catches passes naturally used mostly on screens, swings and check down patterns. Ozigbo also comes from a system that ran heavy inside zone with some gap concepts sprinkled in, making the transition to the Eagles offense fairly smooth. Overall, Ozigbo could easily be the leader of a committee or a “3 down back” if necessary with the Eagles.

Travis Homer- 5’10 200

College: Miami
2018 Stats: 164 Carries 985 yards 4 touchdowns 6.0 yards per carry

Homer is a tough runner, in fact, he runs with more power than his size suggests. Not sure if he can win like that consistently at the next level but I love it when a RB runs behind his pads. He also has good burst through the line that allows him to rip off big chunks of yardage when the opportunity arises. Homer also boasts smooth feet as he works through traffic and is able to make defenders miss on occasion. He’s also very good in pass protection and was lined up in the slot at Miami. His biggest flaws seem to be his vision and fumbles. If Homer can fix those two things that I can see him being able to come in and have an impact in a rotation.

Mandatory Photo Credit: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

, , , , , , ,