The RBs

The Eagles had one heck of a 1-2 punch at RB by the end of the 2019 season. Miles Sanders and Boston Scott were the keys to an offense that regularly moved the ball and scored points.

We all wondered what moves the Eagles would make at RB this offseason. The biggest move happened this week.

He’s baaaack.@CoreyClement_6 | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/snKM6AnE9N

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 30, 2020

That’s not exactly a sexy move, but I’m okay with what the Eagles have done at RB.

Miles Sanders showed last year that he is a top talent and the kind of player you can build around. He was an impact player as both a runner and receiver. He showed good promise as a blocker.

I think Scott showed enough that you can count on him as part of the RB rotation. That said, you do want competition. History is filled with guys who came from nowhere, played good for part of a season and then disappeared.

Clement is back to fight for a roster spot and to push Scott for playing time. When healthy, Clement is a gifted runner and receiver. The problem is that he’s not been able to stay healthy since his rookie season of 2017. Clement missed five games in 2018 and missed 12 games last year.

You cannot count on Clement, but he is young, talented and cheap. This is absolutely the kind of guy you want to take a chance on. He also does well in a RB rotation. Some backs need regular touches. Clement is a guy that can get the ball here and there and still be effective.

The Eagles like Elijah Holyfield, but we don’t know much about him. He didn’t play at all in 2019 after being cut following the preseason. Holyfield is slow, but was a tough, physical runner in college. His physicality would be a nice addition to the backfield.

The Eagles didn’t draft a RB, but did add a pair of UDFAs.

Michael Warren II is a short, thick back at 5-9, 226. He averaged almost 20 carries a game over the last two seasons at Cincinnati. Warren isn’t as physical as Jordan Howard, but he does break tackles and would instantly be the heaviest of the Eagles RBs. Warren isn’t just a pounder. He has good feet and delivered more long runs than I expected. He has good vision and a nice burst.

I think Warren has a legit chance to push for a roster spot.

The other RB couldn’t be more different. Adrian Killins is tiny at 5-7, 162. On the surface, you would say he’s got no chance to make it in the NFL. But Killins does have speed and in the modern NFL that gives him a shot.

Killins averaged seven yards a carry for Central Florida last year. He averaged 12 yards per reception for his career. He ran a kickoff back for a TD. Killins was a threat to make a big play every time he touched the ball.

Killins has a track background. As a prepster, he was a two-time Florida high school state 3A champion in the 200-meter dash and also the runner-up in the 100-meters. Florida might have the best athletes in the country so that should give you an idea that Killins’ speed is special.

Speed is the most overrated quality for a RB, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want it. You need to be careful about spending a high pick on a RB who relies on his speed. When it comes to a UDFA, sign him and take the chance.

The odds are against Killins making it in the NFL. While the modern game focuses on speed, at its heart, football is still a physical game. Killins will be fighting a major uphill battle.

That said, I am curious to see how his electric speed translates to the NFL. It helps that the Eagles coaches have had success with UDFA RBs.

The Eagles don’t have a lot of definitive answers, but they do have some interesting pieces.

*****

The Eagles may not be done.

#Eagles brought back RB Corey Clement on a 1-year deal and also are considering signing a veteran RB.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 29, 2020

No hard rumors yet. There are several guys of interest. The Eagles may want to spend time with the young backs to see what they think of them before going for a veteran. No need to rush on that move, if it happens.

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