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Eagles preseason stock report, Week 2: Mychal Kendricks up, LeGarrette Blount down
Eagles veterans at risk of getting cut | LeGarrette Blount, Patrick Robinson, Vinny Curry
While Blount has not done much of anything in the preseason, apparently the Eagle offensive line has been subpar as well. More importantly, who would take Blount's place in Philadelphia? The Eagles already cut Ryan Matthews.
They have Darren Sproles as their 3rd down back, but at 5'6 and 34 years old, he's not your RB1. Wendell Smallwood is a 2nd year 5th round RB, but he has been injured. Rookie Donnel Pumphrey was selected in the 4th round but has struggled at RB as well as on ST. Corey Clement is the undrafted rookie fan favorite, but has only played against the opponent's third stringers. RB/WR Byron Marshall scored a TD, but he too has only played late versus third string opponents.
I can't imagine Blount will be let go as part of roster cuts, regardless of his preseason performance. Perhaps he will become available mid-season, but for that to happen one or more of those four rookie and 2nd year Philadelphia running backs would really have to suddenly show something special.
The Blount ship has sailed. After 336 touches last year I don't think there is much productivity left in the tank. Even if one of the Patriot running backs is injured this season, would Blount be the first choice?
Through two games, Blount has 17 yards rushing. To put that in perspective, he also has 15 yards receiving. In Blount’s defense, the offensive line has not given him much room to run. At the same time, the 30-year-old back doesn’t look like a great fit for the offense. He’s slow to the corner, he’s not really a threat as a receiver out of the backfield, and he’s not great in pass protection, either. Add a drive-killing fumble to Blount’s preseason resume as well. With Clement’s emergence, Blount’s roster spot might be up for grabs, especially if Wendell Smallwood can show anything.
Eagles veterans at risk of getting cut | LeGarrette Blount, Patrick Robinson, Vinny Curry
Despite the fact that he has opened both preseason games atop the depth chart and been given the bulk of the snaps and carries with the first-team offense, it wouldn't be surprising to see LeGarrette Blount among the Eagles' cuts despite signing as a free agent back in May.
Blount seems best served as a goal line and short-yardage back in this offense, but has been less than inspiring in the first two preseason games in which he registered just nine carries for 17 yards.
The 30-year-old has struggled to get to the corner on off-tackle runs and it appears as though the workload of last season's 299 carries with the New England Patriots last season has taken its toll.
In Doug Pederson's offense, running backs are asked to catch the ball out of the backfield and run off tackle more often than not, neither of which are the strengths of Blount's game.
Blount seems best served as a goal line and short-yardage back in this offense, but has been less than inspiring in the first two preseason games in which he registered just nine carries for 17 yards.
The 30-year-old has struggled to get to the corner on off-tackle runs and it appears as though the workload of last season's 299 carries with the New England Patriots last season has taken its toll.
In Doug Pederson's offense, running backs are asked to catch the ball out of the backfield and run off tackle more often than not, neither of which are the strengths of Blount's game.
While Blount has not done much of anything in the preseason, apparently the Eagle offensive line has been subpar as well. More importantly, who would take Blount's place in Philadelphia? The Eagles already cut Ryan Matthews.
They have Darren Sproles as their 3rd down back, but at 5'6 and 34 years old, he's not your RB1. Wendell Smallwood is a 2nd year 5th round RB, but he has been injured. Rookie Donnel Pumphrey was selected in the 4th round but has struggled at RB as well as on ST. Corey Clement is the undrafted rookie fan favorite, but has only played against the opponent's third stringers. RB/WR Byron Marshall scored a TD, but he too has only played late versus third string opponents.
I can't imagine Blount will be let go as part of roster cuts, regardless of his preseason performance. Perhaps he will become available mid-season, but for that to happen one or more of those four rookie and 2nd year Philadelphia running backs would really have to suddenly show something special.
The Blount ship has sailed. After 336 touches last year I don't think there is much productivity left in the tank. Even if one of the Patriot running backs is injured this season, would Blount be the first choice?
