Ryan Mathews, Kurt Coleman

Philadelphia Eagles' Ryan Mathews (24) runs past Carolina Panthers' Kurt Coleman (20) for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo | Bob Leverone)

Ricky Watters overlapped with Duce Staley, who overlapped with Brian Westbrook, who overlapped with LeSean McCoy.

The torch was passed to DeMarco Murray in 2015 and even though the flame went out, there was still a spark.

For the first time in more than 20 years, the Eagles go into a season without a true featured running back and as one pro scout said, "they don't have a back who scares the defense.''

While Murray didn't pan out, he was coming off a 2014 when he led the league in rushing as a Cowboy.

In Doug Pederson's first year as head coach, he will likely employ a running back by committee with Ryan Mathews the presumptive starter and the rest of the work coming from a combination of 33-year-old Darren Sproles, still unproven Kenjon Barner and rookie Wendell Smallwood.

"You think back, and even when the Eagles didn't run the ball much, they had a guy,'' the pro personnel man said. "Westbrook scared you, McCoy scared you. Murray didn't exactly scare you, but you respected what he did (in Dallas).

"Now, they just have a bunch of guys back there.''

Mathews, when healthy, has shown he can be more than just a guy. The problem is that hasn't been very often.

In the former Chargers' six-year career he has played 16 games just once -- and gained 1,255 yards in 2013.

Since then he's played in 19 of a possible 32 games and gained 839 yards on 180 carries. Last year, his first as an Eagle, he carried 106 times for 539 yards, a very good 5.1 yards per carry, and scored six touchdowns.

"With (Mathews), it's always going to be a question of health,'' another personnel man said. "He's close to 30 now (he'll turn 29 in October), you don't start getting healthier at that age.''

Sproles turned 33 last month and is coming off his least productive season as a running back in 2015.

The still-capable returnman carried 83 times in 2015 for just 317 yards and three touchdowns. In 2014, he had just 57 carries, but gained 329 yards and scored six touchdowns.

"Great career, great guy,'' the pro scout said of Sproles. "But I think you've seen the best of him.''

That leaves Barner, who gained 124 yards on 28 carries last season and Smallwood, the rookie fifth-round pick from West Virginia.

"He's still there?'' the scout said of Barner sarcastically. "I figured he left with Chip (Kelly). He's OK. He's a back-up type guy.''

What about Smallwood, who made an impression in the spring although ball security was a bit of an issue.

"He's not bad,'' the personnel man said. "I don't think he's 'the guy'. But he might be their guy.''

Mark Eckel may be reached at mjeck04@verizon.net. Follow him on Twitter @MarkEckel08. Find NJ.com Eagles on Facebook.