The NFL Network recently showed a couple of Patriots games. I was casually watching the first and took notice of LeGarrette Blount. I started trying to imagine what the Eagles run game might look like with Blount as the feature runner.

Let’s start by comparing Blount to Ryan Mathews. Blount is bigger at 245 pounds (an estimate), but he and Mathews are both tough, physical runners. Mathews has better burst and is faster. He’s also a better receiver.

Blount has better feet and does a better job of reading blocks. He’s unusual for a big runner because he is patient, letting his blockers do their job. He is still is aggressive, but knows how to pause momentarily to let a hole develop.

I was surprised at how effective Blount was on outside runs. He’s not slow by any means, but won’t win a ton of races. He reads the play and goes wide if that’s where the space is. When he does commit to going wide, there isn’t any hesitation.

Blount runs more upright than you would prefer, but he’s got incredible balance and tremendous lower-body strength. That helps him to push the pile and keep from going down on first contact. He has some moments where he reminds you of Marshawn Lynch.

Duce Staley has talked about the Eagles wanting to rely on the run game more this year. The offensive line is in better shape and the overall group of RBs is better. The run game will be shaped around Blount, the team’s workhorse runner.

Blount won’t be getting 20 carries a week. The Eagles are going to mix things up with Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey. Blount will get the bulk of the carries and he will have some games with 20+ runs.

I don’t think the Eagles will have a hard time adapting to Blount. And I don’t think he’ll have a hard time adapting to the Eagles.

Blount played for Chip Kelly at Oregon. In the NFL, he’s had stops in Tampa, New England, Pittsburgh and back to NE. He had some level of success at each stop. Blount isn’t the product of a system, a good OL, or just playing for the right QB. He’s very talented.

as always…beware the background music

When the Eagles went from Shady McCoy to DeMarco Murray, it made for a very tough transition. Those players are nothing alike in terms of talent level, size or running style. That won’t be the case in going from Mathews to Blount. They are hardly twins, but have enough similarities that you can watch runs from last year and imagine Blount having success on those plays.

Fran Duffy did a lot on the run game following the win over the Vikings last year. Go watch those runs and picture Blount as the RB.

I know there is an inclination to see Doug Pederson as Andy Reid Jr., and to worry about his commitment to the run. I don’t think that is the case. In Pederson’s one year starting for the Eagles, Duce Staley had 325 carries. When he went back to Green Bay, he was on the team where Ahman Green ran for more than 1800 yards. Upon joining the Eagles as a coach, Pederson saw McCoy run for 1300 yards and 17 TDs. While in KC, they used more of a RB by committee approach, but still fed the ball to Jamaal Charles a fair amount.

I think Pederson understands the value of the run game. If Blount and Sproles can stay healthy, I expect Pederson to keep finding touches for them.

The one question I do have with Blount is if he can become part of the passing game. In NE, he was in on run plays. They were so good they could get away with that. The Eagles aren’t at that level. The coaches said encouraging things about Blount as a receive this spring, but he’s only got 46 career catches. He doesn’t need to be Sproles, but Blount needs to catch a pass here and there to help keep defenses honest.

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