Mathews Ready For Big Season In The Backfield
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles may not have an issue at running back as long as Ryan Mathews is on the field. Keeping Mathews on the field has been the problem.
Mathews joined the Eagles last year after playing in San Diego for five seasons. Injuries limited Mathews to six games in his final year with the Chargers. The running back averaged 5.1 yards per carry with the Eagles in 2015, but missed time with a concussion. Mathews also missed the first week of training camp last week due to an ankle problem.
For a team with many questions behind Mathews in the backfield, the health of the veteran will be critical to the Eagles' ability to run the football.
Mathews insists he is healthy and ready to go for the rest of training camp.
"The training staff and everybody did a great job just getting me back ready and healthy," said Mathews. "I don't think I'm that far behind. I've just got to get my legs."
Mathews is a valuable weapon as both a runner and a receiver. Last fall, Mathews caught 20 passes for 146 yards to go along with his 539 yards on the ground. Mathews also worked with current Eagles Offensive Coordinator Frank Reich in San Diego, and believes the new offense in Philadelphia will fit his style of play.
"It's a west coast offense," Mathews said. "I like it. They're doing a real good job of installing plays that benefit the players. I think that's going to be really good for us."
Reich knows the potential Mathews possesses, and plans to use the running back as much as he can in the offensive attack. Reich has seen first hand what a healthy Mathews can do to opposing defenses.
"Ryan certainly is going to be prominent in that mix," said Reich. "You want to get a guy like that with the track record he has and the way he's run the ball over the last few years to get as many touches as we can."
Reich and Mathews are more than happy to give the running back a high workload in 2016. The key will be for Mathews to be healthier than he was in 2014 and 2015.
"I think I've done a pretty good job this year of maintaining my body," Mathews said. "Stuff happens. It's football, and it's going to happen. I'm not worried about it, and I don't think they're worried about it, either. All we can do right now is just get better as a team."
