All-Time Great Praises Eagles Running Backs
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- We've all been impressed with the play of the league's newest dynamic backfield tandem of LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles. The thought of the two dipping and dodging defenders existed in my mind the moment the Sproles deal was announced, but even I did not envision the level of production the two could amass together.
The exploits of the two have not gone unnoticed in Philadelphia and that is the case around the nation as well. Future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson joined joined the Move The Sticks Podcast this week, an NFL Podcast hosted by former Eagles scout Daniel Jeremiah.
The former Charger and Jet had high praise for the Eagles' new tandem.
Jeremiah utilizes his scouting background to go through a list of traits that teams look for in the ideal player based on their position. He discussed the keys for running backs with Tomlinson.
The pair brought up the trait of instinct and vision. Tomlinson mentioned that McCoy was the first player that came to his mind when thinking about that essential.
"You look at LeSean and he just has a knack to feel something," Tomlinson said. "Those are instincts whenever you see a certain run. You may start playside and then all of a sudden the feel that you have take you backside."
Tomlinson struggled to think of another runner in the NFL that embodies that cut back ability quite like McCoy. As fans in Philadelphia, we have become quite used to seeing McCoy take a play that looked to be destined for a three yard loss and turn it into a 10 yard gain.
The next category discussed was elusiveness and change of direction. Obviously, McCoy could have gotten the nod there as well, but Tomlinson decided to go with a former teammate of his.
"I want to give you a bit of a sleeper, Darren Sproles," Tomlinson said. Tomlinson highlighted the fact that Sproles has an ability to not only change direction quickly, but to do so in a small amount of space.
"I remember when I played with Darren Sproles my first when seeing this guy was I don't know if there's a quicker human being." Eagles fans are quickly realizing why Tomlinson felt that way.
Tomlinson was also asked to pick what current NFL team he thinks he would want to play with most if he were still in his prime. Who do you think he said?
"I would say Philly," Tomlinson admitted. Tomlinson stated that he believed he was always more suited to play in an offense that would have allowed him to get to the outside and run in space. Could you imagine Tomlinson in his prime with Chip Kelly?
Through two games, McCoy and Sproles have already become the talk of the league and it's pretty safe to assume that defensive coordinators on the Eagles' schedule are already coming up with ways to stop them.
If Tomlinson, a sure thing for the Hall of Fame, has that much praise for these two, no amount of planning may be enough to corral them.
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