Kelce: Inability To Run Ball With Our Three Backs Is 'Embarrassing'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, and Darren Sproles. Oh my, or oh no?
The Philadelphia Eagles have managed just 280 total rushing yards (29th) through four games, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry (31st). Murray, last year's rushing champion, ran behind the No. 1 o-line in football with the Dallas Cowboys. In three games played with the Eagles, Murray has just 47 yards rushing.
Without Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans, the Philadelphia 0-line has suddenly went from a top-five unit to the 21st ranked o-line in the NFL. Center Jason Kelce admits Murray is frustrated.
"I communicate with DeMarco after every single game, almost after every series," Kelce told the 94WIP Morning Show on Friday. "You want to always have that communication with the running backs that are out there. And yeah, I think that DeMarco's clearly been frustrated especially right after the games. I think he wants to have more yards. I don't know that he's pointing fingers or trying to blame anybody or anything like that. He's trying to be more of a motivational guy, trying to get guys to step it up."
The Eagles expected their ground-game to be dominant this season. Kelce, a leader not afraid to except blame, went as far as to say he is embarrassed.
"But I think that anything running back would be frustrated, regardless of who you were," he said. "We have three tremendous backs, three game-changing backs for most teams and the inability to get a running game going with those three guys is embarrassing. This offensive line has gotta get it corrected and it starts this week."
Listen: Jason Kelce on the 94WIP Morning Show
Kelce admits that the Eagles run a rhythm offense under Chip Kelly, and they just haven't been able to get rolling yet.
"When we're running the football and we're moving things and we're moving quickly---when it gets in that rhythm---it's very tough for defending teams to stop," Kelce explained. "And that's really what you saw in the second half against Atlanta. You see it at times against the Jets, but we really haven't gotten in too many of those rhythms. Even last week---last week you mention we have three big plays. Outside of that, our offense didn't do too much."
To compound the problem, starting right-tackle Lane Johnson (knee, ankle) and Pro Bowl left-tackle Jason Peters (quad) are dealing with injuries heading into the team's Week 5 critical game against the New Orleans Saints.
The good news is, the Saints have the 27th ranked run defense in the NFL, allowing 123.3 yards per game on the ground.
