Bowen: Barner seeking increased role in Pederson's offense

KENJON BARNER isn't carrying a Chip on his shoulder.

Barner is the Eagles running back who played for Chip Kelly at Oregon - setting the school's single-game rushing record in 2012 with 321 yards on 38 carries against USC - then ended up joining Kelly with the Eagles, when Kelly traded with Carolina for him near the end of the 2014 preseason.

But Kelly is gone; Barner is still here, working in new coach Doug Pederson's scheme; and so far, Barner seems to be flourishing. He sparkled Wednesday, given extra reps with fifth-round rookie Wendell Smallwood (quadriceps) joining vet Ryan Mathews (ankle) in the treatment room.

Barner has no appetite for the debate over Kelly's methods vs. Pederson's methods, Kelly's atmosphere vs. Pederson's atmosphere, Kelly's up-tempo offense vs. this West Coast-ish hybrid.

"That's not my job, man," Barner said when asked whether he ever feels like standing up for Kelly when teammates make unflattering comparisons. "Everybody's a grown man. Everybody has their lane. My dad taught me as a young man, stay in your lane. I don't get involved in other people's conversation. I don't get involved in gossip."

Kenjon's dad, Gary Barner, once a gang counselor in South Central Los Angeles, might have had more serious matters than coaching changes in mind when he dispensed that advice. He named Kenjon, now 26, after Gary's nephew, Kenjon David Adkins, who was shot to death at 15 by a gang member in 1988.

Kelly's firing, with one game left in the 2015 season, "didn't concern me," Barner said. "I love Chip to death. But you understand it's a business. You guys like to label me as a 'Chip guy' - I wouldn't have gotten drafted if I couldn't play the game of football . . . Once he got fired, I wasn't worried about anything; I'm a football player. Duce (Staley, the running backs coach) knows what I can do. (Special-teams coach Dave) Fipp knows what I can do . . . There was never any question in my mind of whether I was going to be safe or not.

"You can't worry about a situation that's no longer your situation. My situation right now is Doug Pederson and this offense."

His situation also is that he's heading toward his fourth NFL season and he hasn't really progressed beyond the fringes. Six carries for 7 yards as a sixth-round Panthers rookie in 2013, waived injured by the Eagles after his only 2014 preseason appearance for them, signed back to the practice squad that November, then 28 carries for 124 yards (4.4 average) last season, along with nine catches for 22 yards and a couple of return opportunities that didn't amount to anything after a preseason that had hinted at more.

Yet, when first-year Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich was asked about Barner this week, Reich was enthusiastic.

"Kenjon, I think, is a really good, all-around back. He can make you miss in the open field. I like his vision," Reich said. "He's doing great in protections. I've been very impressed with him the whole offseason. Of course, when we got here everyone was in my ear about how good this guy is going to be a player, and that's what we're seeing."

Pederson said Wednesday that he sees Barner as "an explosive guy with the ball in his hands. Pretty good out of the backfield as a receiver," though Pederson said his route-running could use improvement. "But I love the fact that anytime you put the ball in his hand, he has the ability to make some big plays for you. He's shown that here in the first week of camp."

Some people called Barner one of the best players in college football his final year at Oregon (he finished as the school's No. 2 all-time leading rusher with 3,623 yards), but running backs who stand 5-9 and are productive in the NFL tend to have stubby, thick, powerful lower bodies. Barner has a bodybuilder's torso atop slender hips and thighs.

"I'm built in my father's image," Barner said Wednesday. "My dad, extremely strong legs, but not big at all. His upper body's big. Back in my dad's prime, he could squat 500, 600 pounds. But his legs are extremely little. I feel like I should be mad at my dad. I wish I had my mom's legs."

Barner looks as if he has added muscle since last season. That certainly was his goal - "a lot of power lifting. Getting a solid foundation and stuff" over the offseason, along with paying more attention to proper nutrition. (Hmm. That needed area still needed improvement? Maybe he really wasn't a "Chip guy.") Barner was coy Wednesday about his current weight; the Eagles still list him at 195.

"He's pretty rocked up," center Jason Kelce said when asked about Barner. "He doesn't have much fat on him."

Kelce said he isn't surprised to see that Barner might survive the regime change.

"I like Kenjon. I've liked him since he got here. He's a smart guy, hard worker, plays with a lot of intensity and passion . . . And I think he's continued to get better and better and better," Kelce said. "I think he's doing well right now; he seems to be having a great camp."

Barner probably will never have a better chance to increase his role. The Eagles ditched DeMarco Murray and have made Mathews their No. 1 back, despite a long injury history. Then there is 33-year-old Darren Sproles. Partly because of the trade-up for the No. 2 overall pick, quarterback Carson Wentz, they weren't able to add a running back in the draft until Smallwood, who came off the board 153rd overall. They added rookies Byron Marshall (Oregon) and Cedric O'Neal (Valdosta State) after the draft, then Marshall missed most of the spring work because Oregon is on the quarter system.

Barner must prove he has the power and stamina to withstand being used more than here and there. He set career highs with nine carries and 39 yards during the Eagles' 35-28 stunning upset victory at New England last Dec. 6, but what most people remember is Barner's fumble with 1 minute, 2 seconds left, at New England's 28, as the Birds were trying to run the clock down toward a field goal that would have cinched the win.

"I'm not going to hold on to it," Barner said Wednesday, meaning his disappointment, not the football. He didn't want to detail what he might have learned from that gaffe, though the answer might have something to do with his noticeably bigger arms.

@LesBowen

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