Will Eagles run with Hunt?

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - If the Eagles really are determined to run the football more than at any time during the Andy Reid era, then there is a list of things they're going to need.

A big, dominating offensive line?

Check.

A defense that can shut down the opposition, especially early in games?

We'll see.

Depth at the running back position?

Thanks to the arrival of rookie Tony Hunt, it sure appears as if the Eagles have more depth at the position than since 2003, when the trio of Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter and Duce Staley became known as the three-headed monster.

Westbrook and Buckhalter were held out of the live scrimmage yesterday morning because of knee inflammation, so Hunt got a chance to run with the first offense, which was also missing quarterback Donovan McNabb (sore knee) and Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews (sprained ankle).

Even with those missing parts, Hunt emerged as a punishing runner during an 80-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by the Eagles' third-round draft pick out of Penn State.

"It's good to get a lot of carries like that," Hunt said after his most productive day of training camp. "You get into a nice rhythm. It's nice when you get a run drive going. It's tough and physical. You can kind of make a statement out there."

Those words are sweet music to the ears of Eagles fans, who long for a team with a physical running game complemented by a dominating defense. During Reid's tenure, the offense has become known for its pass-first, -second and -third mentality.

The label isn't entirely unjustified. Only once during Reid's eight seasons have the Eagles ranked higher than 19th in the NFL in rushing attempts. Six times they have ranked 23d or lower.

Typically, the Eagles have less balance than someone suffering from an inner-ear disorder.

Only Reid's 2002 team, which had his most dominating defense, could truly qualify as a running team. That squad, which lost McNabb to a broken leg for the final six games of the regular season, ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing attempts.

Who knows whether Reid will show that same commitment to the running game in 2007, but the coach had a favorable impression of Hunt's work with the first team.

"He's very patient and then, when he saw things, he was very decisive on the direction he was going to go," Reid said. "He didn't mess around. He took it up there and did a nice job."

Hunt touched the ball eight times for 58 yards during the 80-yard scoring drive against the second-team defense. The only plays that didn't involve him were a 24-yard completion from quarterback A.J. Feeley to new wide receiver Kevin Curtis and a sack by defensive end Juqua Thomas.

Reid was asked about Hunt's upright running style, which is more similar to Buckhalter's than Westbrook's.

"He can get down when he needs to get down," the coach said. "That's important. He does run upright. That's his natural running style, but when he's got to drop his shoulders down, he can do that."

It was obvious that Hunt was having fun, and the crowd at Lehigh University was into watching him work. His teammates were supportive, too. After Hunt scored, Westbrook was one of the first to greet him along the sideline with a tap on the helmet.

"After a couple plays, [the offensive line] really started to open up some holes," Hunt said. "If you're patient behind those guys, they'll make things happen."

Hunt had to deal with some big hits on the drive, including a crunching blow by rookie safety C.J. Gaddis at the end of a 10-yard run.

"That's football," Hunt said. "You get hit every play. You get back up and hit somebody the next play. I don't think you can hit too much. It's a physical game."

To be a great back in the West Coast offense, Hunt is also going to have to be a productive receiver, a skill that has made Westbrook one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. Despite being a productive receiver at Penn State, Hunt struggled to catch the ball a few days earlier in camp.

"The quarterbacks throw a lot harder and there were a lot of different routes," Hunt said. "I started wearing gloves, and that's helped out quite a bit."

How much Hunt will contribute when the games start counting is unknown. So is how often Reid will call running plays. But if the Eagles lean in that direction, Hunt might be one of the key ingredients.

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D4.

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