McCoy having an MVP season for Eagles

LeSean McCoy did something offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had never before seen in his 17 seasons coaching in the NFL.

It wasn't the 185 rushing yards and two touchdowns McCoy put on the NFL's top rushing defense Sunday, though they were remarkable; or the now-you-see-him-now-you-don't moves that left defenders flailing, though they were breathtaking.

McCoy surprised Mornhinweg by walking into a Tuesday morning blitz-protection meeting intended for center Jason Kelce and quarterback Michael Vick. That was a first for the offensive coordinator.

"He wanted to pop in and get a head start on the game plan - that's his mentality," Mornhinweg said. "He's got great skill and ability, as you know, but he's also got that determination and the work ethic. He wants to be really good."

McCoy is that and more already.

"He's a beast," wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. "He's definitely one of the premier backs in this league."

"He's our MVP right now," said tackle Todd Herremans, adding that McCoy could be the most valuable player in the league as well, and the best back in the NFC. "I think he is, I really do, just because of his production. No matter how many carries he's getting, he always makes the most out of it."

Coach Andy Reid compared McCoy's moves with those of NFL legend Barry Sanders.

"Right now, he has that elusiveness like Barry had," Reid said on his radio show. "A lot of guys can cut, but then they stall. He can cut, and then he can get it north and south fast."

McCoy, who grew up admiring Sanders, seems eager for the spotlight.

"I feel like I'm one of the elite guys," he said after putting up career highs in yards and carries (30) against a team that went into Sunday's game allowing just 69.7 rushing yards per game. "I feel like every game is an opportunity to prove myself."

He has plenty of numbers that do that. McCoy ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards with 754. The only man ahead of him, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, has 798 yards, but in one more game than McCoy has played. McCoy's 107.7 yards per game leads the league.

McCoy has 10 touchdowns (rushing and receiving), equal to Peterson and one behind Detroit's Calvin Johnson, who also has played one more game.

In just his third year in Philadelphia, McCoy is on pace for 1,723 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, which would destroy team records of 1,512 yards (by Wilbert Montgomery in 1979) and 18 total TDs (by Steve Van Buren in 1945).

Even without numbers, McCoy stands out for the way he runs. There's a reason he goes by "CutonDime25" on Twitter.

"You can't account for some of the things he does on the field," wide receiver Jason Avant said.

The Eagles have tried to, drawing up new running plays intended to match their athletic offensive line with McCoy's open-field talent, coaches said.

McCoy's shiftiness "backfires on you on occasion," when the back tries for big gains instead of taking what is presented, Mornhinweg said.

Usually, Eagles coaches want him to just stick with the play. But in other moments, he jukes out of trouble and explodes into open space.

All that seems capable of stopping McCoy right now is wear and tear. He is on pace for 309 carries, 102 more than last year.

McCoy, just 23, has been durable, though. He fought through a broken rib and a shoulder injury last season and did not miss a game.

After 30 runs Sunday night and with the clock running down, McCoy hopped on a stationary bike on the sideline. Even Reid was baffled.

"I take him out and he runs back on. It makes me mad," the coach said with a smile. "He's a competitor and loves to play the game."

Few are doing it as well.

Extra points. Running back Dion Lewis, who missed Sunday's game after a car accident, will be fine to practice Thursday, Reid said. . . . Reid said he wants to see defensive end Brandon Graham in practice again this week before deciding if he will be added to the active roster. . . . Linebacker Akeem Jordan was still feeling concussion symptoms after being hurt Sunday. . . . Reid is now the fourth-longest-tenured coach in professional sports after St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa retired Monday.

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is ranked first among NFL rushers in average rushing yards per game . Matt Forte, who plays for the Eagles' Monday night opponent, the Bears, is ranked fifth. Here is a look at the top five:

Player, team                Att Att/G Yds Avg Yds/G TD Lng

LeSean McCoy, EAGLES 135 19.3 754 5.6 107.7 8 49T

Fred Jackson, Bills        132 18.9 721 5.5 103.0 6 80T

Adrian Peterson, Vikings 167 20.9 798 4.8 99.8 9 54

Frank Gore, 49ers          140 20.0 675 4.8 96.4 5 55

Matt Forte, Bears          124 17.7 672 5.4 96.0 2 46

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