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McCoy says he's glad to share spotlight with Sproles

After Darren Sproles bounced between Indianapolis Colts defenders for a 19-yard touchdown run in the Eagles' 30-27 win Monday, LeSean McCoy greeted Sproles with a choreographed handshake. McCoy appeared genuinely excited for his teammate - and grateful that Sproles is his backup.

Eagles running backs LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Eagles running backs LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more

After Darren Sproles bounced between Indianapolis Colts defenders for a 19-yard touchdown run in the Eagles' 30-27 win Monday, LeSean McCoy greeted Sproles with a choreographed handshake. McCoy appeared genuinely excited for his teammate - and grateful that Sproles is his backup.

"To be honest, he's helping me out," McCoy said after the game. "Without Sproles, we'd be in some trouble."

Sproles' 263 combined rushing and receiving yards during the first two weeks have bolstered two second-half comebacks and elevated the running back into a Philadelphia fascination. It has not come at the expense of McCoy, who is still receiving the overwhelming majority of the touches. But it has forced the Eagles' brightest star to share the spotlight.

"I don't mind it all," McCoy said. "And I don't feel as tired or as beat. . . . I didn't have too many touches. Just enough to be effective."

McCoy totaled 20 carries for 79 yards and a score on Monday, with four catches for 23 yards. He has 41 carries and 10 catches in two games - an average of 25.5 touches per game. Last season, McCoy averaged 22.9 touches per game. So McCoy actually is more involved than last season.

Through two games, though, the production has not compared.

McCoy has averaged 3.7 yards per carry, a decline from 5.1 yards per carry last season. He has averaged 6.4 yards per catch, which is 4 yards shy of last season's average. A smaller sample size factors into the difference, as does a patchwork offensive line and opposing defenses' emphasis on stopping him.

"I think rating his production against last year is meaningless, in my opinion," coach Chip Kelly said. "We're not trying to win rushing titles. We're trying to win football games."

McCoy also has been on the field for fewer plays. McCoy has played 69 percent of the offensive snaps this season, while Sproles has played 37 percent. Last season, McCoy took 79 percent of the playing time at running back. They have been on the field together on only 10 of 155 plays.

"I don't think we miss a beat when LeSean is out for a play or two," Kelly said. "I think LeSean feels comfortable [to say] if he has a big run, 'Hey, I can go out for a play because 43 can go in and there is not a drop-off.' "

McCoy has expressed his support ever since the Eagles traded for Sproles in March. Sproles has been adamant that he is trying to help McCoy - not chip away at his production.

But McCoy said he believes he can play better.

"I need to get my thing together," McCoy said. "I feel like I'm not playing to my level that I should be playing at."

Kelly said that McCoy is "always a very, very harsh critic of himself," which the coach considers an "admirable quality." Kelly is tough on McCoy, pushing him more than any coach in the player's life. But McCoy is unabashed about his standing on the team and what the offense needs to improve.

"I think it starts with me," McCoy said. "I've got to be the guy who can get it going, so we can suck up the [defense] and can throw it deep and everybody can make the plays. That's something I take personally. It starts with me."

Kelly said that defenses are geared to take McCoy away. That forces his teammates to make plays.

"We have enough weapons around LeSean where you have to pick your poison in terms of who you have to defend," Kelly said. "People are homed in on him, and rightfully so. Now it opens the field up for some of the other guys. So some of our big plays have . . . occurred on play-action passes. There's a reason for that."

When asked about McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, and Nick Foles all insisting that they should play better, Kelly said those players are "very honest in their assessments." He added that the Eagles are fortunate to be 2-0. McCoy's view was that if the Eagles are 2-0 and some of the high-profile players still are playing below standard, then the best is yet to come.

"It says a lot about us not playing at an elite level and still winning these games," McCoy said. "When we're hitting on all cylinders, the sky's the limit for this team."

BY THE NUMBERS

104

Fewer yards LeSean McCoy has rushed for this season than the first two games of last season.

3.7

McCoy's average yards per carry on 41 attempts. He averaged 6.2 in the first two games last year.

217

McCoy's yards from scrimmage. Darren Sproles, his backup, has 263.EndText