LeSean McCoy struggling behind patchwork Eagles line

In the first three games last season, LeSean McCoy rushed 62 times for 395 yards. In the first three games this season, McCoy has 60 carries for 175 yards. It has been an uncharacteristic start to the season for the NFL's defending rushing champion, whose 1.2 yards per carry in Sunday's win over Washington was his worst performance as a starting running back.

"I can't be selfish," McCoy said. "We're winning games. That's what's most important. Last year, I jumped out so early, and we were 1-3. There's not too many great feelings about that. If I'm [ticked] off we're not running the ball as well and we're winning, what's that look like?"

It has been clear that teams have focused on trying to stop McCoy. But the Eagles have the NFL's second-rated passing offense, and coach Chip Kelly said play-action passes have been effective because of the threat of McCoy. However, it's not just opponents who are slowing the Eagles' running game.

"Obviously the same five guys blocking for him [last season] is part of it," Kelly said. "We've got to do a better job in the run game just overall, but I think he's excited that we're 3-0. Sometimes they come in bunches, and you can string a couple games back-to-back."

Injuries to the offensive line have affected McCoy and the running game. McCoy had the benefit of rushing behind a healthy offensive line throughout last season, with the same five players starting every game. The Eagles have played a different player at every offensive line position at times this season.

They have run only nine plays behind the left guard and the right tackle this season, averaging only 0.5 yards behind the left guard and 2 yards behind the right tackle. Those two positions have been most affected by injuries.

McCoy compared the chemistry between a running back and his offensive line to the chemistry between a quarterback and his wide receivers. The Eagles' interior offensive line this Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers will likely include three players who were supposed to enter the season as reserves: Matt Tobin, David Molk, and Dennis Kelly.

"You're down four linemen that you had that were running in front of them last year," Chip Kelly said, talking about the end of the Redskins game. "So I think sometimes when we're running the play, there is a lot better push at the point of attack, and that doesn't have anything to do with the running back from that standpoint. It's kind of what it is right now."

And then there are the opposing defenses. Kelly said more teams played against the Eagles with a nickel defense last season, which meant there was an extra defensive back on the field in place of a linebacker. This year, the Eagles are seeing more base defenses, which means that linebacker is back on the field.

"If you're going to play us in base, it's difficult to cover the pass," Kelly said. "So it's picking what they want to do."

The Eagles offense has averaged 33.7 points in the first three games, and McCoy said recently that defenses must choose the old way of being beaten (with McCoy rushing for a big total) or the new way (with Nick Foles passing for a lot of yardage). If defenses continue accepting the way Foles is playing, McCoy said: "That's how they'll lose."

"They're bringing an extra guy, especially on the cutbacks, and shutting off the lanes," McCoy said. "I feel like we're close. . . . As long as we can get them to start playing a guessing game, we'll be fine."

Both the rushing game and the passing game could also work at the same time. That's when the Eagles offense is at its best.

McCoy is confident that as defenses begin to worry more about Foles, holes will open. Kelly does not want to abandon the run. If the offensive line stabilizes and defenses change, McCoy can begin to approach last season's totals again.

"It could be worse," McCoy said. "We could be losing games and [I have] no yards."

17

LeSean McCoy's NFL rank in rushing yards (175). He led the NFL in 2013.

46

McCoy's NFL rank in average yards per carry (2.9) among qualified runners. He was fifth at

5.1 a year ago.

1

Starting offensive lineman (Jason Peters) who has not been injured or changed positions. Last year the Eagles started the same O-line in all 17 games.

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