Domo: With rookie tackle, Eagles likely to be grounded vs. Redskins

THE LAST time the Eagles played the Redskins, they ran the ball only 16 times, and their quarterback, Sam Bradford, threw a whopping 56 passes in a 38-24 loss that ended up being Chip Kelly's Philadelphia swan song.

When the teams meet again Sunday at FedEx Field, rest assured their new quarterback, Carson Wentz, won't be chucking the ball around 56 times, unless the Redskins unexpectedly jump out to a 28-0, first-quarter lead.

With right tackle Lane Johnson headed off to Oklahoma to begin his 10-game PED suspension, fifth-round newbie Halapoulivaati Vaitai will make the first start of his career Sunday.

It not only will be Vaitai's first regular-season start, it also will be the first time he's even dressed for a game. He was inactive for the first four games.

The last thing coach Doug Pederson wants is to have a still-wet-behind-the-ears offensive tackle trying to pass-block Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan 50-plus times.

To quote former President George H.W. Bush, it wouldn't be prudent.

"We're not changing the game plan or anything (because Vaitai's starting)," Pederson said. "As you get into the game, if you see that maybe a guy is needing some help, we can obviously help him with backs and tight ends, like most teams will do.

"Obviously, the run game helps guys like that, especially in their first start. So we (might) lean a little bit more on that maybe.''

While the Eagles are only 15th in the league in rush average (4.1 yards per attempt), that hasn't had any impact on Pederson's commitment to the run.

The Eagles are fifth in rushing attempts (29.1 per game) and seventh in run-play percentage (45.2) through the first five weeks of the season.

Their offensive line had their best overall run-blocking performance of the season in Sunday's 24-23 loss to the Lions. The Eagles averaged a season-high 5.5 yards per carry. Six of their 21 rushing attempts gained 10 yards or more.

The one huge negative, of course, was Ryan Mathews' game-costing, fourth-quarter fumble.

"It's getting better and better," center Jason Kelce said of the Eagles' ground game, which currently is averaging 118.5 yards per game, the league's 10th most.

"This past week was probably the best game that we've had in terms of per-play efficiency. We got dinged on some penalties and things like that. But I thought we had some things blocked up really, really well. And it's gotten better every week."

Of course, they'll be without Johnson for the next 10 games, which could be a big deal or a not-so-big deal, depending on how Vaitai plays.

"It's disappointing losing Lane," Kelce said. "He was playing out of his mind. He was playing really good football this year. We're going to miss him.

"Having said that, 'V' has shown really, really good improvement each and every week."

Said right guard Brandon Brooks: "There's always things we can do better. But I like the direction we're headed in.''

The Redskins' defense can be run against. They are 30th in rushing yards allowed per game (130.0) and last in yards allowed per carry (5.1).

They gave up 6.2 yards per carry to the Ravens on Sunday, and already have had two running backs gash them for 120-plus yards - Cleveland's Isaiah Crowell (120) and Pittsburgh's DeAngelo Williams (143).

"Our job is to be fundamentally sound, gap sound," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "And then we have to do a really great job of tackling.

"That's what hurt us in our losses (to Pittsburgh and Dallas). When we give up big runs, somebody is usually missing a big tackle right in the hole. So, if we can be gap sound and secure with our tackles, then I think we'll have a better shot."

Informed of Pederson's comment that the Eagles might lean heavier on the run game to take the pressure off Vaitai, Gruden laughed and said, "So that means Doug is going to throw it 70 times, right?

"Listen, your emphasis has to be to stop the run in every game you go into. Even if you're playing the New England Patriots, you have to stop (LeGarrette) Blount, even though they have the greatest quarterback in the history of football."

Rookie Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner combined for 121 rushing yards in the Eagles' impressive, 34-3, Week 3 win over the Steelers. But neither of them got a carry against the Lions, even though they've combined for 13 rushing first downs and eight double-digit-yard runs on only 34 carries.

Pederson has made it clear that, for now at least, Mathews (11 carries for 42 yards against the Lions) and Darren Sproles (5 for 45 yards) are the team's primary ballcarriers.

On Wednesday, though, he indicated that he might rotate all four of his backs on Sunday.

"Good chance, good possibility that that happens," he said. "Again, it depends on getting into the game and how the game unfolds, and obviously, if there's an injury or something at the position. I like where Wendell's at and I like where Kenjon's at. They do give us a little bit of burst, (and) give Darren and Ryan a rest. We'll just have to see as the game unfolds. But I would like to use them a little more."

The 33-year-old Sproles already has 24 rushing attempts. That's a 96-carry pace, which would be a career high for the 5-6, 190-pounder. Sproles also is second on the team in receptions, with 14.

Pederson said he's not concerned about overusing Sproles.

"Listen," he said, "this guy is an amazing athlete. (He) works extremely hard (and) protects his body. One thing with Darren is he doesn't take a lot of direct hits. He's underneath a lot of the hits because of his size, obviously.

"I don't see any signs of him slowing down. We'll continue to use him. I don't want to necessarily increase his workload. Same with Ryan. But at the same time, I want to maximize the opportunities that they have."

@Pdomo

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