You watching the Eagles at all lately? Because man, their run game is a mess right now. Saquon Barkley’s out there saying it’s gonna be “something scary” when it gets rolling, but honestly, the scariest thing right now is their 3.9 yards per carry, which has them tied for a measly 18th in the league. That’s not getting it done, especially when you consider what they want to be.
Saquon’s Got Big Dreams, But Where’s the Production?
Barkley’s trying to keep spirits high, sure. He’s saying it’s “not a finished product” and they don’t want it to be in Week Two or Week Three, which, okay, makes sense if this was still August, but it’s September, dude! He thinks they gotta “buy in, continue to buy in” because “it’s all relatively new to all of us in the run game.” He’s talking about how they’re “still learning and trying to continue to buy into something new.” They’re even seeing “funky looks and weird looks” from defenses, which he thinks is a sign defenses still respect the run. That’s a good spin, I guess.
He’s convinced “it’s going to be a beautiful thing when we’re all firing at the same page.” He’s been chatting with Jalen and the O-line, and apparently, there’s “not like a sense of any panic.” Everyone wants “the big numbers,” but Barkley’s “in a good spot” knowing the work is being put in. He can’t guarantee when the results will come, but he knows they will, and “when we get this thing rolling, it’s going to be something scary.” That’s a lot of faith, man.
This Scheme NEEDS the Run Game to Work, Like, Yesterday
Here’s the real kicker: if this run game doesn’t work out for the Eagles, their whole season could be dead in the water. Historically, when Philly’s had those special seasons, the run game was dominant. When it wasn’t, they were an easy out in the playoffs. And it’s not only about stats, it’s about the entire offensive scheme. A huge part of their system is making run plays and pass plays look identical at the snap. That’s how you keep defenses guessing and make that play action game sing. But without an efficient run game, that whole thing falls apart. They’re banking on guys like Cam Jurgens and Drew Kendall getting comfortable in their new roles, but that’s a big gamble when your whole offense hinges on it.
Maybe they should “pass more often to set up the running game as opposed to the other way around,” as some are suggesting. But for a team that wants to run the ball down opponents’ throats, being stuck at 3.9 yards a pop and relying on hope and future comfort isn’t exactly instilling confidence. It’s early season, sure, but these are the trends that decide seasons.
So what’s next for the Eagles? If they wanna avoid being “dead in the water” and become that “something scary” Barkley’s talking about, they gotta figure out this run game, and fast. It’s not just about getting big numbers, it’s about making their entire scheme functional. If they can’t get that ground game humming, those playoff dreams could turn into a nightmare real quick for them.
Oh, and real quick from around the league: Tough one for our Seahawks yesterday, they fell to the Washington Commanders 33-31. Always a tough loss when it’s that close, but you know the 12s will be ready for the next one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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