2020 Eagles training camp: Inventing new ways to use Miles Sanders
Imagine Miles Sanders becoming an even better receiver? A more versatile receiver? A more explosive receiver?
That’s the plan.
Doug Pederson said Monday he envisions Sanders expanding his role in the passing game, adding different routes to his repertoire and lining up more in the slot or out wide.
He’s already one of the best receiving backs in the league. And the Eagles think he can get even better.
“I do believe Miles has the ability to do that,” Pederson said. “He’s somebody that we’ve said, ‘Hey, you know, you’re our guy going into this season.’ Definitely want to increase what he can do for us, and if that means using him out of the backfield a little bit more in empty situations, we want to do that and see where he can grow and get better and help us. I do think that skill-set is conducive, not only to him, but obviously matchups and things of that nature from a defensive standpoint.”
Sanders caught 50 passes for 509 yards last year, both more than any Eagles wide receiver. He became only the 15th rookie running back in NFL history with at least 50 catches and 500 yards.
Of those 15, he’s one of only six who also had at least 800 rushing yards.
With upgraded wide receivers, you might think Sanders would be less utilized in the receiving game.
Not so, says Carson Wentz.
“It definitely puts a lot of strain and stress on the defense to know that Miles might take a handoff and run it up the middle or we might flex him out and he might run a go or he might run a slant,” Wentz said Monday. “The ability that he brings out of the backfield and splitting out at wide receiver and the slot is a coverage nightmare for defenses. In my opinion, I think we’ll expect to see a lot more zone coverage because people know what he can do as a receiver. We’ll see how teams want to play us, but we’re always looking to take advantage of those mismatches, too.”
With Sanders, Boston Scott and Corey Clement, the Eagles have three backs who’ve shown they can be weapons in the receiving game.
Scott caught 23 passes for 199 yards just in the last four games of last season – 4th-most of any NFL running back the last month of last year. And we all know what Clement was able to do down the stretch in 2017 and in the Super Bowl.
It gives Doug Pederson and the other offensive coaches a lot of flexibility and makes the offense unpredictable when any of the backs on the field can run the ball or catch the ball effectively.
“It’s a tremendous advantage for us to have that depth as runners but to be able to catch screens, go out and line up in empty sets and run routes,” Wentz said. “We’re always looking to exploit those mismatches, so if we get a guy that we think can’t cover we’ve got Miles. If Miles is out we still have Boston out there and Corey does a great job as well. It is definitely a luxury that we have those guys and the ability that they have as pass catchers.”
It was only the first day of padded practice Monday, but if anything Sanders looked faster and more powerful than ever.
He’s really, really good. And getting better.
“When it comes to Miles, I’ve been thoroughly impressed with what I’ve seen,” Wentz said. “This big jump from Year 1 to Year 2, mentally processing everything and how he sees the game is completely different. I’m extremely excited to see him out on the field and what he’s going to do this year.”
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