Philadelphia Eagles Showed Overreliance on Kenny Gainwell
There was a lot of talk about the Philadelphia Eagles running back room during the NFL preseason. The “running back by committee” moniker seemed like the likeliest approach. However, Kenny Gainwell took the ball in Week 1 against the New England Patriots without much of a committee behind him.
Kenny Gainwell
The era of Brian Johnson as the new offensive coordinator and play-caller started with an unexpected strategy. Gainwell took the ball an astounding eight times on the first drive.
According to The Ringer, he played 38 offensive snaps. Offseason acquisition D’Andre Swift, who many people considered the starting back, played only 17 snaps. Boston Scott rotated minimally, and Rashaad Penny sat as a healthy scratch.
“You’re supposed to have a running back room by committee. It was Gainwell… What’s the point of getting D’Andre Swift if you’re never going to use him? I’ve never thought that Gainwell was a number one back. He performed pretty well that first drive, so it’s hard to argue with it, but then afterwards, they kept going to him as if he was Brian Westbrook.” -Pat Egan on The John Kincade Show
Gainwell finished the game with 14 carries for 54 yards and four catches for 20 yards. The early reliance on the third-year back from Memphis didn’t continue entirely in the context of the offensive strategy after the first drive. However, it’s clear who Nick Sirianni trusted as the lead back out of the gates.
Swift carried once for three yards, and he caught one pass for no gain. Scott also finished with two touches.
Bo Wulf summarized the preseason feeling about Swift, Gainwell, and the running back room as a guest on The Best Show Ever.
“I think they want him (Swift) to be the guy who’s going to bring some explosiveness to the offense and add that dynamic of a receiver out of the backfield that they did not have last season, but I think Week 1 you might see the Eagles sort of go back to Mr. Reliable, and that’s Kenny Gainwell…Kenny Gainwell is the guy that they trust in two-minute drills and in tight-game situations and in the red zone.” -Bo Wulf
Gainwell also surprisingly outsnapped Miles Sanders in Super Bowl LVII. The decision by Sirianni was related to Sanders fumbling on the first play from scrimmage. The trust in Gainwell outweighed the potential explosive ability of Sanders.
Running Back By Committee
Gainwell provided a solid option out of the backfield in Foxborough on Sunday. However, a sluggish offense that netted two total yards in their final five drives of the first half could’ve used a change of pace.
The reliance doesn’t have to continue moving forward. The Eagles have a quick turnaround before their home opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football in Week 2. Fresh legs from Swift, Scott, or even Penny could add a different element to Sirianni and Johnson’s attack.
“I don’t ever want to come out a game where D’Andre Swift has only two touches either.” -Nick Sirianni
The acknowledgment could point to a tweaked game plan in future games. Dallas Goedert similarly wasn’t involved in the offense, which isn’t a trend that’s likely to continue.
A disappointing offensive performance in Week 1 was ultimately good enough for a road victory against a team led by one of the best football coaches in the game’s history. The Eagles are 1-0, but the coaching staff must address a real head-scratcher if they want to regain a rhythm as one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL.
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