After the Eagles parted ways with wide receiver DeSean Jackson, some people pointed to the addition of running back Darren Sproles as a move that would help the Eagles deal with replacing Jackson’s production in the offense.
That may turn out to be the case, but that’s not the only way that Sproles can help the Eagles offense. Running back LeSean McCoy is coming off a year that saw him pile up 366 touches and feels that having Sproles on the squad will cut down on that workload, a change he thinks will lead to more production as games wind down.
“Signing Sproles helps me out as a running back,” McCoy said, via FOXSports.com. “I can go in a game even more fresh because I’m getting less carries and less attempts. I had 366 touches, which is a lot. I think me having less attempts can help me be more productive and more deadly. Being fresh in the fourth quarter, things that you don’t think matter really do make a big difference. Now defenses have another guy that they have to prepare for. They have to watch out for so many different things, and it’s hard. They only get a week to prepare for us.”
While the Eagles will likely look for more help at receiver in the draft, a more productive season for McCoy (who gained over 2,100 yards from scrimmage last year) would make it much easier to swallow any loss associated with Jackson’s departure.