Just how I’ve always seen it. How it’s always been described by talking heads and fantasy guys.

Zeke wasn’t in a committee until Pollard asserted himself the last two seasons.

2 minutes ago, cunninghamtheman said:

I’m actually fine with this point. We’ll call him just very very good then.

To me clearly the main guy was the point

Yes..the lead guy...main guy...whatever.  or the early down guy..either way.   But nowhere near irreplaceable.   And looking at that list... the other guys don't come off the field on big plays.    

Also... the other guys don't run behind our OL.

2 HUGE factors in a decision to pay him.   If other RBs were in his position, would they provide better results?  You could argue most of them wouldn't have to come off the field as much.  Especially on big plays.

5 minutes ago, cunninghamtheman said:

Gainwell’s 240 yards wasn’t just being a backup. It was him just sharing the lead role with Sanders, I guess you’d consider. Or just considering snaps played blocking?

I’m fine with disagreeing on RBBC. 

I consider when it's 3rd and 1, my best guy should be our there.  When it's 3rd and 10,my best guy should be out there.

I'm saying, plenty of guys below Sanders in only rushing yards...would not come off the field if they were here.   

I'm saying he was a product of being the lead early down,primary rusher....whatever label you want to use as a rusher.... behind the best OL.   But other " 1st string guys"  wouldn’t come off the field as much.

While you made a great point on how WRs can be divas or complain...because they are dependent on so many other people doing their job....

I say it's similar to RB.    You need the coach to call a run play for you and you need the OL to block.

For the team... I see elite rushing...elite team rushing in 2022.   I see Sanders just getting better numbers this year, because he  was just given more of the rushes.  He didn't elevate the Eagles rushing game as it was already there last year. The team was elite rushing in 2022.    I see Sanders as product of his environment.   As I said,I think plenty of other guys put in his position would produce the same or better. 

I don't believe he warrants top ten pay.  Regardless if it's more affordable than resigning other guys.  There is a reason the other guys would cost more in the first place.

I also believe if you gave Sanders 5 less carries per game and gave them to Gainwell or Scott... it wouldn't change the results much... if that's 5 rushes per 15 games... so 75 less rushes...  if Sanders averages 4 yards a carry...that's 300 less yards...puts him at 969.  Not top 16.    If the other guys averaged a yard less per rush... is 5 yards less per game a big deal?  This particular year do you think 5 rushing yards per game would have made a difference in any of the games?

The closest win was Indy...one could argue we ran Sanders too much that game.   

Purdy right now has been statistically a top QB in the last 2 months.   Do tiu think it's him...or his environment?   That's what I'm saying with Sanders.  Results happen... but we all know there are driving factors behind the results.   Sanders and Purdy are 2 guys you can say are benefitting from the position they play on that particular team.

I meant elite rushing in 2021..last year..the Eagles were already elite as a team.

Yards from scrimmage for RBs...

Sanders was 13th at 1347 scrimmage yards.

Eckler was 6th at 1637... 290 more than Sanders.

Jeff Wilson Jr was 25th...at 1035... 312 behind Sanders.  

Sanders being just as close to 25th as he would be to 6th.... to me doesn't make him elite.    

And if he stayed on the field more he would get more scrimmage yards.  And you can make the case that Hurts would throw more to RBs if he had an elite one to throw to?   Pollard, Eckler , CMC who don't just specifically rush the ball.. you could easily make a case would play more snaps here and get more production in the pass game than Sanders. 

Jordan Howard was in similar role with Bears his early years....strictly one dimensional rushing he was a top guy.   But not sure anyone would consider him an elite RB?    

It's why when I say my top RBs... I like the guys like Payton, Allen, Craig, Faulk etc.... others like Sanders,  Dickerson,  Campbell etc.    But I can argue those guys were fed the ball to where they got the rushing yards.  The RBs who won, did more than just run the ball.    

Sanders agent will use the rushing stats to make the case to pay him...as he should.   But I can't say I would pay him top ten money just for being 5th in rushing behind the best OL.  Need more,especially in today's game.   I can't take  you off the field that much if I pay you...especially not on key downs.   

" I don't have anything else on the roster " is not a reason to pay him. That's what Dallas would do. 

At this point now...to win a SB you need to beat SF...then either KC or Cincy.    

You can anticipate that we probably won't dominate running the ball.   If we do, would you guess it's because of RB play or the OL.  

That said.. RB blocking and receiving is going to be important.  More important than ever this year.   An elite RB would be in there doing those other things.   Let's see what happens.  

You aren't resting elite players now.  They will be out there on the field.  Even if it's blocking. 

Antonio Gibson was 6th in rushing last year. Elijah Mitchell was 8th.  

2020... David Montgomery and James Robinson were tied for 5th in rushing.

Any of these guys " elite"?

 

Hurts doesn’t check down to the RB. Nothing to do with Sanders. Hurts skill set is why. He wasn’t used to TE. Had to learn Goedert. Had to learn the middle of the field.

Chris Carson was 5th in rushing both in 2018 and 2019.  Philip Lindsey was 9th in 2018.      Elite or not? 

But Hurts doesn’t really check down to the RB. Don’t really want to force him to either until later in his career.

Just now, cunninghamtheman said:

Hurts doesn’t check down to the RB. Nothing to do with Sanders. Hurts skill set is why. He wasn’t used to TE. Had to learn Goedert. Had to learn the middle of the field.

So if we had a RB that was one of these other guys.... you don't think the play calling or Hurts would throw to them more?   It has to be check down?   

The reasoning I give is we want Hurts looking downfield. As long as possible. If he just can’t find anything…then he takes off. With his ability he is the Rb check down.

1 minute ago, cunninghamtheman said:

But Hurts doesn’t really check down to the RB. Don’t really want to force him to either until later in his career.

Right...don't want to force him to throw to Sanders.

The players have something to do with what happens on the field.  No way you could think CMC wouldn't get a bunch of receptions on the Eagles...or Eckler or Pollard. 

I don’t like the generic stats for rushing. It doesn’t tell the story. A season worth or per game rushing yards really doesn’t mean much. It’s how Sanders sets the tone. Gets those early first downs. That gets our Oline rolling. Gets the D tired. Sets them off balance.

1 minute ago, cunninghamtheman said:

The reasoning I give is we want Hurts looking downfield. As long as possible. If he just can’t find anything…then he takes off. With his ability he is the Rb check down.

That makes sense... if you are of the mindset that the RB is strictly " check down"    with Sanders...that would absolutely be how I would think. 

Coming in after we beat them up down the field it’s hit them while their tired and worn out time. Same with fourth quarter when we have massive leads like our last game. Those late yards Gainwell picked up are nice. Close things out and humiliate them. But those are easy yards. Beat up team that’s given up.

Getting the initial first downs is the hardest part. The D is fresh. Without those they aren’t winded. Can’t get them off balance towards the pass. 

1 minute ago, cunninghamtheman said:

I don’t like the generic stats for rushing. It doesn’t tell the story. A season worth or per game rushing yards really doesn’t mean much. It’s how Sanders sets the tone. Gets those early first downs. That gets our Oline rolling. Gets the D tired. Sets them off balance.

Sanders does all that.... not the OL.   Yeah we differ there for sure.   This year passing became more of the tone setter with AJ added.  

Last year we set the tone more with the run...  Sanders didn't really play much of that part.  Again,  why I consider him more of " along for the ride "  like Purdy at the moment. 

Sanders been hitting the fresh defenders and earning it. 

Just now, cunninghamtheman said:

Getting the initial first downs is the hardest part. The D is fresh. Without those they aren’t winded. Can’t get them off balance towards the pass. 

So this particular year...we go back to the play charts of each game...you expect to see the results showing Sanders running setting the tone?  

47 minutes ago, joemas6 said:

It's why when I say my top RBs... I like the guys like Payton, Allen, Craig, Faulk etc.... others like Sanders,  Dickerson,  Campbell etc.    But I can argue those guys were fed the ball to where they got the rushing yards.  The RBs who won, did more than just run the ball.    

Sanders agent will use the rushing stats to make the case to pay him...as he should.   But I can't say I would pay him top ten money just for being 5th in rushing behind the best OL.  Need more,especially in today's game.   I can't take  you off the field that much if I pay you...especially not on key downs.   

" I don't have anything else on the roster " is not a reason to pay him. That's what Dallas would do. 

I don’t think he’s HOF level. He isn’t resetting the market. That’s at 16 mil. Always going up.

41 minutes ago, joemas6 said:

At this point now...to win a SB you need to beat SF...then either KC or Cincy.    

You can anticipate that we probably won't dominate running the ball.   If we do, would you guess it's because of RB play or the OL.  

That said.. RB blocking and receiving is going to be important.  More important than ever this year.   An elite RB would be in there doing those other things.   Let's see what happens.  

This is exactly where you need the best RB.

Because in theory , I totally 100% agree with you.... in reality I see Sanders differently.   And the main point... I don't think it will be hard to replace him.  Other guys given the chance to carry as much behind this line,  I would expect the same if not more... plus the ability to stay on the field during key downs.