Sirianni: 'Not sure many RBs in NFL playing better than Miles Sanders'

Nick Sirianni says he's not sure any running back is playing better than Miles Sanders right now, and that's hard to argue.

"It's just his whole game," Sirianni said when asked about Sanders' year four leap by Angelo Cataldi on Monday's 94WIP Morning Show. "You don't just improve as a runner, you improve as a player. So he's improved as a runner, he's improved as a pass blocker, he's improved his ball security, he's improved his—he takes care of his body so well, his health is where we want it right now. So he's improved his entire game. He's just in great mindsight of what he wants to go accomplish and how he wants to play. He has fun every day coming in here going through the grind with the guys to get ready to play on Sunday. I'm really happy for Miles and the way he's playing, because he's playing at a top notch—I'm not sure there are many running backs in the NFL playing better than Miles Sanders right now."

Miles Sanders outdueled fellow Penn State running back Saquon Barkley in Sunday's game and it wasn't even close. Sanders rushed for 144 yards on 17 carries and two scores, while a banged Barkley had just nine carries and two catches for 48 total yards and no touchdowns.

After an odd 2021 season where Sanders did not find the end zone once in 12 games played, he has already rushed for 11 touchdowns in 13 games this season. Sanders also eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in Sunday's win over the Giants for the first time in his career.

Sanders has 1,068 rushing yards on the season, which is currently fifth in the NFL behind Barkley, Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry, and the current leader Josh Jacobs (1,402).

Sanders, who will turn 26 in May, is set to enter free-agency after the season, giving Howie Roseman a crucial offseason decision at the running back position.

https://www.audacy.com/94wip/sports/eagles/nick-sirianni-miles-sanders-nfl-running-backs-eagles-94wip

What’s impressive about Sanders’ numbers is the average. 5.23 YPC. So he may be 5th in total yards, but has far fewer carries than the four ahead of him. Jacobs has been a beast too, but if Sanders had the same number of attempts he’d have like 6 more yards than Jacobs and be leading the league. 

5 minutes ago, nipples said:

What’s impressive about Sanders’ numbers is the average. 5.23 YPC. So he may be 5th in total yards, but has far fewer carries than the four ahead of him. Jacobs has been a beast too, but if Sanders had the same number of attempts he’d have like 6 more yards than Jacobs and be leading the league. 

Not that impressive really, it ranks 3rd in his 4 seasons.  5.5 last year and 5.3 the year before.  He has always been good, just never been healthy, or had enough carries.

2019 - 11 carries per game

2020 - 14 carries per game

2021 - 11 carries per game

2022 - 16 carries per game

7 minutes ago, downundermike said:

Not that impressive really, it ranks 3rd in his 4 seasons.  5.5 last year and 5.3 the year before.  He has always been good, just never been healthy, or had enough carries.

2019 - 11 carries per game

2020 - 14 carries per game

2021 - 11 carries per game

2022 - 16 carries per game

Of all the RBs in the league with at least 150 carries this year, Sanders is second to only Pollard in YPC. But ok, it’s not impressive.

2 minutes ago, nipples said:

Of all the RBs in the league with at least 150 carries this year, Sanders is second to only Pollard in YPC. But ok, it’s not impressive.

I did not mean it as a slight, just pointing out it is his 3rd best season in regards to YPC.  He has always been productive.

50 minutes ago, downundermike said:

I did not mean it as a slight, just pointing out it is his 3rd best season in regards to YPC.  He has always been productive.

I know he has… just saying his average is impressive, regardless of his other season. Comparing him to the rest of the league, not to himself

Sanders is good. If he had power, he'd be great. It's his only really significant shortcoming. That said, his talent plus the way the O-line is playing makes the run game very effective. I hope they keep it up.

13 hours ago, nipples said:

What’s impressive about Sanders’ numbers is the average. 5.23 YPC. So he may be 5th in total yards, but has far fewer carries than the four ahead of him. Jacobs has been a beast too, but if Sanders had the same number of attempts he’d have like 6 more yards than Jacobs and be leading the league. 

Yeah and the fact that he's not the #1 weapon on this team. This team has a 1000 yard receiver with another who could hit 1000 yards. This team also has a QB who's on pace to rush for 1000 yards. So Sanders isn't the main focal point for this offense. Jacobs is with the Raiders, Henry is with the Titans, same for Barkley and Chubb.