Fansided

5 burning questions the Eagles must answer in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 11: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during mandatory minicamp at the NovaCare Complex on June 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 11: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during mandatory minicamp at the NovaCare Complex on June 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 03: Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard (24) during the Philadelphia Eagles OTA on June 3, 2019 at the Novacare Training Complex in Philadelphia, PA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 03: Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard (24) during the Philadelphia Eagles OTA on June 3, 2019 at the Novacare Training Complex in Philadelphia, PA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Will the Philadelphia running game rebound this year?

For all of quarterback Carson Wentz’s spectacular numbers through the first 13 games of 2017, the Philadelphia running game was just as vital to the Eagles’ offensive success that year. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys totaled more yards on the ground that year.

Led by LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi (a midseason addition via the Miami Dolphins) and Corey Clement, the Philadelphia running game rolled up big yards throughout the season. The Eagles averaged a brisk 132.2 yards per game on the ground and this trio accounted for more than two-thirds of the team’s rushing yards that season. And in the 41-33 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII, the Birds quietly but effectively ran for 164 yards on Bill Belichick’s defense.

It was a much different story this past year. Ajayi wound up missing 12 games with a torn ACL and remains an unsigned free agent. Blount left before the season for the Detroit Lions. And when it was all said and done, Doug Pederson’s team finished 28th in the NFL in rushing yards. Which is exactly the reason Howie Roseman made the trade for Chicago Bears’ running back Jordan Howard. He proved he could shoulder a big load in the Windy City.

The 24-year-old pro has totaled 250-plus carries in each of his three NFL seasons. And it’s those numbers that figure to be just what the offense needs in terms of play-action passing and control of the clock.

Next: No. 1

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