August 21, 2015
During the 2013 preseason, a confident Jason Peters predicted that LeSean McCoy would have 1,000 rushing yards by Week 10. McCoy was "only" able to amass 925 yards through Week 10 that season on his way to a rushing title.
Jason Peters predicted that LeSean McCoy would have 1,000 yards by Week 10. Peters was wrong. McCoy "only" has 925.
— Tommy Lawlor (@lawlornfl) November 10, 2013
This preseason, Peters is confident in the run game once again, and he has lofty goals for the Eagles' two new running backs, DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews.
When asked for a number of rushing yards this season, Peters said, "Get Murray and Mathews over 1,000 yards each." Peters then added that all three running backs, which would include Darren Sproles, should have over 600 yards each. So that's at least 1,000 for Murray, 1,000 for Mathews, and at least 600 for Sproles. That would total at least 2,600 yards. When the Eagles led the league in rushing in 2013, they amassed 2,566 yards.
The Eagles will have to do it with two new starting offensive guards in Allen Barbre at LG and (likely) Andrew Gardner at RG. "I'm comfortable with Al," said Peters. "I've played beside him before. I've been working with him all offseason, so we have a good connection right now."
Peters may have played in games with Barbre on the same offensive line, but they have never played next to each other at LT and LG. However, if there's a team in the NFL that is equipped to handle significant changeover in one offseason, it's the Eagles. In a typical practice, the Eagles average over 80 reps per day in team drills, which is far higher than the typical NFL team.
Having a pair of 1,000 yard rushers isn't an unthinkable feat. In fact, it has happened six times in NFL history, and three times in the last nine seasons:
| Year | Team | RB #1 | RB #2 |
| 1972 | Dolphins | Larry Csonka (1,117) | Mercury Morris (1,000) |
| 1976 | Steelers | Franco Harris (1,128) | Rocky Bleier (1,036) |
| 1985 | Browns | Kevin Mack (1,104) | Earnest Byner (1,002) |
| 2006 | Falcons | Warrick Dunn (1,140) | Michael Vick (1,039) |
| 2008 | Giants | Brandon Jacobs (1,089) | Derrick Ward (1,025) |
| 2009 | Panthers | Jonathan Stewart (1,133) | DeAngelo Williams (1,117) |
I wonder if Peters' projection is a hint at how the Eagles will use their runners in 2015.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski
