The Philadelphia Eagles' season is once again being defined by their quarterback play. Michael vick cannot stay healthy. Nick Foles is injured. Matt Barkley is unprepared. As a result, the offense is struggling to put together any kind of consistency. As the Eagles sit 3-4 with uncertainty as to who will start Week 8, fans are crying out for LeSean McCoy to become the center piece of the offense.
The Eagles are a long ways away from the balanced attack they demonstrated in Week 1 against the Washington Redskins. As the team rotates quarterbacks, the run game has yet to really take off in weeks. Last Sunday, McCoy put up a pedestrian 55 yards on 18 carries. Against the Giants, he had just 46 yards on 20 carries. While some blame falls on McCoy, the rest falls on head coach Chip Kelly and his rush-offense schemes. The head coach does not see the problem.
"There were a lot of times when the numbers were right for us," Kelly said, Via Philly.com. "We do have a hat for hat. We've got to finish it. There were other times when maybe the ball should have gone outside because of how we're blocking it and what the landmarks are, but the back cuts it inside. We've just got to get everybody on the same page."
If McCoy can improve his decision making and find better blocking, the offense will need to center around him. The Eagles have no other choice. Vick may not be healthy enough to play as he nurses a hamstring injury that appears to be worse than expected. Foles is currently recovering from a concussion that he might not be cleared of any time soon. Barkley let loose three interceptions on Sunday. McCoy is now the most important member of the team.
After one of his worst performances against the Cowboys, fantasy owners should not jump off the McCoy bandwagon just yet. There is a very good chance that Barkley could start for the team in the coming week against the New York Giants. The rookie is not a read-option type of quarterback which could lead him to handing the ball off more than Foles or Vick do. The Giants are giving up just an average of 3.9 yards per carry, but if the Eagles let McCoy gain some momentum, he could make a difference.
