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Boston Scott and Kenny Gainwell showcase Eagles running back depth in preseason
As Miles Sanders continues to take care of a lingering hamstring harm, the beginning working again torch was handed to Boston Scott on Sunday in Cleveland. With the overwhelming majority of Eagles’ first-teamers not even suiting up, Sanders probably would not have performed, but it surely was a terrific alternative for each Scott and second-year again Kenny Gainwell to make themselves stand out.
They seized that likelihood.
The Eagles’ early gameplan of their 21-20 win in opposition to the Browns seemed eerily much like what labored for them down the stretch in 2021: pounding the rock. With a second-team offensive line that is higher than some groups’ beginning strains, the Birds’ teaching employees queued up run after run to put on down the Cleveland protection.
Scott saddled up for the primary drive and Gainwell took the reins for the second drive. Each resulted in dashing touchdowns (one for every runner), because the Eagles utterly managed the time of possession. This is how the 2 backs and the Eagles carried out:
| Stats | First Drive | Second Drive |
| RB | Scott | Gainwell |
| Makes an attempt | 10 | 11 |
| Rush Yards | 33 | 46 |
| Time of Possession | 7:26 | 7:35 |
| TD | 1-yard run | 2-yard run |
BoSco 💪
Scott was utilized in frequent quick yardage and goal-to-go conditions in opposition to the Browns. Regardless of his quick standing at 5’6″, he is robust at 203 kilos with a low heart of gravity. That is led to the Eagles utilizing him to punch it in over the past a number of years, at all times popping up as a presence in each the Doug Pederson and Nick Sirianni eras. Name him “Mighty Mouse” or “Muscle Hamster” or no matter Eagles followers need, however he had seven dashing touchdowns on simply 87 makes an attempt final season. The dude is a back-of-the-roster participant who can shine when thrown into the combo.
Scott will get bonus factors for leaping the pile for his landing too:
A working bit I’ve accomplished over time is inventing the stat “Juice Above Alternative” (JAR), a parody of baseball’s imperfect, statistically pushed WAR metric. JAR is about altering the power of the workforce, arising in clutch conditions, and sustaining optimistic vibes when a participant is on the market. Scott is at all times among the many league leaders in JAR.
Kenny G 🎷
Gainwell had a promising rookie marketing campaign in 2021. A fifth-round select of Memphis, Gainwell had six touchdowns on 101 touches, working as an element within the passing recreation too with 33 catches. A sophomore soar has been anticipated for Gainwell this season, however he hasn’t set the world on hearth this summer season (consensus has been that he is been dangerous in camp, that feels too robust to me although). An encouraging preseason recreation would go a good distance in the direction of increase the teaching employees’s (and the fan base’s) perception in him.
He had some legit burst in Cleveland. This is Gainwell ripping off a 16-yard run on third down:
Then he bought his personal likelihood to pound it in on the aim line, identical to Scott did the earlier drive:
There can be alternatives for the Eagles so as to add one other again someday earlier than Week 1 (or presumably midseason if the workforce is cruising, akin to 2017’s Jay Ajayi commerce). Possibly they swing a commerce. Possibly Howie Roseman calls Jordan Howard’s agent, who the final supervisor musty have on velocity dial at this level. I am of the mindset that the Eagles ought to carry 4 working backs, bringing in one which’s extra of a bruiser within the Howard mould can be a terrific praise to the Sanders/Gainwell/Scott trio. No government in sports activities loves making offers greater than Roseman!
In the occasion that the Birds roll into the season with simply these three, nonetheless, this workforce ought to nonetheless be capable of punish defenses on the bottom with the mixture of this o-line after which Scott and Gainwell spelling Sanders. Even when the Eagles throw extra in 2022 than they did in 2021, they’re going to nonetheless depend on the large boys up entrance and whomever they’re handing the ball off to to kill the clock and produce residence a W. Scott and Gainwell did that final yr and can be up for the duty once more this fall.
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