The Philadelphia Eagles arrived late to the hybrid WR party but Howie Roseman is attempting to make up for it by loading his roster with multifaceted running backs and receivers.
Aside from veterans DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery, and second-year wideout JJ Arcega-Whiteside, the Eagles now will rely heavily on guys who can catch the deep ball, take a bubble-screen to the house or carry the ball out of the backfield as well.
In Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, undrafted rookie Adrian Killins and at times Michael Warren, the Eagles have running backs who can make their living carrying the ball or sliding out to the slot as a receiver.
In Jalen Reagor, Marquise Goodwin, John Hightower, and Greg Ward, the Eagles now have a core group of wide receivers who can carry the ball in certain situations as well.
Pro Football Focus recently did a breakdown on the new wave of hybrid receivers who legitimately pose a threat as a runner and whether that could be the next big thing in the NFL.
Sanders and Killins factor into the equation because of their ability to be dynamic in the passing game, giving Carson Wentz another weapon on the outside of the in the middle of the field.
The Chiefs are the gold standard for NFL offenses with the San Francisco 49ers chomping at the bit. The Saints have. a juggernaut for an offense, but recently added Ty Montgomery to the roster because he presents that same skill set.
The utilization of Eagles’ running backs and receivers as multi-purpose threats out of the backfield and in the open field could present Carson Wentz with the opportunity to get rid of the ball quickly while starting games off at a more efficient pace.
The quicker pace is something Wentz and the Eagles flourished at late down the stretch of the 2019 season and the reduced hits would allow the Birds star to fight off any talk of an injury-prone 2020 season.
The Eagles will face some heavyweight pass-rushing units early on in their schedule and with such a young-roster at the skill positions, getting Reagor, Hightower, Killins, and Warren the ball in space can only do wonders for their confidence early on.
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