After an impressive Super Bowl performance, you would think that the Eagles would be utilizing Corey Clement more often this season. For some reason, Duce Staley has decided to give Wendell Smallwood more snaps after Jay Ajayi tore his ACL earlier this season.
Last year, Clement finished with 321 yards and 4 touchdowns on 74 carries, not to mention his miraculous performance in the Super Bowl in which he had 100 yards receiving with a 55 yard touchdown. Smallwood had 174 yards and 1 touchdown on 47 carries in 2017.
With Clement being the bigger receiving threat and bigger body on the field, you can only wonder why is Smallwood getting more carries?
Duce Staley spoke about the two running backs saying, "With Wendell, it takes a little time to warm up,'' he said. "I tell him all the time that I need him to be like a microwave. I need that instant heat from him."
"Corey just needs to keep improving,'' Staley said. "On this level, you need to understand that every day matters. It's the everyday routine [that's important] when it comes to running back."
The Eagles struggles in the run game is starting to become a problem, you can argue that two losses against the Panthers and the Titans could have been prevented if the offense could have stayed on the field and ran the clock out.
Clement is nursing a quad injury this season, which may be the cause for his lack of production. While Smallwood and Josh Adams seem to be rising to the occasion, Clement's window for being the running back for the future is starting to close. Hopefully he can get back on track after this bye week and be ready for the big game against Dallas.
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