What Happened to LeSean McCoy, Eagles' Rushing Attack in Week 3?

That the Philadelphia Eagles outlasted division rival Washington 37-34 in Week 3 was made all the more impressive by the fact the offense got next to no production from All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy. On the other hand, such a formula likely isn't a recipe for continued success.

Sunday was McCoy's worst game as a professional, the sixth-year veteran carrying 19 times for 22 yards, an abysmal 1.2 yards per attempt—a career low in a start. Philadelphia won anyway, so that line is merely a footnote in history now, but the offense must get its most dangerous weapon on track.

Given the current state of Philadelphia's offensive line, however, this may be one issue the Eagles can't fix overnight.

GM	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD
Wk 1 vs. JAC	21	74	3.5	0
Wk 2 @ IND	20	79	4.0	1
Wk 3 vs. WAS	19	22	1.2	0

It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for McCoy in 2014. The NFL's reigning rushing champion has yet to eclipse 80 yards or a 4.0 average in a game through three weeks. It's probably safe to say he isn't going to join the 2,000-yard club this year.

It's not hard to identify the source of the problem either. The Eagles have been down offensive linemen since the season began, and the situation has progressively gotten worse.

The league suspended starting right tackle Lane Johnson for the first four games. Replacement Allen Barbre was lost for the year to an injury in Week 1. All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis was also injured in Week 1, landing on short-term injured reserve for eight weeks. Center Jason Kelce underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia Tuesday, per CSNPhilly. Reserve swingman Matt Tobin was injured during the preseason. All-Pro left tackle Jason Peters was ejected in the fourth quarter against Washington.

Those six players represent the top seven offensive linemen on Philadelphia’s roster, several of them among the best in the league at their respective positions. Is it any surprise McCoy is having trouble finding room to run?

There's no denying absences along the offensive line are the issue. To his credit, McCoy has accepted the blame for his slow start, according to Phil Sheridan for ESPN.com, and said there certainly are some areas where he can improve:

"

Different reads. I can read a little better. Some of the opportunities I had, I could make some of those guys miss, which I'm capable of doing. I'd be lying if I said in the past I made every single cut the right way. That's lying.

"

Some observers, such as Les Bowen for the Philadelphia Daily News, even suggested a head injury suffered during the first quarter was partly to blame.

The film shows, more often than not, McCoy simply had nowhere to go against Washington's defense.

NFL Game Rewind

First of all, defenses seem more determined than ever not to let McCoy beat them to begin with. This is an eight-man box on 1st-and-10 in the first quarter. The Eagles only have seven players in to block.

NFL Game Rewind

At first glance, it actually looks like McCoy has a seam up the middle, enough for a short gain at least. Now watch how quickly that sliver of light disappears.

NFL Game Rewind

Veteran defensive end Jason Hatcher beats left guard Dennis Kelly even with Peters helping—you could already see it developing in the previous image. With safety Brandon Meriweather cutting off McCoy's escape to the outside, all the back can do is pound the rock into his line for no gain.

The eight-man front Washington showed is nothing out of the ordinary for Philadelphia. The Jacksonville Jaguars showed it in Week 1. The New Orleans Saints showed it in last season's playoff game.

NFL Game Rewind

NFL Game Rewind

It's hard enough running the ball against an eight-man front with an offensive line that's intact, let alone one in as much disarray as the Eagles' line.

Of course, it should be noted the attention being paid to McCoy helped open up the field for Nick Foles to throw for 325 yards and three touchdowns on Washington's defense. As long as the passing attack is experiencing that kind of success, opponents will have to rethink whether they want to commit these kinds of resources to stopping the running game—especially considering what the Eagles have to work with along the offensive line.

NFL Game Rewind

This time we see backup-backup right tackle Andrew Gardner being driven into the backfield by 325-pound defensive end Clifton Geathers on a sweep. Gardner is so far in the backfield, neither Kelly pulling from the left nor McCoy with the ball can actually reach the outside of the formation. McCoy tries to cut back to the middle, but you can tell that's going nowhere.

NFL Game Rewind

Here's Kelly being beaten again to the inside by Hatcher, this time one-on-one. The only chance McCoy has is to bounce this all the way outside to the right, which is asking a lot of the other blocking assignments. Amazingly, he gets to the edge, but cornerback DeAngelo Hall is waiting to trip him up before the play can turn into anything significant.

The good news for the Eagles is reinforcements are on the way.

Geoff Mosher for CSNPhilly.com reported Tobin is ready to return from his injury and will take over at left guard. Kelly will shift to right guard, where he practiced throughout training camp and has more experience. Starting right guard Todd Herremans will kick out to right tackle, sending Gardner to the bench.

One week from now, Johnson will be eligible to return from his suspension. The 2013 fourth overall pick is a good bet to take up his spot at right tackle immediately upon his reinstatement.

Still, Tobin will make his first career start in Week 4, as will David Molk at center, and against the San Francisco 49ers no less. The Niners run defense ranks seventh in the NFL and has finished no worse than sixth since 2009, so it’s not exactly the ideal matchup for a professional debut.

It seems McCoy will once again have his work cut out for him Sunday, even with the changes up front. As more players come back, the Eagles' running game should gradually improve, but for the time being, it looks like more tough sledding ahead for McCoy.