What Darren Sproles' Big Week 1 Performance Means for Philadelphia Eagles

Darren Sproles wasn't just a decoy for LeSean McCoy. He was the X-factor for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1 and pivotal to their comeback win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

With almost half as many carries as McCoy, Sproles managed nearly as many yards, rushing for 71 yards off 11 carries compared to McCoy's 74 yards off 21 carries. Despite being the second-string running back, Sproles outplayed McCoy in this game.

This is not to say that Sproles is the superior player; McCoy is arguably the finest running back in the NFL. In this game, it would appear that the Jaguars had focused their game plan on stopping McCoy but did not adequately account for Sproles.

That may be exactly the reason why Chip Kelly brought the miniature running back to Philly. McCoy alone causes headaches for defensive coordinators. But can defensive coordinators game-plan for both McCoy and Sproles?

Sproles commanded a significant amount of touches not just to give McCoy rest. The Eagles clearly believed very strongly in his ability. On a crucial 4th-and-1 in the third quarter, the Eagles trusted Sproles with the play. Sproles sprang free for a 49-yard touchdown, providing the spark that the Eagles needed to grab the momentum and cruise to 34 unanswered points.

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Sproles is a good player. He is probably good enough to start on another team and average four yards per carry. And while he may seem similar to McCoy in playing style, he is actually very different. McCoy is the most elusive running back in football and naturally will always be more of a dancer who out-jukes opponents. Sproles is agile but tends to hit the hole harder. The 31-year-old Sproles is also faster than McCoy in terms of pure straight-line speed.

What does Sproles mean then for McCoy? The better Sproles plays, the better McCoy will play too. Sproles is arguably the best backup running back the Eagles have had since Duce Staley. He also has an impressive track record. having averaged below four yards per carry only once in his career (2009). 

Sproles will serve as a decoy, as defenses will have to account for both running backs. But he will also allow McCoy to be more explosive due to a lessened workload. This is not just the volume of carries he will receive, but it is also the pacing of his carries. McCoy will no longer be required to have as many consecutive carries, which will keep him fresher for late-game rallies.

McCoy received fewer rushes under Andy Reid but broke out some big runs for close wins. This was partly due to the lessened workload. With Sproles in the mix, not only can McCoy stay fresher, but the Eagles have a great change-of-pace running back. One of the best running games in 2013 will be even harder to stop this season.

Furthermore, Sproles showed that he is still an effective punt returner, as he returned one punt 22 yards against Jacksonville. One of the Eagles' biggest weaknesses last season was its special teams. With a better kicker and punt returner, to go along with an improved defense, the Eagles appear poised for a return to the postseason this year.

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