Joe McKnight Is a Good Replacement for Philadelphia Eagles' Brian Westbrook

After parting ways with Brian Westbrook last week, the Philadelphia Eagles now have a hole to fill at the running back position. Westbrook wasn’t just any RB either; he was one of the most versatile and explosive in franchise history.

The natural decision would be to hand over the reins to second year man LeSean McCoy with Pro Bowl FB Leonard Weaver helping carry some of the load.

A third option, while not a top priority, will most likely be discussed by the Eagles brain trust in the upcoming draft. One RB they should be taking a strong look at is Joe McKnight of USC, who should be around when the Eagles pick late in round two.

Seemingly perfect for an Andy Reid offensive scheme, McKnight has the capability to match the versatility that Westbrook provided. He can run, catch swing passes, split out wide, trigger the wildcat, and return kicks. He can do all these things with great explosiveness and shiftiness, something Westbrook was known for.

However, it is certainly not a given that McKnight will be great in the NFL.

Hailed as the next Reggie Bush coming into USC, McKnight never seemed to live up to the immense hype. A crowded backfield, injuries, and question marks off the field hindered his college career.

The Heisman Trophy year never came. There were flashes though.

The question is, what are you going to get with Joe McKnight in the NFL? Will he ever live up to his potential and the flashes of greatness?

I think he could. I think he can be the truly explosive home run threat we all thought he would consistently be at USC, but it’s going to take the right offense.

Andy Reid’s system could really bring out McKnight’s best.

McKnight is not a power runner by any stretch of the imagination. Shifty, elusive, even "finesse" could be used to describe his style, but not power. McKnight wouldn’t last on the Ravens, the Jets, the Bills, the Steelers, or any of those types of teams.

He can be something on the Eagles, though.

Andy Reid is not a fan of running the football (the Eagles ranked 28th in rushing attempts last year). He is quite comfortable throwing it 50 times a game. though. So the more dangerous targets that can make plays in the space available would seem to be a good thing.

When he does choose to run it, we see his new fascination, the wildcat, come into play. He brought Mike Vick in with the hopes he would be the catalyst for it. Things did not seem to go as planned, though, and the Vick package never fully materialized into much.

Reid is still intrigued by this new wave element of offense, though. That’s why he keeps adding athletes to his arsenal every year. He knows that speed wins now.

Coach Reid can see that an attacking offense that keeps the defense nervously on their heels the whole game can thrive. He sees the success of his own offense, plus he sees Sean Payton’s offense winning the Super Bowl.

I’ll put it to you like this: Could you imagine the scenario of having McKnight, McCoy, Jackson, and Maclin all on the field at once? It would be disgusting.

That much speed and playmaking ability on the field just isn’t fair for a defense. Andy Reid would be salivating for something like that. Add to that a healthy Cornelius Ingram, and that would be a tough combination for any NFL defense to handle.

So let's play the upside, downside game for a minute.

Say the Eagles pull a Groundhog's Day and pick up another RB with first round talent that fell to the second round because of question marks.

The downside is that if he busts they are left with only one of the brightest young RBs in the league (LeSean McCoy) and a Pro Bowl FB to carry the rushing load, which isn’t very heavy to begin with.

The upside is that McKnight lives up to his immense potential, and you now have the most explosive 1-2-3 punch in the NFL. At the very least you are getting a dynamic kick returner, which is something few teams would shake their head at.

Weigh your pros and cons and choose carefully.

Joe McKnight has question marks and there are concerns about his pro abilities. However, don’t simply discard the notion of taking him because of those concerns. Evaluate his skills and how he would fit in your system and make the decision from there.

If McKnight turns out to be great, you will own the most dangerous collection of young offensive talent in the league.

It’s a risk, but one that might be worth taking.