Spencer Ware could ‘wear’ a lot of hats for the Philadelphia Eagles
Spencer Ware is a proven fit in Doug Pederson’s Philadelphia Eagles offense.
In case you haven’t noticed, Philadelphia Eagles‘ roster still has a few holes to fill before the start of the 2020 regular season.
Not a ton of holes mind you, or even very pressing ones, but as the season inches closer and closer, at some point, they’ll need to be addressed.
One of those positions is running back.
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As far as high-end talent is concerned, the Eagles are actually pretty well-positioned going into the regular season. Miles Sanders was a consensus runner up for Rookie of the Year, Boston Scott came on late and played pretty well in limited action as a 20-something Darren Sproles-clone, and even Corey Clement, the Eagles’ seldom-used reserve back, should look to have his role bumped up a bit going into his fourth professional season.
If the Eagles exclusively relied on that trio of backs this fall, they could surely field a competent rushing attack, maybe even a good one, but an aspect of their offense that remains unaddressed is a power runner who can pick up yards between the tackles and help to run out close games on top.
From Ryan Mathews, to LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, and even Josh Adams, the Eagles have steadily relied on some sort of one-cut power runner to pick up yards between the tackles since Doug Pederson came into town in 2016. While none of these players recorded 1,000 yards, or even established themselves as a true lead back, their collective ability to consistently move the chains and wind down the clock is a big reason why the Eagles are 38-26 over the last four seasons.
While Sanders, and I guess Clement, could make plays between the tackles in a pinch, no player on the Eagles’ roster right now specializes in that sort of lunch pail, blue-collar battling ram style of play.
Fortunately, there is a player on the open market who filled this role in Pederson’s offense back in Kansas City, and no, we’re not talking about LeSean McCoy: Spencer Ware.
A sixth-round pick out of LSU in 2019, Ware entered the league as a utility fullback competing with Derrick Coleman for a role in the Seattle Seahawks’ power run offense. While Ware ultimately didn’t win the job, he was eventually waived and went to Kansas City, where he found success backing up then lead rusher Jamaal Charles. Whether lining up at fullback or running back, Ware’s violent rushing style led to a very impressive 4.6 yards per attempt over his tenure with the Chiefs and carved out a nice role as a short-yardage specialist.
In 2016, a season that saw Charles only run the ball 12 times, Ware earned a career-high 214 carries, and parlayed those extra touches into 921 yards and three touchdowns as the team’s top rusher. Granted, Ware has never come close to those numbers again, but even at 28-years-old, Ware has only ran the ball 357 times as a pro, so in theory, there should be plenty of tread left on his tires.
In addition to his proficiency as a goal-line rusher, Ware is also a more than competent receiving option out of the backfield, as he’s picked up 698 yards on 64 catches over his career, including a breakout 2016 campaign where he caught 33 passes for 447 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
When given a shot, Ware has proven himself an efficient mover of the chains and could be a solid utility option for any team looking to diversify their offensive backfield – a team like the Eagles.
For the low low price of a veteran minimum contract, Ware could easily serve as a short-yardage specialist in Doug Pederson’s offensive attack, and oh so much more. Whether lined up as a single back, fullback, h-back, or even in a two-back set next to Sanders, Ware’s ability to run, catch or block adds a level of mystery to the Eagles’ playcalling and could set up mismatches in a no-huddle offensive set.
Ware isn’t the kind of back who should be reliably counted on to play 600-700 snaps if Sanders were to suffer a season-ending injury, that would be a job for Devonta Freeman, but as a situational complimentary piece, where it could be very valuable if used correctly.
Fortunately for Ware, Pederson already knows what he can do, and should know how to optimize it.
Next. The Philadelphia Eagles should trade for Kalen Ballage – yes, seriously. dark
The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense is at an impasse. With the draft and the first wave of free agency long since past, there are only so many ways to get better before camp opens later this fall. While the team may be totally fine running with their current running back consortium, it’s never bad to add a veteran presence to any position, especially running back. With a varied skill set, position versatility, and experience in Doug Pederson’s offense, Spencer Ware could be a perfect role player this fall, especially on a value-priced contract.