Rich Hofmann: As rookies go, Eagles' McCoy might make you forget Po James

THE YEAR WAS 1972. The Eagles would finish the season 3-11-1. A rookie running back from Western Pennsylvania, by way of New Mexico State, carried the ball 182 times for that team. It was a franchise record for rookies that still stands. The back in question was named Ronald "Po" James.

LeSean McCoy probably knows nothing about this. He is, after all, somewhat busy these days.

The Eagles had a role for McCoy this season, his rookie season - as a complement to Brian Westbrook. The role got bigger when Westbrook gimped around a little following offseason ankle surgery and missed much of training camp, and it got much bigger when Westbrook suffered the first of his two concussions in late October against the Redskins. Now, with wide receiver DeSean Jackson likely out because of his concussion, there is a small trail of evidence that suggests McCoy's role might be getting bigger still as the team looks to run more.

Through 11 games, McCoy has 123 carries for 528 yards. He is almost a cinch to break the club record for rushing yards by a rookie (Correll Buckhalter, 586 yards, 2001). As for Po James, that record for carries is out there and it is attainable - and to do it on what is likely to be a playoff team would just add to the accomplishment.

"Being in there so much since training camp, getting the reps, being in there with the 1s . . . right now, each time I get better and better and better," McCoy said yesterday before practice. "I've been doing the same stuff since camp. It's starting to come a little more naturally to me.

"I still feel like I am a rookie. Everything is still new. But I'm kind of getting so used to it and adjusted to it, sometimes I feel like, 'Maybe I've seen this before.' "

It was easy to see, from the very beginning, that he was going to be an absolute linchpin player for the Eagles. The man they call Shady had to be productive or they had no shot - and that was true even before Westbrook's concussions. It was a lot to ask of a second-round draft choice, but, well, both he and they had no choice.

Now, through 11 games, he is sixth all-time for franchise rookies in rushing yards and tied for eighth in carries. He is doing a passable job on blitz pickup. He is carrying the ball a little tighter, it seems. His ability to somehow remain on his feet on a crucial two-point conversion in Sunday's come-from-behind win over Washington remains one of the season's highlights.