McCoy looking to step up for Eagles

LeSean McCoy hopped out of a gold Hummer wearing a black, V-neck T-shirt and long purple gym shorts.

Upon arriving at training camp yesterday, "the guy" in the Eagles' backfield flashed cameramen and reporters a smile before unloading his PlayStation and other belongings.

Starting today - and really, tomorrow, when the full pads are put on for the first time - McCoy's task is to prove to the Eagles coaching staff he can be a No. 1 running back at the professional level.

"It's different kind of just knowing he would be the man here," McCoy said of replacing Brian Westbrook as the primary running back. "The most pressure would be on his shoulders. Now he's gone, and you take potentially a Hall of Fame running back, especially a guy that did so much here, you got to replace him, which is some big shoes."

For the first time in the Andy Reid era, the Eagles have opened training camp depending on a guy with as little experience as McCoy to be the featured back.

The second-year player from Pitt led the Eagles in rushing with 637 yards on 155 carries as a rookie but wore down late in the season, averaging just six carries and 22 yards the last five games.

His offseason conditioning regimen focused on bulking up his legs and lower body to better break tackles and absorb the blow at contact. The length of the pro season, doubling that in college, also took a toll on his body.

Then there was grasping the offense, which McCoy spent too much time doing, saying he played to not make mistakes.

"You can't really go 100 percent if you don't know the offense, but you're thinking or you're wondering instead of just going out and playing," he said. "You go out and play first and think second and have better results."

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is not naive when it comes to knowing his offense hinges on a back capable of catching the ball out of the backfield and pass protecting, especially with a young offensive line and first-year starting quarterback.

"That experience he built up as a rookie will pay off this year," Mornhinweg said. "Many times you'll make a pretty good jump between your rookie and your second year. Sometimes it's between your second and third year. But I would expect him to make a pretty good jump this year."