"You've got to be able to protect No. 4," fullback Leonard Weaver said, referring to quarterback Kevin Kolb.
Former Eagles running back Duce Staley has helped McCoy in that regard. Staley, an Eagles coaching intern this summer, has taught the younger back to survey the field like a quarterback, deciphering the movement of the safeties, McCoy said.
McCoy - "cutondime" in the Twitter world - said he spent the off-season working on his lower body strength at the NovaCare Complex, pumping through squats and other lower-body exercises to help him break tackles and last through the NFL grind. As a rookie, the 16-game season wore him down.
"Later in the season, I hit that wall a little bit," he said. "It was hard for me just physically, my body was tired."
So far in 2010, offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg has seen a more assertive runner. McCoy, he said, has been helped by a year in the Eagles' offense.
"When you're thinking too much you tend not to play quite as fast or as physical. He feels very comfortable, and he's playing fast and physical," Mornhinweg said.
McCoy, noticeably slimmer in his upper body than his fellow backs, proved durable in a brief college career. As a sophomore he combined for 340 rushes and receptions.
At his peak in 2007, Westbrook had 368 touches.
McCoy, though, may have help shouldering the load.
Weaver, a steady fullback who reached his first Pro Bowl in 2009, can carry the ball as well, though he is mostly known for his blocking. The stout runner, who had 323 yards on 70 carries last season, said he spent the off-season focusing on his running form, the better to avoid tacklers aiming for his legs and feet.
He and quarterback Michael Vick have carried the ball in several short-yardage situations in the preseason.
