When analyzed in that scope, the Eagles aversion to the run is not nearly as dramatic as portrayed.
Hofmann says the Eagles' pass-to-run ratio in the second half of games is much more in line with what people consider a balanced attack. It's only when the game gets off script that the numbers may end up bordering on the 70/30 percent range.
This takes us to Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and the 122 yards he rushed for against the St. Louis Rams in the 31-13, season-opening victory.
Limited to just 27 yards on 11 carries for the first three quarters, McCoy ran for 95 time-consuming yards in the fourth quarter after the Birds had taken a 24-13 lead.
Shady's 49-yard touchdown run sealed the victory.
The rushing results were the ideal scenario for Reid's offensive philosophy.
"I'll take you back to even the [San Francisco 49ers coach] Bill Walsh days of this offense, through in Green Bay and then Seattle," Reid, one of last remaining disciples of the original "West Coast Offense," said yesterday at his day-after press conference. "You see the second half and particularly the fourth quarter are very productive for runners.
"That's the way you want to do it, especially if you have a lead. You want to keep the clock running and still have productive runs."
In McCoy, Reid finally has a back who he can unquestionably depend on to thrive in those situations.
No disrespect to Duce Staley and Brian Westbrook, who were outstanding runners in their Eagles careers, but McCoy is the closest thing Reid has had to a "closer" back.
I didn't forget my sports.
If you look at what McCoy is asked to do in the fourth quarter for the Eagles, he is a lot like a football version of Phillies closer Ryan Madson.
McCoy is the guy the Birds go to late in the game to seal up a victory.
