Eagles Evolving Offense with RBs: 'New Wrinkles'

Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson has weapons out of the backfield that could threaten defenses, including D'Andre Swift and Kenny Gainwell.

PHILADELPHIA – The playbook is a bit different this year with Brian Johnson as the first-year offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Perhaps the most significant change will be throwing to the running backs. The Eagles didn’t do much of that last season. In fact, they had the fewest pass attempts to their backs than any team in the NFL.

Kenny Gainwell had 29 targets, Miles Sanders 26, and Boston Scott just six for a total of 61.

It’s been evident in camp that the running back screen could be a much larger part of the offense. The running back’s route trees are also part of the playbook tweaks.

"That's something we are trying to make sure that we can do,” said Gainwell, who had 50 targets as a rookie two seasons ago, albeit that was also before A.J. Brown arrived in a trade 

“Pretty sure that's why we brought D'Andre (Swift) in so we can have get those catches going up on each and every day and make sure we get more catches for the running backs in that room.”

Yes, Swift brings a receiver’s mindset. He had 70 targets last year and 78 the season before, so, while the offense will still operate through receivers Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, the running backs, especially Swift and probably Gainwell, may not be as ignored this season.

“I think that's part of our studies in terms of what we're doing in the off-season of trying to find new wrinkles and evolve and complement the offense in a way that can be successful,” said Johnson. “We're always looking for ways to do something better or ways to evolve and not be stagnant.

“…For us as an offense, we're always trying to find little wrinkles, little adjustments that we can have to make sure we're getting the most out of what we have.”

Even Rashaad Penny might get a chance for some targets. He has shown he can catch when the ball comes his way, both in this summer’s camp but also in Seattle, where he had 10 receptions on 13 targets the past two seasons.

“I didn’t do it a lot in my career or in college, but I’ve always been comfortable catching the ball,” Penny said.

The Eagles’ top three weapons last year accounted for 238 catches among the 350 completions combined from quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew.

Smith led the way with 95 followed by Brown’s 88 and Goedert’s 55. Goedert was still third on the team in reception despite missing five games.

So, getting the running backs more involved in the passing game makes sense.

“I think the biggest thing is you want to have - you want to create as many issues as you can for the defense, and using all five positional players in a manner that puts stress on the defense,” Johnson said.

“I think throughout the course of the week, just trying to figure out ways to deploy those types of match-ups, whether it be at tight end, receiver, or running back, and having all those guys be viable options to make plays when the ball comes their way.”

Johnson will be the team’s play-caller. He has never done it at this level, but he did as the offensive coordinator at the University of Florida and he is a former standout quarterback at the University of Utah, so he should have a feel for it.

At Florida, he liked to get players in space, including running backs.

“Looking at the scheme of the offense and everything, and all the opportunities that we have as running back group, there’s gonna be opportunities to make plays for the team,” Swift said. “So, it’s good.”

Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.

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