PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The mantra from Philadelphia Eagles fans in recent weeks had almost made it feel as if the team's fight song was temporarily pivoting to "Run, Eagles, Run!" That's how loud the call was for the team to increase its commitment to running the football.
Coach Nick Sirianni, offensive play-callers and Eagles players must have listened. They ran it 46 times for 236 yards in pulverizing the Detroit Lions on Sunday, 44-6.
WIP Eagles radio voice Merrill Reese said that we can expect Philadelphia to run the ball more in general, but perhaps not so often every game.
"I think there's no doubt that they're going to try to emphasize the run more than they have been," said Reese to KYW Newsradio's Dave Uram Tuesday, with a caveat.
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"It depends on what the defense is doing. So he's not going to commit himself to a specific identity."
In the win over Detroit, the Eagles ran the ball almost as many times (46) as they ran it the previous two games combined (32 at Las Vegas, 19 vs. Tampa Bay).
They also ran for more yards (236) than they did in those two contests, and they gained triple-digit yardage on the ground in both contests (135 at the Raiders, 100 vs. the Buccaneers).
Afterward, Sirianni refused to tip his hand to opponents through the media that he would run the ball more.
"Nick was very upbeat yesterday, and he was asked is this the identity of the team is that thing put together from the success they had the other day," said Reese.
"(Sirianni) said, 'Listen, we're going to do what works against each individual defense.' He's not going to say that they're going to run the ball 40 times a game."
However, Reese's own eyes saw not only the results, but the motivation that the Eagles' commitment to running the ball brings in the offensive huddle.
"It was working. The offensive line was blocking extremely well," said Reese.
"The offensive line loves to create holes for the running backs. So it worked."
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To the level that the Eagles are now the NFL's sixth-ranked running team by yardage. This Sunday, the Eagles face the Los Angeles Chargers, the team with the NFL's worst run defense.
Reese also expressed confidence in first-round draft pick DeVonta Smith, who dropped a pass for the second week in a row, on the first play of the game.
"(Sirianni) said he really is not worried about DeVonta Smith. He said the one thing he has learned over the years is you do not dwell on drops, and I think that's smart," said Reese about the team's leader in targets, receptions, and total receiving yards.
"DeVonta Smith is going to be a great player. Don't worry about DeVonta Smith. He will not disappoint anybody. Everybody goes through a drop here and there, but this is the one guy on the team you have nothing to worry about."