Eagles looking at talented backfield

Alternating players in and out of drives is a staple of what Chip Kelly wants to do on offense. His well-known pace of play lends itself to that plan almost by necessity. 

The more players there are, so are there more styles of play to defend, and more plays to be called.

And with the Philadelphia Eagles' newfound concentration on the rush game this coming season, that meant procuring more rushers. The team signed DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews, and kept runner/pass-catcher Darren Sproles as the No. 3.

Murray, the presumed starter and main ball carrier, was asked how often the rushing rotation would take place. Between drives? In the middle of drives?

"I don't think it will be alternating series," Murray said, via CSN Philadelphia. "But [Mathews] is a quality back, great guy, works extremely hard. I'm sure he'll get his fair share of touches. But I don't know how the rotation will be yet, we haven't touched on it."

Both he and Mathews received first-team carries on the Eagles' primary scoring drive against Baltimore last Saturday, and both scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions. That, Murray said, was more to get both backs some early playing time, but their game this weekend at Green Bay may paint a more precise picture of what is to come in the fall.

"I think we're approaching it like a regular game," Murray said. "You can't go out there with a preseason mindset. We're focused, whether it's playing one snap or 40 snaps."

Thus far, it's been closer to one than 40 in the exhibition campaign. And it may be part of the prescription when the regular season begins. Murray rushed the ball 392 times last season, a workload that may have Chip Kelly playing it easier than perhaps either would like in 2015. 

The presence of Ryan Mathews will help that cause a great deal, and it seemed to be part of the scheme the whole time.

"Our plan all along was to get another running back with him [Murray]," Kelly said of the pairing. "I wanted to have two running backs, and that's why we got Ryan."

Murray led the NFL not only in yards and touchdowns with Dallas last season, but also in yards after contact. That power, combined with the talent on the left side of the Eagles' offensive line could spell a repeat of that dominance on the ground.