LeSean McCoy and Miles Sanders have a lot in common.
They’re both from Pennsylvania, they both went to college in the state and they were both drafted by the Eagles with the No. 53 pick, just 10 years apart.
Oh yeah, one more thing:
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“I think he’ll be the next franchise back,” McCoy said during his Tuesday media availability leading up to Super Bowl LV. “I really do. I think Miles is really, really good.”
That’s high praise from McCoy, who is the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher. While McCoy hasn’t played very much with the Bucs this season, don’t forget how dynamic he was during his Eagles career. So when he starts talking about Sanders like this, people are going to listen.
Maybe Sanders will follow in McCoy’s footsteps as a franchise running back, but that’s where Shady thinks the comparisons should end. They’re different players, he said.
“People try to compare us. I think we’re different,” McCoy said. “He’s a lot faster than I was. When I watch him play, I think he’s a lot faster than I was, my top speed. I think he has nice size. I think he’s bigger than what people give him credit for and he runs a lot tougher than people give him credit for.
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“I watched his growth from last year to this year, he’s actually become a better blocker and he’s become more of a complete running back, three-down back. I look forward to him taking over the franchise and I look forward to him being the guy in Philly.”
Shady is right about that pure speed. He has just one 70+ yard run in his 12-year career, while Sanders had three in 2020. But McCoy was probably a little tougher as a runner and he was as shifty as just about anyone. But they both have dynamic traits.
Here’s a side-by-side look at their numbers through two NFL seasons:
McCoy (2009-10): 31 games, 1,717 rushing yards (4.7), 11 rushing touchdowns, 118 catches, 900 yards (7.6), 2 receiving touchdowns
Sanders (2019-20): 28 games, 1,685 rushing yards (4.9), 9 rushing touchdowns, 78 catches, 706 yards (9.1), 3 receiving touchdowns
It’s worth pointing out that Shady’s third NFL season was his true breakout year. In 2011, he rushed for over 1,300 yards and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns on his way to Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
Is Sanders going to continue to follow in his footsteps? We’ll find out starting in September.
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