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Eagles strive for idea balance

About Ralph N. Paulk
Ralph N. Paulk 412-320-7923
Steelers/NASCAR Reporter
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review



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By Ralph N. Paulk

Published: Saturday, October 6, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Monday, October 8, 2012

At one point in their season opener against Cleveland, the Eagles had thrown the ball 56 times and had run it 23. It wasn't the balance offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg expected. They achieved far better balance against Baltimore with a 41-32 run-pass split in a 26-17 victory.

Clearly, if the Eagles can get off to a fast start against the Steelers, LeSean McCoy will handle the ball almost exclusively.

So it was last weekend when the Eagles again ran more than they threw — 36 carries, including 23 by McCoy for 123 yards, compared to 30 passes — en route to a 22-20 win over the New York Giants.

“Definitely, we do throw the ball a lot, and I feel like we do call enough runs to stay balanced enough,” McCoy said. “I think with this offense a screen can be just as good as a run, by throwing the ball to the backs, giving them one-on-one opportunities but also by throwing the ball deep. We just do a great job of mixing it up. I think Marty does a good job of running it enough and throwing it enough.”

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