Eagles Film Review: Should D’Andre Swift be back?

It’s the NFL offseason, so, it’s time to get into the Eagles’ upcoming free brokers earlier than we get into draft season. This time, I’m going to have a look at D’Andre Swift who signed for the Eagles final 12 months.

Beforehand: Haason Reddick evaluate.

Stats

The essential numbers look actually good however among the underlying ones usually are not nice.
I’m just a little stunned he ranked 18th in explosive price contemplating how good the offensive line was. I hoped he can be within the prime 10 contemplating his fashion.
Rating forty eighth in yards after contact isn’t nice, nevertheless it’s additionally not surprising contemplating Swift’s operating fashion. He ranked 14th in missed tackles forces which highlights his fashion.
I’m not going to faux to be an professional in operating again stats. So I don’t actually know the way that is measured. However rating thirty seventh in ‘Dashing Yards over Expectation per try’ doesn’t really feel nice, does it?

Strengths

I’m not going to do strengths and weaknesses like I usually would do with a brand new signing, as a result of I broke down D’Andre Swift final 12 months! You may learn it right here. I’m going to make use of among the identical feedback from final 12 months’s evaluate however replace the article with some clips from this 12 months and replace them if I really feel I must.

+ He is without doubt one of the most explosive backs you will notice. He seems to be like he’s shot out of a cannon at instances. He beats folks often along with his acceleration. He doesn’t decelerate when he has to barely change course or when catching the soccer.

+ He’s effectively constructed for his measurement and will not be an influence runner, however he can run by way of poor arm tackles with out slowing down and stiff arm defenders away from him.

+ He’s excellent in area, particularly on quick passes and screens. His burst and acceleration are incredible when he has room to run into.

+ Excellent agility, particularly in tight areas. His footwork is excellent and he can burst in numerous instructions with ease.

+ His use of tempo is incredible. You see defenders take dangerous angles so often and it’s as a result of he can cease and begin on a dime. His tempo mixed along with his elite acceleration to burst previous defenders.

+ He’s a fantastic route runner and shall be a nightmare for any linebacker. He’s actually good on angle routes however he has the velocity to run wheel routes too.

+ He’s not simply an outdoor runner who wants area and he exhibits imaginative and prescient and nuance on inside carries to comply with his blocks and discover gaps.

+ Got here from an offense that runs quite a lot of hole/zone and from shotgun/underneath heart. He’s versatile.

Weaknesses

– I had this as a power final 12 months

“Greater than keen as a move protector. You don’t need him move defending that always, however he can do it.”

I’d change my opinion after watching him this 12 months. I don’t assume he’s a fantastic move protector in any respect.

– Isn’t the kind of again to fall ahead and push a pile. He’s not constructed to be a ‘foundational’ again. He’s a ‘function’ again at finest.

– He may be responsible of doing an excessive amount of at instances. Typically there’s an apparent lane with blockers in entrance and he’ll attempt to do the unattainable.

– He doesn’t have elite ‘wiggle’. He’s extra straight-line quick and received’t all the time make defenders miss one-on-one until he has velocity already constructed up. He’s not like a Shady McCoy who would break ankles along with his jukes within the backfield.

– I’ve stolen this one from the legend Jimmy Kempski, however Swift all the time appears to worsen because the season progresses. The numbers again this up.

– I don’t perceive what occurred to him within the receiving recreation. 23 of his 39 receptions got here within the first 6 weeks of the season.

-Damage historical past the previous 3 years has clearly impacted his profession. Some fascinating information right here by way of Draft Sharks, who outline him as having a ‘very excessive threat’ of harm subsequent 12 months.

Total

So, it’s honest to say that I bought the Eagles’ operating again rotation very unsuitable final 12 months. I anticipated Swift and Rashaad Penny to be a 1a/1b fashion of assault. That didn’t occur, did it? I nonetheless assume my evaluation was fairly honest on Swift. I believe Swift is an explosive as they arrive, however shouldn’t be as dominant on a per-snap foundation as you prefer to from an impressive operating again and he is usually a irritating watch at instances.

It didn’t take lengthy for me to fall in love along with his movie as soon as once more. My goodness. Swift is without doubt one of the most explosive operating backs you will notice and he’s the right match for the Eagles. He’s mainly a greater, extra explosive model of Kenny Gainwell. I like Gainwell, however watch the 2 facet by facet and it’s not shut. Swift is simply extra explosive.

I’m a giant believer in highly effective operating backs on early downs who can break tackles (it’s simply my philosophy) so I wouldn’t need Swift to be my ‘foundational’ or beginning operating again. Pairing him with Rashaad Penny is simply excellent. I anticipate Penny to take many of the early down work and Swift to be on the sector on each third down. It’s such an superior backfield (if they’re each wholesome in fact). I may see Penny taking about 55% of the carries and Swift having round 35% with 5-7 targets per recreation. The Eagles haven’t focused their operating backs a lot lately however… the Eagles haven’t had D’Andre Swift lately. He’s so significantly better than Sanders out of the backfield. I ponder if the Eagles will use extra 2-back units with each Penny and Swift on the sector too, after which movement Swift to extensive receiver.

So would I re-sign Swift? I’d not until the Eagles can get him again on an inexpensive 1-year deal. I do like Swift, and I’m not against him returning, I simply assume the Eagles should be cautious about overspending on a operating again who shouldn’t be within the elite tier of backs.

If a staff goes to pay Swift the kind of deal and cash that Miles Sanders bought final 12 months then I’d move. Miles Sanders bought 4 years $25m with $13m assured. I guess they remorse that deal.

Spotrac have Swift predicted to get 4 years $27m which might pay him because the eighth finest operating again on a per-year foundation. I’m not certain that Swift is sweet sufficient to be paid as a top-10 expertise on the place. I’d assume the assured cash would look much like Sanders on this case, and I believe Swift is a extra gifted again, so I wouldn’t wish to commit greater than $13m to him. I believe Swift is a particularly gifted again who suits the offense effectively, so I can see why the Eagles workers would wish to carry him again.

If the Eagles do resolve to carry again Swift, I’d hope they’re taking a look at a 1 12 months ‘show it’ fashion deal the place they don’t trigger cap issues down the road. Josh Jacobs bought 1 12 months $11m final 12 months and I believe he’s a much better again than Swift, so I’d guess the Eagles may get Swift for a bit lower than that. I believe Swift is a extremely good participant, and I utterly admit that I’m biased in the kind of operating again I need the Eagles to construct round and Swift simply isn’t my sort. If Swift is again, I hope that doesn’t cease the Eagles from including a gifted again within the draft both.