It’s not often that NFL teams have smooth transitions in skill positions. More often than not, it takes many years to fill a void left by an Pro Bowl quarterback or running back. After LeSean McCoy’s 185-yard game against the Cowboys, many media outlets nation wide are beginning to draw comparisons. With the many moves McCoy has in his arsenal, including a very familiar jump cut, people are mentioning his name in the same breath as Barry Sanders. Let’s slow it down and see how LeSean McCoy measures up with a Philadelphia favorite, Brian Westbrook.
Westbrook was a staple in the Eagles offense since becoming a full-time starter in 2004. During the 2004 season, Westbrook broke out and piled up 1,500 all-purpose yards and nine trips to paydirt.
Westbrook’s career-year came in 2007 when he ran for 1,333 yards and added 771 receiving yards to become the first Eagle to top 2,000 all-purpose yards since Wilbert Montgomery did so in 1979.
In 2009, Westbrook was hampered by two concussions and only played in 8 games, giving then rookie running back McCoy plenty of time to learn and develop in game situations. In his limited action, McCoy showed flashes of his college greatness and gave fans a hint of what was to come once he was made the starter.
Following the 2009 season, Brian Westbrook was released 3 years before his contract ran out and the Eagles showed full faith in their second year running back.
Andy Reid was cautious with McCoy in his first full season as starter, only giving him more than 20 carries in a single game once. However, McCoy was still able to top 100 yards three times in 2010.
McCoy went on to finish the season with 1,080 yards rushing adding 592 yards through the air. With his 1,672 total yards, Shady was just yards behind Westbrook’s second best season in an Eagles uniform when he went for 1,916 total yards in 2006.
Even with close to 1,700 yards, McCoy was being overlooked on a national stage, much like his predecessor Westbrook was. LeSean is finally being looked at among the league’s elite backs and his name is being whispered throughout Philadelphia as the second coming of Westbrook. With all the talk, I wanted to take a look at some of Westbrook’s key attributes and how LeSean measures up.
Westbrook was known for his ability to catch the ball and produce yards after catch (YAC) whether it be on a screen of running a drag route across the field while lined up as a receiver. While the Eagles don’t run the significant amount of screens that they did during Westbrook’s day, LeSean is still showing the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
Last season, LeSean led the team in receptions with 78, just 12 short of Westbrook’s franchise record and tied for 6th with Fred 
Barnett. LeSean is currently on pace for 52 receptions for the season, which, while it isn’t 90, it is still quite impressive for a running back with names like Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson in the same offense.
Another aspect of Westbrook’s game that people loved was his ability to make defenders miss. Standing at, generously, 5 foot 10 inches, Westbrook was difficult to wrap up while he was spinning and cutting all over the field. He also was able to hide behind defenders on screen routes and, by the time defenders saw him, it was too late and he was leaving them in the dust. LeSean McCoy today has one of the most exciting arsenals of moves in the league. Like his twitter name (CutOnDime25) Shady can stop, change direction, and get back to full speed in two steps. He is, by far, the best running back in the league at turning broken, negative plays into positive yardage.
Brian Westbrook was also one of the best on the Eagles’ offense at holding on to the ball, only losing five fumbles in his six years as a starter. In just about two full years now, McCoy only has three fumbles despite his often criticized carrying of the football.
It is unlikely that the Harrisburg-native will ever be the receiving back that Westbrook was. While he is a threat in that aspect, teams do not game plan around McCoy as a receiver like they did when Westbrook was the star here. Opposing defenses have to worry more about LeSean’s pure running ability. With a mixture of finesse, speed, and power, McCoy holds three of the most important traits for a running back in the NFL.
Not to take anything away from a player of Westbrook’s tenure and caliber with the Eagles, but McCoy is putting together his impressive statistics without a Tra Thomas or Jon Runyan plowing the defense for him to run behind. Jason Peters and Todd Herremans are great, in their own right, but Thomas and Runyan were two of the best lineman to ever wear an Eagles’ jersey. For the first 6 games this season, the Eagles’ offensive line was made from spare parts. With the line all together for the first time of the season, McCoy was able to run for 185 yards against the league’s number one run defense – astonishing.
The former Pitt Panther still has a long way to go before his name is put above Brian Westbrook’s in the fans’ hearts but he is well on his way. Maybe in a couple years we will be talking about McCoy with that name that Cris Collinsworth mentioned at least four times on Sunday night. The great Barry Sanders.
Can we wait until after the Season before comparing individual players from this Eagle team to past teams and players.. It’s not about the individuals players right now, let’s keep the focus and energy on the team and their opponenents..
A season is 16 games long with a lots of twist and turns..
Westbrook was a 3rd down back that played all 3 downs. Great great all around player. Most fans I talk to feel Shady is a better runner than Westbrook but not nearly the reciever. Nothing wrong with that. AR would of gave him the ball more last year all Westbrook records would of been shattered. Shadys on pace for 1800 yards rushiing with a few games of not even getting the ball. 1800 yards but we dont run the ball. lol Also in your article you talk about Westbrook having Tra and Runyon. Peters and Herrimans are better than both.
Paulman I dont think the focus of us fans affects the players one bit. The energy you do in your post wont afffect how Shady performs on Monday.
I agree Dag,
It’s just amazing all week that the “over-hyping” machine is back in place in a local mead and some fans and is currently focused on McCoy who is indeed having a great Season.. talk about MVP etc,etc… The Eagles are 3-4 and have a long ways to go still for a legitimate playoff chance, and that’s what I am focused on.. Every time the Eagles play well, the over-hype machine comes out and every time they lose, it’s the end of the world.. You Philly fans are funny and the best…
Westbrook, was an all around threat, run, catch & return man. Shady, right now is a better runner, but not as good in the screen game. But he has a few more seasons to compare to Westbrook. Also Westbrook was split out as a WR, in alot of formations, & I don’t think I have ever that with Shady, yet. If he stays healthy, & Reid keeps utilizing him, the sky’s the limit. But it is a bit premature to be making comparisons. Stop already, let the guy get a couple consistent seasons, not a half of one. Last year he was solid.
It’s a difficult call, because BWest didn’t have Jackson and Maclin backing safeties and corners up 10-20 yards consistently. Shady isn’t running behind a Pro-Bowl offensive line though. It’s hard to say we’ll have to see Shady play for a couple more years. It’s important add though even if Shady stays rolling at the level he is now for a couple of years without being injury prone it might be easy at some point to say he’s well surpassed BWest and that’s no small feat.
I always believed Westbrook was the linchpin of the offense, and due to that his difficulties staying healthy, especially in January crippled the eagles in the playoffs.
How McCoy does in January will set him apart from Westbrook.
Westbrook was the only weapon we had then, except the TO experiment. He had every team, stacking 8 in the box mostly every game, & still was a beast. Shady has a whole OF full of weapons with him, so like I said, he has a way to go. But he is damn good.
Westbrook had breakaway speed to go the distance. Shady does not have the same straight away speed. Remember the punt return against the Giants.
paulman I must agree with your posts above, its a joke with these articles and some fans “unstoppable”, shady this, that, the team is 3-4 with the season on the brink, with a loss to the bears, forget about the playoffs, and if that happens, just wait for the angst, fire Reid, djax Vick must go, etc., lets focus on this game, I sure hope the eagles are and ain’t reading all this crap on gcobb how great they are, they are 3-4, losing record