Philadelphia Eagles' Dion Lewis Looks To Be Primary Backup To Lesean McCoy

Dion Lewis had a light workload as a backup running back in 2011, but that looks like it could be changing as soon as this fall.

Lewis was used primarily as a kick returner last season and back in December, he had only a handful of carries on the year, and by the end of the season, racked up only about 100 yards in rushing.

Still, it looks as if he'll be getting his shot last year. The Eagles traded backup Ronnie Brown away and Lewis is looking like the presumed backup at this point. As this article points out, Philly hasn't signed any free agent running backs and didn't select one until the seventh round of this year's NFL Draft.

Lewis seems like he's ready for the role:

"I know my run reads, the details, knowing exactly where I’m supposed to be," Lewis said Wednesday. "Knowing the offense and being a student of the game, from that standpoint, the difference is night and day. I understand the whole offense, I know why people are doing what they’re doing.

"Last year I was just doing stuff. Now I know why I’m doing it. When you’re comfortable, you’re not thinking. You’re playing football. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re not going to be able to show what you can do."

There are the regular questions about Lewis' size, but he doesn't think it's a huge issue. Maybe I'm a bit biased, but if Lewis' size is that big of a disadvantage, then why did he run to the tune of nearly 2,000 yards in D-I football? The NFL, we know, is another level. But since he's not taking the pounding as the primary back, I think he'll hold up just fine. If McCoy would go down due to injury, then I think the questions about him being an every down back are legit. But in a backup role taking on 8-10 carries a game, I don't see the problem.

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