#FreeShady

Just when you think Andy Reid finally gets the importance of using the running game to win football games, he goes right back into Happy Passer mode.The Eagles had a two-game NFC East winning streak by using LeSean McCoy early and often en route to dropping the Redskins and Cowboys.

Since the team’s rout of the Cowboys — a game in which McCoy carried the rock 30 times for 185 yards and two scores — Andy Reid has called his back’s number 30 times in two games. McCoy has continued to produce, gaining 152 yards the last two weeks — a 5.1 yard-per-carry average.

Somehow, the Eagles managed to lose leads in the fourth quarter last week against the Bears and on Sunday in a 21-17 loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals. When you don’t run the ball and eat up the clock, you don’t control the clock and your defense can get tired. A tired defense in the fourth quarter is never a good thing.

On Sunday, the Cardinals controlled the clock, 32 minutes to 28 minutes. They gave Beanie Wells 23 ineffective carries. Yet, they stuck with the run to control the clock and set up the big plays to Larry Fitzgerald.

LeSean McCoy piled up 81 yards despite just toting the rock 14 times in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.

The Eagles seemed to have finally learned the importance of clock management and running the ball. McCoy received eight carries in the first quarter alone in Washington. He ended up with 28 carries for 126 yards that afternoon. Then came the Cowboys game.

Then, just when you think the Eagles are the Eagles we expected after winning the free agent wars, Reid goes back to ignoring a guy who led the NFL in rushing halfway through the season.

Until the Eagles get a coach who truly relishes in the fact that he has a premier running back in the NFL, this team won’t be back in the winning column on a consistent basis.

#FreeShady