Adrian Fedkiw
After fumbling the ball late in the fourth quarter twice this season, Ryan Mathews saw his carries dwindle on Sunday night and Darren Sproles’ workload increased.
Sproles led the team in carries with 15, the fourth most of his career, and finished with 86 yards. He also added five receptions for 17 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson answered questions about Darren Sproles among a handful of topics during a Tuesday appearance on the WIP Morning Show.
Pederson has maintained since Sunday that Sproles received more carries that Mathews because he was the “hot hand.” Looks like the once brutally honest Pederson is starting to learn how to handle the media.
“He is so elusive, he can get in that line of scrimmage and get lost and you see him kind of spurt out of there and get another six, seven, eight yards,” he said. “He had the hot hand, just keep him rolling and keep him going.”
Pederson explained why he felt comfortable giving Sproles all those carries despite his age, 33, and diminutive stature. Sproles is only 5’6.
“He’s such a pro about how he handles himself on days off, how he works during the week, prepares himself and I don’t have a concern with giving him that type of load,” he said.
And what about his ball security?
“He definitely hangs onto that ball and does a nice job with it,” he said.
If only he would’ve gotten the instead of Wendell Smallwood in the fourth.