Chris Polk making case for bigger role with Eagles

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Safe to say no running back in the NFL did more with less last year.

Chris Polk’s entire 2013 season amounted to 15 offensive touches. Eleven carries, four receptions.

Polk turned those 15 touches into 159 yards and three touchdowns. Eye-opening production for a guy who played only nine offensive snaps in the Eagles’ first 12 games.

As the Eagles make their way through their summer workouts, Polk continues to make a case for increasing playing time.

Based on last year alone, he deserves it. Factor in that he’s finally healthy after battling shoulder problems for several years, factor in the departure of Bryce Brown, factor in his versatility and everything points to a bigger role this year for Polk, who joined the Eagles as an undrafted rookie out of Washington in the spring of 2012.

“The draft, people think it’s the end,” he said. “It’s only the beginning. It’s all about what are you doing now. I’m just trying to show they can trust me to run, catch, block … you know, just put me in the game.”

Polk played in seven games as a rookie but only on special teams. Last year, he got just 11 carries but ran for 98 yards -- that’s 8.9 yards a pop -- and scored three touchdowns. He caught just four passes but turned them into 61 yards.

He became only the second player in the last 40 years -- and the first running back in NFL history -- to rush for three touchdowns despite 11 or fewer carries.

Polk’s 61 receiving yards were most by an Eagle on four or fewer receptions in 63 years -- since Toy Ledbetter had 4 for 81 in 1950.

The last NFL running back to net more yards from scrimmage on 15 or fewer touches was Keith Henderson of the 49ers in 1989.

The production certainly got the attention of head coach Chip Kelly.

“[We’re] just trying to figure it out again where he fits in,” Kelly said Tuesday. “Obviously, we have a talented [running back] in LeSean [McCoy], and then when you add [Darren] Sproles to the mix, where does Chris fit into it?

“But I think in terms what has he done in the offseason, I think he's really put himself in the picture. … He's really had a great offseason.”

Sproles was a big addition, but with his size and toughness, Polk is a completely different sort of player.

And Polk said he welcomes the addition of the former Charger and Saint.

“You know, I'm glad they brought someone like Darren in because that's only going to bring the best out of everybody in the room, and if we’re going out there and making each other better we’re going to make the team better,” he said.

“It just brings out the competition in everybody because nobody wants to be second string. …

“I’m my toughest critic. There’s never been a point in my life or a game in my life where I felt like I did everything I could do. I’m real big on the philosophy that nothing stays the same. You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse, and I’m trying to get better every year.”

Kelly has spoken about reducing McCoy’s workload a little this year, and with Brown now in Buffalo and Sproles likely to be more of a receiver than a runner, Polk has a strong chance to be No. 2.

And with his shoulders healthy -- he had surgery after the 2011 season and again after last season -- he feels much better equipped for the job.

“I feel I can do a lot more because it’s kind of hard running when both of your shoulders are constricted,” he said. “Now they’re strong and I feel more free. So whether it’s pumping my arms, tackling, running faster, getting out of breaks, blocking, I just feel way more comfortable. … It’s kind of hard to run without your arms.”

Polk stands a burly 5-foot-10, 225 pounds. He’s an outstanding special teamer, a willing blocker, a tough inside runner and a capable receiver.

He hasn’t played much on offense -- zero snaps as a rookie and 46 last year (along with 269 on special teams) -- but he’s survived a coaching change, some nagging injuries and a season in which he barely played. For an undrafted free agent to still be here after all that tells you what Kelly thinks of Polk.

“Definitely a lot more confident [this year],” Polk said. “Reality is the best teacher, so just getting in the game, getting a feel for it, getting tackled, getting used to the game speed, it really helps.

“Last year I kind of felt like I was walking on egg shells because I didn’t have a lot of experience and I was just kind of wide-eyed, but the game is starting to slow down for me now and just trying to learn as much as I can from Darren and Shady and hoping to take my game to the next level.

“You never know when you’re going to get the ball again. So every practice, every carry, act like it’s my last carry. You never know what’s going to happen, so whenever you get that chance, give it 110 percent.

“I feel like I can be a great factor. We got Sproles, LeSean, myself, a couple news guys and [Matthew] Tucker. The only thing I can control is what I can control and that’s my effort, attitude and what I put on tape, and if I do what I know I’m capable of, then I’ll be playing.”

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