Former Pro-Bowl running back Brian Westbrook is skeptical of the argument that DeMarco Murray is a better fit for the Philadelphia Eagles than LeSean McCoy.
"I hear that a lot about Murray being a one-cut runner. It's easy being a one-cut runner when your holes are (as wide) as a truck," Westbrook told Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"I told this to LeSean: 'You've got to play the cards that you're dealt.' Unfortunately, a lot of the offensive line was injured at the beginning of the year. Now, when you look back two years, when the offensive line was doing pretty well, he was much more of a one-cut runner, because he didn't have to make moves in the backfield."
McCoy, the Eagles' all-time rushing leader, was traded to the Buffalo Bills on March 4 in exchange for linebacker Kiko Alonso. Westbrook said he wasn't shocked by the move, but was surprised Philadelphia didn't try to renegotiate McCoy's contract.
"I think a lot has been made about (the running style), and I think we'll see the type of back DeMarco Murray is if he doesn't have the great offensive line," Westbrook said.
"Hopefully, the offensive line of the Eagles is much better this year than they were last year. But, in case you have those breakdowns, can DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews make those people miss in the backfield? We know LeSean McCoy could."
Westbrook is a believer in teams building a core from within rather than beefing up through free agency. He's curious to see how Murray and Mathews fare in McCoy's absence.
"I still think (McCoy) has a lot left, I still think he's going to be very successful as a player," Westbrook said. "Of course, I hate to see him go. I think it remains to be seen if this team is better now than they were before."
