Eagles planning two-back system with LeSean McCoy, Bryce Brown

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy missed four games last season with a concussion. (US Presswire)

Don't expect LeSean McCoy to be a true workhorse next season.

New Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur wants to give bigger back Bryce Brown substantial carries.

“I think it's important that you use more than one running back,” Shurmur said, via CSNPhilly.com. “It's a long season, and a guy can run out of gas quickly.

“If you have guys who are different, you can use them in different ways, and you try to play to their strengths. I think that's important.

“I've always believed there's a place on the roster for two good running backs. You have your starter, but the other guy needs to play so they can all get through the season.”

Brown (6-foot, 223 pounds) averaged 4.9 yards on 115 carries last season. In back-to-back games, he ran for 347 yards and four touchdowns but lost three fumbles.

Assuming Brown improves ball security, he'll get his chance again even if McCoy stays healthy.

“Bryce established himself as a good player last year,” Shurmur said. “He can score touchdowns, and that's a big deal, a guy who can get in the end zone. We looked at him a lot when I was with Cleveland, and I really liked him.”

McCoy, who ran for 1,309 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in 2011, missed four games last season with a concussion. He finished with 840 rushing yards (4.2 ypc), five total scores and lost three fumbles.

McCoy (5-11, 208) should get more touches, but this sounds closer to a 60-40 split than 80-20.

However carries are divided, the Eagles' backfield should be one of the NFL's best with McCoy, 24, and Brown, 21.

Philadelphia and Baltimore (Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce) were the only teams last season with two backs who ran for 500 yards and averaged at least 4.2 yards a carry, CSNPhilly.com noted.

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