Fool Me Twice ...

I have made many, many bad predictions since starting this blog five seasons ago.  There was this early one.  The Asante thing.  Then just the garden variety "never saw that coming" ones.

They've all been defensible in their own ways, I would argue.  Which is more than one can say for the truly dumbest predictions I've made ...

All starting something like ...

"This week, I really think the Eagles will run the ball more, because --"

I've never been right.  Not once.  Not with gimpy McNabb, replacement-level Feeley, wet-behind-the-ears Kolb or new starter Vick.

Not with Westbrook, not with Weaver and not with McCoy.

Not once, not ever.

So.

This week.

I really think.

The Eagles will.

Run the ball more.

Because.

Because it makes too much sense not to.

Because LeSean McCoy is by almost any measure one of the best, most efficient and most dangerous running backs in the league.

Because we can't keep a quarterback -- any quarterback -- upright.

Because Aaron Rodgers is incredibly dangerous any time he has the ball.

Because Green Bay has a lousy to mediocre run defense.

Because Green Bay has a very, very good pass defense.

Because we can pound it up the middle and they can't stop it.

Because dropping an 8th man into the box and blitzing from the outside means the first level better not miss.

Because Sunday's forecast calls for 20 mph winds and gusts up to 40 mph.

Because Shady is fresh, after a season in which Andy and Marty were very careful about his touches.

Because no one would expect it.

All season long I've been watching Shady's workload.  The trend's been pretty unmistakeable:

The question is what it means.  Was Shady just a young QB's best friend? Or was that spike in the middle a harbinger of things to come?

Understand, the smart money is fleeing from the latter explanation.  The roadside is littered with the bodies of Eagles commentators who predicted a change in the team's playcalling.

I get that.  I really do.  But still.  It makes too much sense.

Bring on the Shady Offense.