Donnel Pumphrey shows improvement after adjusting to NFL's game speed

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One of the fastest, most electrifying, most productive running backs in college football history hasn't looked fast, electrifying or productive.
 
Donnel Pumphrey hasn't looked like Donnel Pumphrey.
 
"The speed of the game really is a lot faster than in college," Pumphrey said. "So I'm just adjusting right now to the game speed. It's a lot faster.
 
"On punt return, you think there's an opening there, and by the time (I get there), those guys have pursued it. So that's the biggest adjustment I have to make."
 
Pumphrey, the Eagles' fourth-round pick out of San Diego State and the all-time college football rushing leader, has struggled much of this preseason, though he did look somewhat better Thursday night with 17 touches against the Dolphins.
 
“Definitely felt good just to get those carries and get back into the groove and the flow of the game," he said. "I felt very comfortable as the game continued to go on. I didn’t expect to go into the game that early, in the first half, because we thought the starters would play more. But whenever they call my number I just have to make plays."
 
After rushing seven times for two yards in the Eagles' first two preseason games, he ran 12 times for 37 yards against Miami and added five catches for 37 yards, including a 13-yard gain for a first down that was really the first time we saw Pumphrey show some real flash in open space.
 
“Yeah, it all started up front, the offensive line did a great job, and the coordinator called great plays, he was able to get us in space in the passing game as well as the running game," Pumphrey said.
 
"There were a couple runs I want back. The offensive line blocked their tails off, and I had a couple 50-yarders that I could have broke. But I do feel like I’m getting back into the groove. Somewhat."
 
Because of his size and the level of play he saw in the Mountain West Conference, this was never going to be an instant transition.
 
The idea with Pumphrey was always to give him a year to kind of intern under Darren Sproles during what will likely be Sproles' last NFL season and then hopefully have him contribute in 2018.
 
Pumphrey probably has the team made, simply because he was a fourth-round pick. The Eagles haven't cut a rookie fourth-round pick since cornerback Damien Robinson in 1997 (and quarterback Dave Barr two years earlier).
 
“I really have to continue to take advantage of every opportunity given to me, whether it’s running the ball or catching the ball out of the backfield," he said.
 
"I really just have to continue to try to make plays. That's really what it’s all about. I felt like I had a lot more fun (Thursday night) than I had the past two weeks. I was a little hard on myself the first two weeks and (against Miami) I was just enjoying it, enjoying all my playing time. Just relax and grow.
 
"I wish I had that last punt return back because I felt like I had a lot of space, but I just have to continue to grow from that and judge myself on the film and continue to get better."
 
This is a curious position group, with two guys in their 30s and then a bunch of young backs — Pumphrey and rookie Corey Clement are 22, and Wendell Smallwood and Byron Marshall are 23 and in their second year.
 
Pumphrey said it's a very competitive group, and all he's worried about right now is getting better every day and not what's going to happen on Sept. 2 — cut day.
 
“It all starts with our running backs coach (Duce Staley)," he said. "He pushes us all to the limit. He wants the best out of all of us. We are a young backfield, Wendell, he’s been looking great at practice and the game, Blount is getting back in the groove, haven’t seen Sproles in the games but we know what he can do, he’s been doing it for 13 years, Corey’s been proving himself every day.
 
"I’m just trying to continue to work and continue to get in the groove. As a whole as running backs, we want to be the best running back group in the league, that’s our goal."

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