Hayes: Clement’s Complete Package Makes Him More Valuable

Corey Clement's path to the NFL may seem like the 'Road Less Traveled', but he is making a strong case to earn himself a roster spot with the Eagles after being signed as an Undrafted Free Agent this offseason.  The rookie Running Back graduated from Glassboro High School and then attended the University of Wisconsin for four years where he backed up current NFL Running Backs James White and Melvin Gordon for his first couple years.  His breakout season was Senior Year where he rushed for 1,375 Yards and 15 Touchdowns on 314 Carries while finishing his college career 9th in Wisconsin Football history in Rushing Touchdowns with a total of 36.  In two preseason games with the Eagles he has compiled 47 Rushing Yards in 15 Carries and one touchdown along with four catches and 37 receiving yards.  On top of all those number, Clement was very impressive versus the Buffalo Bills with two excellent blocks in passing situations.

Philadelphia Daily News Sports Columnist Marcus Hayes joined Josh Hennig and Dashawn Hendricks on Saturday, discussing his perspective of Corey Clement:

“Corey Clement is not only a willing blocker, but he’s an able blocker.  Blocking is difficult; it’s interesting to me when people talk about Tight Ends and Running Backs ‘Oh well they’re an Okay Blocker but we’ll get past it’ – there are five guys that play in football games their only job is to Block, to brush it off like ‘Oh well Blocking’s not that important’, that to me is insanity.  It’s as important, or more important, than any other skill because it sets up everything else; it’s not the most difficult skill but you have to be good at it.  You know who was great at what you saw Corey Clement do….Ricky Watters was spectacular Pass Protector, Duce Staley was amazing at it; both those guys were good enough to be Fullbacks in the NFL they were such good Blockers of Linebackers and Lineman.  So Corey Clement’s complete package probably makes him more valuable right now than Donnell Pumphrey….but good for (the Eagles) they also got Corey Clement.”

Checkout what Hayes had to say about the debut of new Eagles Cornerback Ronald Darby and his potential impact of Jim Schwartz Defense, Sixers decisions to make with Joel Embiid eligible for Contract Extension heading into his Rookie Contract final year, and more Philadelphia sports talk