Polk Could Prove To Be Key Weapon For The Eagles
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- There were a lot of key plays in Sunday's Eagles/Cardinals game, but none has been analyzed to the level of Chris Polk's 2nd and 4 carry from the Arizona 5 with about three minutes left and the game tied at 17. Polk looked to have at least gotten a first down, but the refs marked a three-yard gain, leaving the Eagles a yard short of the first. That set in motion a series of events that we're all very familiar with now, eventually ending with a 24-20 loss for the Eagles.
On Monday afternoon, following a visit to CHOP for the team's annual Halloween party with the children there, Polk spoke with KYW Newsradio about a variety of topics, including that carry.
"In that situation," Polk says, "when I'm there, I really felt like, running in the play, [I] actually had it because my knees were still on top of another defender, so I really felt like at least I had the first down. But the officials know a lot more about football than I do."
This is Polk's third season with the Eagles. He signed on with them in 2012 as a rookie free agent, and he has been incredibly productive in limited action. He returned a kick 102-yards for a touchdown against Washington on September 21st and last season he scored three touchdowns despite having just 15 touches on offense. He averaged 8.9 yards a carry in 2013 and 15.3 yards on four receptions. The only thing that's really kept Polk from getting more opportunities? Injuries. The University of Washington product, however, takes it all in stride.
"Going to be adversity no matter who you are, what team you are," Polk says. "Comes down to how you deal with it. I like to think of it as, life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it. So I'm just trying to stay positive, put my best foot forward and get better every week."
Listen to Chris Polk with KYW's Matt Leon:
One thing is for sure, he loves playing in Chip Kelly's offense.
"It's a running back's dream because (they) just try and get great players in space and they can make stuff happen," Polk says.
Monday is a day off for the Eagles, so Polk hadn't yet gotten waist deep into film prep for Sunday's opponent, the Houston Texans, as he spoke with KYW Newsradio. But he doesn't need film to know where the conversation starts on that Houston defense.
"I know [All-Pro defensive lineman] J.J. Watt," Polk says. "I know him. So it's going to be a great test, a great opponent in an awesome environment. We just got to get better than we were last week."
The Eagles and Texans will kickoff at 1:00 pm on Sunday in Houston.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
You may also be interested in these Sports stories:
