How the Philadelphia Eagles can make sure LeSean McCoy reaches his 2,000 yard prediction

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is coming off of a career season. Along with winning a number of honors and awards, almost too many to keep track of, he finished the 2013 NFL season as the NFL's leading rusher with a total of 1607 yards.

Now that he's seemingly reached the top, where does the Eagles star running back go from here? Even higher, according to McCoy. On Thursday afternoon Mccoy tweeted that he thinks he can hit the 2,000 yards rushing mark.

This is THE YEAR!!!! My potential is #2000yards. Will I reach it? Stepping up my training and signs point to yes.

— Lesean McCoy (@CutonDime25) August 7, 2014

McCoy's optimistic is welcomed and he's already doing his part by making sure he's in the best shape of his life. McCoy said he's eating better than used to and he's down about five to seven pounds from where he was in 2013. But will these changes mean the man called "Shady" will suddenly become LM2K?

I have my doubts, but it's not an indictment of McCoy as much as it is the context of the situation. In the Eagles run-heavy offense, McCoy finished with "only" 1,607 yards last season. The sixth year running back should assume another heavy workload again but the Eagles won't want to burn him out entirely. Offseason trade acquisition Darren Sproles and Chris Polk will both be incorporated in the running game to a lesser extent. I'm not saying it's impossible but it sure won't be easy.

In any case, the Eagles can help McCoy get off to a great start in the quest for 2K by limiting his playing time in preseason action starting tonight against the Chicago Bears. While it seems unlikely that the Eagles will hold him out altogether, like the Minnesota Vikings do with star running back Adrian Peterson, it would be in their best interest to take it easy on him. McCoy is too talented and valuable to the success of this team to risk getting injured in the preseason.