Uncategorized
Projecting The Eagles Roster- Part Two
After two preseason games, the Eagles roster certainly has a little bit more clarity. Some have certainly earned their roster spots, while others have certainly lost them.
(Check out Part One of the Eagles Roster Projection)
Quarterbacks (3): Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Trent Edwards
Poor Mike Kafka. He broke his hand in the Preseason opener, and now he may be completely out of a job. Nick Foles has certainly jumped him as the #2 QB on the depth chart, as he is doing things that people didn't see when he was at the University of Arizona. Foles has shown poise in the pocket, and his ability to hit receivers in small windows is one of a seasoned veteran. However, Trent Edwards has done his job against the second and third teamers. In his two preseason games, Edwards was 18-33 for 165 yards and 1 TD. A former starter with the Buffalo Bills, Edwards would bring knowledge a team's top guy, and that's a bonus for a team looking for an expereinced backup Quarterback. Kafka will certainly find another job in the NFL, but his time in Philadelphia could be up.
Running Backs/Fullbacks (3): LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis, Bryce Brown, Stanley Havili
Bryce Brown has certainly distanced himself from Chris Polk, almost certainly earning himself a roster spot. Brown had 9 carries for 51 yards versus New England, running through and around defenses all night long. Polk had just 4 carries for 11 yards; certainly not a performance worthy of a roster spot. Paul Domowitch of Philly.com has spoken to several scouts, and they believe that if the Eagles keep Brown and put Polk on the practice squad, he would most certainly be picked up by another team. Havili is not the biggest of Fullbacks, but he's played well in limited time, while Emil Igwenagu has barely seen the field.
Wide Receivers (6): DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper, Marvin McNutt, Damaris Johnson
No changes here. Damaris Johnson has certainly earned his roster spot because of his return game, as well as his great hands. He led all receivers in the preseason opener against Pittsburgh with 4 catches for 85 yards, and he leaves the opposition in the dust with his phenomenal speed.
Tight Ends (2): Brent Celek, Clay Harbor
Brett Brackett and Chase Ford have done absolutely nothing to earn themselves a spot on the Eagles roster, nor push Clay Harbor. Ford cannot catch the football, and Brackett can barely get on the field to prove his worth. Harbor had two touchdowns versus New England, and caught all six passes thrown his way. He'll be Celek's backup for the forseeable future.
Offensive Linemen (9): Demetress Bell, King Dunlap, Todd Herremans, Jason Kelce, Evan Mathis, Dennis Kelly, Danny Watkins, Julian Vandervelde, Mike Gibson
The Eagles may have a serious problem at Left Tackle. When Jason Peters went down with a Torn Achilles (twice), Bell was signed to fill the void. However, he's shown nothing to prove he deserves the starting job. King Dunlap and Bell have shared reps with the first tem, but it seems likely that Dunlap wins out the job.
Defensive Linemen (10): Trent Cole, Jason Babin, Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Fletcher Cox, Derek Landri, Cullen Jenkins, Cedric Thornton, Philip Hunt, Mike Patterson
The Defensive Line is where the most changes are. There is a serious logjam at Defensive End, and it's not likely that they will keep 5 DE's. With that said, there are plenty teams that desperately need some depth at the position, and Philadelphia would be more than happy to help. Although they wouldn't receive much in return, the Eagles could likely trade Darryl Tapp for a mid-round pick, and rid themselves of his $2.5 million salary. Also, expect Cedric Thornton to beat out Antonio Dixon. Washburn continues to rave about Thornton, and Dixon has been sluggish in the preseason.
Linebackers (6): DeMeco Ryans, Jamar Chaney, Brian Rolle, Mychal Kendricks, Akeem Jordan, Casey Matthews