Early Cuts Made

Posted: August 25th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 20 Comments »

The Eagles got the roster down to 80 today.  There were no real surprises, but here are a few thoughts on the cuts… 

Here are the cuts:

WR Elvis Akpla
WR McKay Jacobson
WR Brian Hernandez
WR Tiger Jones
OT Thomas Welch
OG Alfred McCullough

DE Xavier Brown
CB Kevin Thomas
S Tom Nelson
S Wade Bonner

Nelson is the biggest name.  He had a chance to push for a roster spot, but suffered a high ankle sprain vs NE.  That will bother him for likely the next month at least.  That just killed his chances.  Too bad.

I was a little surprised to see Welch cut.  I thought they might want him to play vs the Jets and just eat up some snaps.  I’ll get more into the OT position in a post on Sunday.

The Eagles will need to cut 5 more guys by Monday at 4pm.  My guesses…

LB Adrian Moten

OG Mike Gibson

CB Trevard Lindley

LB Monte Simmons

FB Emil Igwenagu

The key is to keep enough depth to get through the Jets game on Thursday.  You also don’t want to expose players you want on the practice squad.  Save them for final cuts.

I do wonder about cutting  Brandon Washington.  He’s shown so little that they could risk cutting him now.  My guess is that they keep him another week.  Also wondered about Chas Henry.  Just guessing they keep him to keep the battle going.

* * * * *

EaglesJake put up a video of Danny Watkins vs NE.  Danny actually had a better game than I gave him credit for.  You can see how strong he is.  Danny can really anchor when he locks on.  Quick guys do get the best of him at times.  That’s true for a lot of OGs.

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20 Comments on “Early Cuts Made”

  1. 1 ICDogg said at 10:20 PM on August 25th, 2012:

    Looks like D.J. Jones survived for now. I realize he didn’t play against anyone you could really judge him against, but he seemed to do well in the situation he was in. And looked a lot less stiff than Bell or Dunlap when doing it.

    Maybe they want to put him on the practice squad?

  2. 2 TommyLawlor said at 10:54 PM on August 25th, 2012:

    Very possible. DJ has talent.

  3. 3 D3Keith said at 11:00 PM on August 25th, 2012:

    I gotta be honest. I’m a die-hard, and there are six guys among these cuts that I never heard of. Akpla, Bonner and Nelson I know.

    The next 5 cuts you list could get interesting. Gibson goes before Vallos, because Vallos can play C now? Emil was always a PS candidate at best. Lindley and Monte just buried at deep positions, and they really had to shine and haven’t.

  4. 4 Matt Hoover said at 11:49 PM on August 25th, 2012:

    I think Henry wins the Punt job based solely on the fact McBriar has never shown he can hold..Not that he does a bad job but for some reason Kickers have a rough time with him holding, he looks sloppy holding, while Henry looks sharp

  5. 5 TommyLawlor said at 12:17 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Very possible. Holding is a key skill for the P.

  6. 6 phillychuck said at 12:42 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Doesn’t have to be the punter. Can be anyone but Dorenbos. I personally prefer the #3 QB in that role.

  7. 7 TommyLawlor said at 1:09 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Are you calling for Koy Detmer to come back?

  8. 8 phillychuck said at 10:03 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Anyone who can do the gunslinger thingy…

  9. 9 ian_no_2 said at 7:53 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    I’d like to see Avant get a shot to hold in preseason, since he’s been listed on the depth chart for years. I have no idea whether he’s an improvement over McBriar but I’d guess so. If you make it your #3 QB than you lose the option not to activate him.

  10. 10 Todd B. said at 8:22 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Agree. I think McBriar was holding on the miss against Cleveland.

  11. 11 ICDogg said at 3:11 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Do the 3 guys already on NFI and PUP reserve lists apply against the 75 man limit? They might only need to cut 2 more by Monday.

  12. 12 TommyLawlor said at 8:36 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    I don’t think they count, but that is a good question. I’ll ask Sam.

  13. 13 Kanin Faan said at 3:47 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Elvis has left the building.

  14. 14 ian_no_2 said at 5:24 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    my Monday cut predictions:

    Trevard Lindley CB
    Monte Taylor DE
    Monte Simmons LB
    Adrian Moten LB
    Emil Igwenagu FB

    The only difference is Taylor rather than Gibson. I originally had Frank Trotter rather than Lindley but I see since Lindley won’t make the team and can’t PS he’s a logical choice, and guys like Hughes and Harris need the work. It may be that they’ll keep Trotter and Taylor around to rest their DL.There could be a surprise like a bigger name guy they’ve given up on.

  15. 15 TommyLawlor said at 8:36 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    I think Monte Taylor is a guy you hold onto until the last possible minute. I want him on the P-squad. Love his frame and potential.

  16. 16 Mike Parent said at 8:19 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    I thought Brandon had a concussion, also he was just drafted this year.

  17. 17 TommyLawlor said at 8:35 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    He did. Played a bit vs CLE. Eagles would love him on P-squad, if not team.

  18. 18 A_T_G said at 8:26 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    So, Elvis has left the building?

  19. 19 TommyLawlor said at 8:34 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    I apologize for not using that line myself.

  20. 20 BMac said at 11:48 AM on August 26th, 2012:

    Cliff “We smoked it all” Harris has also been cut…per reports