The Bottom of the Roster
Posted: August 27th, 2014 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 95 Comments »Julian Vandervelde was the player the Eagles let go on Tuesday to get down to 75. He is currently injured so the Eagles simply reached an injury settlement with him. That means David Molk will be the backup Center this year.
Molk was added to the roster back in January after sitting out all of 2013. He played for the Chargers in 2012, but got hurt late and that caused him to not make the team last year. Molk has limited experience, but he is a good fit for the Eagles. He’s got the athleticism that Kelly wants in a C.
Molk wasn’t given the job…he earned it. Molk played well this summer. He showed that he could be effective blocking at the point of attack or 20 yards downfield on a screen pass. I don’t know Molk is ever going to be a player that a team wants as a starter, but he looks like he could be an effective player if needed. And that’s okay in a backup.
Teams love competition for spots at the bottom of the roster for a couple of reasons. First, competition can bring out the best in players. Just look at the Eagles RB situation right now. Those guys are all battling for a spot or two. We’ve seen other years when a spot was there for the taking and no player would step up.
The other benefit to competition is that it is okay for someone to fail because someone else is there to win the job. If a team tries to give a job to a rookie or developmental player and that guy fails…uh oh. We all thought Joe Kruger would win a roster spot or at least be part of the practice squad. Instead, he’s gone. Luckily the Eagles had quality players in Brandon Bair and Taylor Hart there to take his place.
Let’s talk about some positions and players who have stepped up or not done so.
WR
The Eagles love Mac, Coop and Matthews. Josh Huff looks like a standard rookie. Beyond that, things are open. Brad Smith had a good camp, but injuries have limited him in the preseason. It sounds like Kelly is still high on him, but it would be nice to have seen more out of him in games. Arrelious Benn shows up on STs and as a blocker, but hasn’t caught many passes. Is the STs play enough for him to win a spot? Ifeanyi Momah stepped up in a big way. I think he’s more practice squad than roster material, but he’s at least made the conversation a possibility.
It would have been nice for some UDFA or unheralded player to really shine this summer. Didn’t happen. The guys will get a lot of reps vs the Jets. That is going to be a huge game for them.
OL
Remember when this was a huge question mark? Andrew Gardner and Matt Tobin stepped up in a big way. Kudos to them. Molk played well and earned his spot. Dennis Kelly could make it. Michael Bamiro regressed. None of the rookies has stood out in a big way. Kevin Graf is the most intriguing player.
ILB
I went back to re-watch the PIT game again, focused only on ILBs. There just aren’t enough plays that jump out at you. The good news is that there aren’t a lot of mistakes. Najee Goode is the best of the bunch. He’s played okay, but is a victim of the way he looked in real games in 2013. I thought he’d eat up backup players. Emmanuel Acho has played well enough to make the roster, but he’s not been good enough to sit back and feel confident that he’s got a job.
The ILB situation is wide open enough that OLB Travis Long played on the inside last week. The Eagles might keep him on the roster as an OLB and emergency ILB player. Long has played well this summer and done whatever the coaches asked of him. We’ve seen him at DE, OLB and ILB, as well as all over on STs. If he were a better athlete, he’d be a lock to make the team. At the very least, Long has done everything in his power. Kudos to him.
S
Nate Allen stepped up and earned his starting spot. Earl Wolff has been solid and will be the #3 guy. Chris Maragos looks terrific on STs. He is always around the ball and looks like the real deal. On defense, he just doesn’t stand out. He can attack what is in front of him, but I don’t see anything special in terms of cover skills or range. Ed Reynolds flashed in the opener, but has been quiet since then. He might get a roster spot, but I bet the Eagles look around at other cuts for possible S help. Reynolds could be practice squad material and might have a good future, but he’s not stood out much this summer. Keelan Johnson has been a major disappointment.
CB
Nolan Carroll has played well enough to challenge for a starting job. He’s been ideal for what you want out of a new guy. Rookie Jaylen Watkins has looked okay, but hasn’t played well enough that you feel the coaches will aggressively push to get him on the field. Watkins has shown enough to absolutely make the team. Roc Carmichael is a player I’m not sure about. I don’t think he’ll ever be good enough to start, but he can play slot or outside and is a solid STer. It wouldn’t shock me to see him make the team.
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The Jets game will be crucial to many of these players. One game doesn’t define a player or a career, but it can be just enough to get a player on the roster.
Priest Holmes was on the roster bubble in his rookie season with the Ravens. He was great in the preseason finale and secured a roster spot. The rest is NFL history.
That’s the exception, obviously, but Thursday is going to be a huge moment in the lives of many of these players.
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Thinking we keep 4 RB’s: Shady, Sproles, polk and Barner. I don’t view Sproles as a backup to shady if he gets injured, Sproles is a complimentary back for us. if Shady goes down(god forbid), Polk needs to take over as the #1 and Sproles stays in his complimentary back. Polk backs up Shady, Barner backs up Sproles, and Barner/Polk are better special teams players. Sucks to lose Tuck/Josey.. Hopefully we can trade Tuck before Saturday and don’t get Josey poached so we can practice squad him
I’m also starting to wonder about Ed Reynolds. I don’t think we want to lose him, but I’m not sure we want to give him a roster spot either, and I think trying to get him on the practice squad won’t work…. Ideally, he gets some type of phantom “injury” coming out of tomorrow’s game.
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Not sure we even want to carry 5 safeties like we used to because having Colt Anderson for his special teams play, was counted as a safety…maragos is the new Colt on ST, but unlike Colt, I think Maragos is actually a safety, not a very good one, but I doubt many teams have 4th safeties that outclass Maragos.
Some decent young safeties hit waivers this week: TY Zimmerman, Isiah Lewis! Hakeem Smith(Marcus smith team mate at Louisville). Feel like if we were still looking for safeties, we would have added one to look at in the 4th pre season game…but of course if a better safety than what we have on our roster hits waivers, we will place a claim.
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Struggle with are we keeping 4 or 5 safeties. Colt wasn’t really a safety so it’s like we always only had 4 anyway. BESTCASE Scenario in my eyes would be safely placing him on the practice squad where he can receive a year of coaching without being poached… But I’d rather spend a roster spot on him than see another team get him at this point.
Haven’t heard anything about Reynolds? What’s his deal? Tweeners definitely need development time before moving to NFL. But our backups routinely look terrible so shouldn’t be hard for him to advance.
No idea.. Look forward to seeing him get extended minutes. I’m hoping he gets to play the entire first half next to Maragos, a veteran who will be sharp mentally and can help Ed out there…and then use the second half to play the safeties that won’t make our team
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Also need to figure out Reynolds Special team value. Has he beaten out any of our projected special team starters yet? Or is he just performing like a ST backup, and if so, how many different special teams roles can he back up?
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I always thought whoever drafted Reynolds was drafting him because they thought he would take a big jump this next year? Always thought he was a prospect that you don’t expect much as a rookie, so I would hate to see us piss away a 5th round pick and lose him. It’s one thing to piss away 7th round picks like Kruger…but I expect our GM to get players with 5th round picks…I don’t want to lose Reynolds until we see what he looks like at next years training camp after he been coached up for a year.. I’d rather IR him than lose him to another franchise before next summer…but I would so much rather him get to work with the coaches which he isn’t permitted to do on IR..
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Really don’t know how they view Reynolds situation right now. If we keep 5 safeties, I would bet he would be the 5th, but I’m not sure if he brings enough to special teams for the coaches to use a roster spot on…
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Personally, I think he has that playmaker gene in him.. Hate to see another franchise get him this year
Yeah it’s sort of hard — I don’t think it’ll be super hard to stash him because he hasn’t shown anything. But again think taking him in the 5th is another “reach”.
Honestly, we haven’t been good at drafting CBs (Bokying excepted) over the last 5-6 years, i’d rather just buy them live we’ve been doing.
How many Oregon players are there who will be cut?
” It wouldn’t shock me to see him [Carmichael] make the team.”
I sure hope not. I feel like we’ve seen enough of him. He came in for Sconces for a series in the NO game, and Drew Brees made it apparent that he did not belong on the field. He also sabotaged a punt downing inside the five by Boykin. And he has been torched nearly as often as Marsh this preseason. I’m guessing we go with 5 CBs (Sconces, Fletcher, Boykin, Carroll, Watkins).
I’m with you mate…. But if we have to keep 6 CB, it better be Roc INSTEAD of Marsh… Preferably, NEITHER!! I got us keeping 5
There are a handful of other positions where we would be far better served in keeping an extra player.
I agree.. I see no reason to keep more then the 5 CBs we know are making the team: Cary! Brad, Nolan, Boykin, Jalen….especially since Corners Bradley, Nolan, Jalen and even Boykin are all versatile enough to play outside corner and slot corner anyway..
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I’d rather keep an extra OL, a 6th WR,
Agree with all of this. If its felt a 6th CB is necessary, better to find someone not currently on the roster where you can still legitimately say “potential” – i.e. someone else’s cuts.
I’d take Harold Carmichael as a DB over Roc.
It really will suck to lose Josey. He will get gobbled off the practice squad quickly. I think the kid is going to be a player. Tucker doesn’t excite me.
There are lots and lots exciting preseason performances by third string running backs who won’t do anything in real games.
I think the OL makes a lot of things possible for RBs on our team. I don’t think Josey has stuck out in practice, but he makes plays running and catching.
Is he a good receiving back?
Limited snaps but he’s caught everything thrown his way and he’s fast after the catch, great in traffic. He’s more like Sproles than McCoy, but that may hurt him b/c it’s obvious we need a big back (Polk / Tucker).
If we keep 4 RBs, then I don’t think Josey would be competing with the big backs… Think Josey would be competing with Barner as Sproles back up, if we end up keeping 4 RBs…
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If we keep 4 RB, I would assume it comes down to
Polk vs, Tuck and Barner Vs. Josey
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If they keep 3 backs, I would assume Polk is a lock! because if we only keep 3, the 3rd would have to be trusted to play big role this year in case of injuries and Polk has proven that more than his competitors.. The 3rd back would also have to bring special team value which would come down to Barner vs. Polk
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Don’t think Josey has a shot if we only keep 3…if we keep 4, he probably only has to beat out Barner
Screen pass for a TD against PATs (all backups)
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000378469/Josey-27-yard-touchdown
Eagles probably have best down-field blocking i the league so it’s really made for runners to break big plays.
Appreciate the post.
It’s almost time for football. Ima get my last view, hopefully (nobody needs injuries), of Joe Webb tomorrow, though. Watch the beginning of this game, and jump around as needed. Probably will settle into a game and check the box scores regularly!
Joe Webb is a good fit in Carolina, nice to have a backup that stylistically is the same as your starter.
I wish mark sanchez was playing tomorrow would love to watch that. Otherwise I’m looking for another 10ypc day from Josey.
I think OL is interesting roster battle..
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We are def going to try to keep Graf on the practice squad.
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We have last years 5
6) Barbre first man up off the bench, starting the first 4 weeks to replace Lane. Once again Chip does things HIS WAY. The “Old boys” way of doing things in the NFL, is a suspended player like Lane would have continued to practice and play with the starters and when it got close to the season, Barbre would start getting experience with the starters…. Chip thought it made more sense to start letting Barbre and Herremans build that chemistry which is crucial between a OG and OT. Chip wasn’t afraid to demote Lane all summer… He actually found that it could benefit Lane, to learn to be independent from Herremans, become more vocal, trust himself instead of deferring to Todd.
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7)’Tobin who we are extremely high on. Wonder how long before he replaces Barbre as first man off the bench?
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8) Molk, won this spot by default when Julian got injured. Fortunately he actually looks good and is someone we want to keep instead of someone we are forced to keep short term.
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9) Gardner. I don’t think we wanted to keep 9 OL, but these backups really stepped up and played their way onto this team and I don’t see us cutting any of them. Keeping 9 only counts as 8 for now, because Lane won’t count until his suspension ends.
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10) because Lane doesn’t count towards the roster while he is suspended! I wonder if we Keep Dennis Kelly since he has played well and try to trade him before Lane is back from his suspension so we don’t have to cut anyone???so I could see us Keep 9 OL and include Kelly, but we would have to lose one when Lane comes back because I don’t think we can keep 10 OL all season
I think 9 OL would be too much, don’t see value in that. We kept 7 active last season.
I much rather have that 4th RB or Reynolds. Also, I haven’t seen Kelly shine. Tobin and Gardner yes of course, Molk better than expected. But those 8 plus Lane are enough.
If Lane comes back – ok, keep those players. Cut another player. But right now, I’d go with 8.
I’m hoping Carroll gets the start over Fletcher. He has really been lousy, especially with his penalties.
Meh.. I’d be careful to judge veteran starters off of how they look when they are playing for $2,000 per game in the preseason. I also think DBs need a little leeway to adjust to this years rules, but Nolan replacing Brad at some point is definitely something to keep an eye on, especially since Brad can also play slot and replace Nolan in the dime…
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I think Cary, Nolan and Brad will each see time in every game, but Brad needs to show up, or he will be switching roles with Nolan finding himself playing dime CB in the slot with Boykin….but I don’t think we are at the point where any starters should be losing their jobs just yet
I don’t know the name/number of this formation but McCoy, Sproles, two tight ends and one wide out would have to be trouble for any Defense. They could run or they could split out Sproles and Ertz.
That’s what I’m talking about,, “22 personel” which will be chips “checkmate” formation this year… Two tight ends, and two running backs…thus the “22”… “Checkmate” because no matter if you chose to defend us with base, extra linebacker or nickel…either way, you will be FUCKED…. Teams barely have 1 linebacker that can cover a guy like Ertz, Shady or Sproles…what team has 3 linebackers that can shut them down?
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Exactly! What really makes it dangerous is traditionally when you see two TE and two RBs, defenses have to respect that as a heavy pound the run game formation so typically defenses put an extra linebacker on the field to counter it…. When defenses go with a bunch of linebackers, Sproles and Ertz will flex out wide and we can throw to whoever is being defended by the slowest linebacker, speed up the tempo and don’t let them substitute…if they want to put extra Defensive backs in the game, we go with some traditional 2TE/2RB pound the ball down your throat plays….
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Think a big part about our offense this year will be about identifying the slowest Linebacker on the field, and throw the ball to whichever of our weapons he is matched up against…. Just watch early in the season when we play the Colts…wanna know where the ball is going in the colts game, just keep your eyes on Colts LB Daqwell Jackson… If he is on Ertz, Sproles, or Shady, that’s who we will throw the ball to… I really like the way Qwell pays the game, but we are going to pick on him so bad, he is going to flip out.. It’s going to get to the point where they have to take him out or the game
No thoughts about RB? That’s the burning question on my mind.
I think RB is a much easier decision than people are trying to pretend. Polk and Tucker are (at the moment) head and shoulders above Barner and Josey. The only way it gets complicated is if Polk is too injury prone and they want to keep one of the other guys or if they think Barner would have shown more if they were able to get him earlier.
In one way, this is one of the most dramatic parts of an NFL season. If you’re one of these young bubble guys, your dreams are so close to coming true. But they are equally close to being dashed. Within a short period of time, a young mans work over the past decade will be rewarded with significant career success and wealth. Or, he may find himself cut from the roster and, suddenly, he’s not much more than a regular guy with a limited set of employable skills.
You know how to take all the fun out of trashing the guy standing between my crush and the final 53.
Don’t sweat it, true love never dies!
I feel like D Johnson has made a solid case for a roster spot. Problem is he isn’t a great fit unless they get rid of Barner. He will catch passes somewhere this year.
Keep forgetting about him… If we are going to cut him, I would hope we pick up the phone and see if Andy or the Jets have any interest…. It’s not like Andy has good WR’s… Damaris can be his very own James Thrash…
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Wonder if any of the players we plan on cutting, have any trade value?
Damaris
Damon square
Dennis Kelly
Mathew Tucker
Curtis marsh
Casey Mathews LOL
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Normally I would think we could easily find a trade partner for these guys in one of Howies your roster trash for my roster trash trades,lol but it’s too late to be trading players for other teams trash, taking a flier to see if someone’s trash can surprise us……. Not sure anyone is desperate enough to give up a 7th for one of those guys
At this point hard to trade guys we’re looking to cut. Would be nice to trade someone to the Browns since they don’t have anyone.
Yup…kind of disappointed by Howie sitting on his hands all summer. I guess he spoiled us with his player for player trades……. Hopefully we can find a depth upgrade or two on the waiver wire
The great Marvin McNutt got cut. Maybe we could beat Reid to get him.
Off topic, but… Kudos to Jeff Fisher for blasting that inane ESPN report.
Yeah that female reporter was a joke who should have her credentials revoked and never again allowed in the rams locker room. Talk about irresponsible journalism.. She acted like a disgrace
What happened?
Some idiot lady working for ESPN said something like Micheal SAM hasn’t been showering with team mates, but she basically fabricated it off of one player saying he hasn’t seen Sami n the shower with him.. Why this “reporter” is even asking questions about the rams shower at of the blue when there is no issue makes her a drama fabricating joke of a journalist to begin with
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If like 7 or 8 players were saying they didn’t feel comfortable showering with Sam, or if a few players knew for a fact that Sam hasn’t showered with ANY TEAM MATES to avoid the issue… Then it would be a story that you can report.
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But she was trying to be sneaky, asking questions but trying to hide that she was trying to find out about Sam…she got a player to say that he hasn’t seen Sam in the shower when he was showering.. That’s all… And she went and tried to create a story about how either the players are uncomfortable with the showers, or Sam avoiding showering with the team, which isn’t true…
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Coach fisher came out and called her on her bullshit….
Question: how bullshit are the injuries of the guys placed on IR? Basically I’m asking are the players on IR typically legitimately Injured? Or do they usually fake or embellish the extent of an injury to IR a player and not risk him on the practice squad?
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I don’t feel very comfortable about trying to stash guys on our practice squad this year.. After all, out of our first cuts, as in the players we wanted the least, 4 of them were claimed off waivers…and that was the very bottom of our roster…how are teams going to value the fringe players we don’t want to lose and place on our practice squad? If we value a player this year, need to find ways to keep them without placing them on practice squad…
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Save practice squad for a kid like Graf! an talent we don’t want to lose but who isn’t close from being able to play in an NFL game…
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Our practice squad is harder to predict than our 53 man roster, because we have to account for players clearing waivers and not getting poached
we let guys go extra early so they could get picked up – i can’t hate. Hopefully someone with DB depth will share the love.
Yip i see any of the RBs that could be cut picked up straight away too.. Might have to run over some toes or something to get them on IR
Did Lattimore do anything this year in pre-season? SF already stashed him on IR…maybe Josey could be the same.
Didnt realize he played thought he was still recovering from injury
At this point in the year, I’m highly suspicious of the majority of them, particularly the ones that seem like the would be on the PUP list if their team had any plans for them THIS year. Then again placing a prospect on IR to “red shirt” them also can hinder your ability to develop said player. Seems a desperate last resort. Who can be sure. I do remember thinking Kruger’s injury last year was highly suspect.
If they have played at all in the preseason — or for that matter, even *practiced* during training camp — they are not eligible or the in-season PUP list (where you can wait six weeks to add them to the roster). At this point, injuries mean either IR and miss the year (with that one designated-to-return player), release, or be injured but take up a 53 spot on the roster. I think a player would have to agree to miss the year on IR if it was a close thing though, as they could file a grievance if they were being “stashed” against their will. Some may prefer being on the practice squad depending on their situation though, since you could sign with any team if an opening came up, and would be practicing in the meantime. If you are on IR, you can’t practice with the team the entire year (so may not get better as much), and then try to make the same team the next year. Stashing players with blatantly silly injuries was a lot more common (see Redskins) before that no-practice rule.
Sending someone like Kruger to the IR keeps them off of another team’s roster, but it really doesn’t help the player to develop at all when they aren’t allowed to physically practice with the team for a full year.
I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these bottom of the roster battles end with all of the competitors cut and replaced by players waived by other teams.
Highly doubt it. At most 2 waiver claims. It’s just too hard to get someone new up to speed.
worst part of having a system different from everyone else’s and no real coaching tree
I have a fantasy draft tonight and this is my first time playing in a league with defensive players. I have no experience drafting defenders in fantasy.. Can anyone with experience playing in a league with defenders offer up some advice? Good defenders to draft? What round I should be drafting defenders?
draft last round or thereabouts. it all depends on how points are given but you’re usually looking for either sacks or return yards. i’d just look at 2013 performance and try to take the best guy.
I just did it for the first time Monday. I struck early (7th round taking Quinn as first d player off board). There’s value there through the whole draft. Take db (primarily safety) last. Lbs score consistently… But are avail late too. Take DL first… I went probably too early and did not fill out my starting O lineup before going with some defenders. Hope this helps.
Thank you sir… Quinn is one of my fav players in league.. I would love to get him… Knowing how the draft player out would you still take a defender in the 7th if you could re-draft?
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Need to draft two defenders, 1 front 7 player and 1 DB
My league has 5 starting positions. 1 DL 1 LB 1 DB and 2 flex (ur choice). We went 24 rounds and I ended up picking 9 defensive players total. There will be PLENTy of option for you. I got Kendricks super late as well as well as chandler Jones
What round would you recommend selecting your first defensive player?
After you feel there is no must haves on O.
If you have to fill a cb slot draft a guy on the other side of a stud. Otherwise don’t draft one!
Have to draft a front 7 player and a defensive back,,, corners > Safety???
It depends, I think, on whether you’re drafting three positions (DL, LB, DB) or just one IDP. Also depends of course on how stats are weighted. I play in a league with one IDP where sacks are worth two pts and solo tackles only 1/2 a point, so I try to get someone who racks up sacks. But I’d recommend waiting until way late in the draft if it’s just one IDP because there will always be good options on the waiver wire. You can even not draft one forego drafting one and just pick someone up before week one if there are still offensive players you want available late and you’re not sure which one you like the least.
One player from the front 7 and one defensive back..
I just don’t believe that 1 game determines who makes the team. I agree with what Geagle said earlier — Roster is already set. All the pre-season work outs, all the spring training etc etc and to think Chip is on the fence about a player and saying this game defines if he makes the team or not is probably an insult to Chip.
Chip does is homework. Chip is the most prepared(maybe most intelligent) coach in the NFL. Plain and simple, he’s a genius. I can’t believe an NFL genius is sitting there saying — ok, if Joe 1 makes 2 tackles on special teams tonight he makes the team, unless Joe 2 makes 3 tackles. Poppycock I say!
Yeah man, doubt too many important decisions are riding on a preseason game made up of 75% players who won’t even be in the NFL next year.
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This game is to give some valuable Gametime to players we need to grow like Marcus Smith, Matt Barkley, Jalen Watkins types who will make the 53 man roster, and the second half is basically just a thank you to the players who will be getting Cut, giving them a chance to put their game on film in hopes that someone sees it and gives them another opportunity…
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Can we really think Chip is going to decide if Momah or Benn make the roster off of who performed better in the 4th preseason game?
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Doubt tonight’s game will drastically change the way the coaches view our roster today…
Maybe the kicker? LOL
Don’t you mean….HOPEFULLY the Kicker? Lol
LOL, true.
Any last minute guesses on surprises on the roster?
6 OLBs, only 3 ILBs…long moonlights as the 4th ILB, the way Casey Mathews moonlighted as the 4th OLB last year…. I feel pretty certain about the way I’m reading the linebacker situation…problem is I can’t account for the irrational love we have for Casey Mathews!! HE is like the roach that always survives, so I can’t be too shocked if he throws a monkey wrench into my linebacker projections…
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No new shockers at this point.., but the questions I have left are:
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1) The running backs. Hard to read the situation when we added a new RB a week ago. Normally I wouldn’t expect such a late addition to rock the boat….but it’s hard to know WTF Chip has in mind when the RB we just added is a former Duck who Chip knows well.
Right now, I would say it’s going to be Polk and Barner who make the 53 man roster
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2) Rejus and Momah??? Thinking we only keep 5 WR, cut Rejus and practice squad Momah…but I hope Rejus makes the roster. But I worry that we don’t need 6 WRs this year when a big part of our offense will he two TE sets and two RB sets…don’t think our offense will be Predominrntly 3 WRs like last year
I think a lot of people keep saying Sproles is a back up. Sproles is going to see a lot of time. He’s not here to spell Shady — he’s here to help Shady.
A shocker to me would be keeping Mathews.
Totally agree… Think Sproles and shady are two different positions.,, if Shady goes down. Sproles still would compliment the back that replaces Shady as our bell cow
I think the running back slots 3 and 4 are wide open–if Polk looks bad, could be some interesting decisions.
Does Kelly keep D Kelly? Casey Mathews ducks out?
I woke up in a cold sweat this morning…dreaming that Curtis Marsh made the final 53. I think we will pick up a few final cuts for the D.
Alot no but 1-2 players definitely. There are a lot of marginal backup guys at LB and secondary that they could upgrade from depending upon who shakes loose.
Understand why the Eagles are the biggest preseason favorites to win their division based on Vegas’ preseason over/under lines.
Don’t see another team in this division better than .500 unless RGIII suddenly and unexpectedly gets fairly close to his ’13 form.
Nothing in preseason I have seen has changed my mind either that if the Eagles just go 9-7 (4-2 again in the NFC East) they will win this division again.
We’ll have time to go into details after the rosters are finalized, but I agree with you about the Eagles winning the East. I also really think it’s possible we’ll sweep. The Cowboys are decimated and I’ll bet Romo’s back doesn’t make it through the season, The Skins don’t know what they are doing and I’m not convinced RG’s knee is where he needs it to be, and the Giants crappy O-line will provide Eli with another lousy season. Eagles go 6-0, baby, you heard it here.
Old adage ‘you don’t have to outrun the bear, just the other guy(s)’ is what the NFC East will be this.
Thought largely the same thing last year except that the ‘Boys would win the division at 9-7 with the Eagles and Giants at 8-8. I had the Skins at 6-10.
If I had to go this year, I would swamp the Boys and Skins at this point and go:
Eagles: 9-7 (4-2 in division)
Skins: 7-9
Giants: 7-9
Boys: 4-12 (Romo gets hurt and the wheels fall off with Wheeden and that porous defense)
really hoping romo goes down don’t want dez to hurt me in fantasy
Dumbest thing this offseason was the Boys not getting a better backup.
Still don’t think much of Sanchez even after this preseason but I would take him every day of the week over Wheeden.
i like that he’s got $50m guaranteed on that back.
The three best quarterbacks( in his evaluation) that Chip played against when at Oregon are now playing for him. He couldn`t be happier. Sanchez did as well as possible there in NY with a head coach who paid no attention to the O side of the game (similar to Buddy and Randall Cunningham).Now he`s getting the coaching he needed and the evidence is what we`ve seen so far.
Telling you now, Romo won’t make it out of the Rams game,,.Romo isn’t even going to see the month of October… September 21, Romo’s season comes to an end
I think we’re better than a 9 win team.
Wow. You have us losing two games to sub-.500 teams. Expect 5-1 in the division.
How do people see the Eagles playing the number game with the offensive lineman? It’s a virtual lock that JP, Lane, Todd, Kelce, Mathis, Barbre, Molk, Tobin, and Gardner make the team. that’s 9 offensive lineman..
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My question is Dennis Kelly. From everything I gathered he has looked solid, but from a numbers game, I just don’t see how we can keep him. I think we would much rather keep 8 OL, instead of 10……the complication is that Lane doesn’t count towards the 53 man roster while he is suspended, so how will the Eagles use his roster spot?
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Would they just keep the next best player on their list, and just cut someone when Lane comes back? Or will they keep the next best OL which would be Dennis? But if they were to keep Dennis, he would know that he will be cut right after week 4 when Lame is eligible to return…I guess we would probably try to trade him if we know he is a dead man walking….but how would Dennis take this? Young player like him with some game experience and some decent play on film would probably prefer being cut now to try and find a new job, instead of knowing you will get cut at the beginning of October….. Would the Eagles almost be better off not replacing Lanes roster spot with an OL who know he will be cut at the end of September? If they just give lanes spot to the next best player at some other random position, that player won’t have to spend September as an eagle who knows he is a dead bird walking…
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But cutting Dennis Kelly doesn’t sit that well with me. I don’t care about losing him when our other back ups look sharp, but that’s a young player I think we should be a able to get a draft pick for. Young player who got some valuable playing time as a rookie and handled himself well after improving from one week to the next on that mess of a line…He also brings some versatility..I have a hard time believing that we can’t get a late pick from a team like the Giants with issues on the Offensive line…heck, Andy Reid could use him…his RT just got suspended for 4 games, and Fisher was abused by the Kraken a week ago….
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If we use our spot on Dennis, does his versatility, the game experience he got as a rookie, and the improvements he has show in this preseason combine to be enough for us to get a 7th rd/conditional 6th round pick(depending on playing time) from a team like the Cheifs or Dolphins before Lane’s suspension ends?
I would rather they go lighter at OL for a few weeks and keep someone who they haven’t decided on than keep Kelly just until Lane returns. OLman don’t rotate and the odds of a rash of injuries in 4 weeks that leave us short handed is almost zero.
I think they are better served keeping a RB in case Polk doesn’t get healthy or WR to give Huff time or safety if they are on the fence about Reynolds.
Yeah I don’t think we are happy about keeping 9. Think we would have prefered to keep 8.. But you figure our starting 5, Molk is 6… I know we prefer 8, but can you see us cut Barbre, Tobin or Gardner? I just don’t see us cutting any of these guys after the summer they have had…
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Hopefully we are trying to trade Dennis now… I’d trade him inside the division if that’s what it took to get a conditional 6th
LOL Day later USC defensive captain Josh Shaw admits he was lying, and he didn’t hurt his ankles jumping out of a window being a hero, saving his nephew from drowning… Lol this lie was so horrible. Like how the hell did he think he could get away with this..,how do these football players not learn from manti Teo that you don’t lie to the media pretending to be a hero!!! It doesn’t work!!
I’d assume criminal charges follow and we find out he was committing some type of crime
Josh didnt lie to the media, he lied to USC who ran with it and posted it. The media and USC is total suckers for running with it before they did any background check.
I think the punishment should be that Jerry has the sole say on draft picks for the next few years.
Yes, but Manziel would be the key to a couple 4-12 seasons where they might actually select some talent.
So much for flying under the radar. Sigh…,
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Peter King Predicts Eagles #1 seed in the NFC this year(playoffs run thru the Linc baby!)
Collingsworth has us going to the Super Bowl
By next week we will be a dynasty SMH….
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ATleast good Ol’ Heath Evans still stands by his word that Chip Kelly sucks
Evans is turdible. He has the classic meat-head look. The way he talks is annoying. Him and Sapp together is awful.
Sapp is excrement. I mute him.
I’m sure shah8 does, too. Good to have constants in an ever-changing world.