Huge Game…For Some

Tonight the Eagles will take on the Dolphins in the preseason finale. Starters won’t play. Key backups won’t play. Why even bother with the game? This is actually a huge game for almost half the team.

We know who the top 45 to 50 Eagles are. Things open up after that. How do you separate backup OL Jack Anderson, Kayode Awosika and Josh Sills? How do you separate DBs like Jaquiski Tartt, Josiah Scott and Andre Chachere? Tonight’s game gives the players a final chance to show what they can do.

Some players are fighting for roster spots. Others are fighting for practice squad spots. Still others are simply trying to show something that will get them to the top of the street free agent list for all 32 teams.

Here are some of the guys I’ll be focused on tonight.

Devon Allen showed incredible speed last week. We knew he was fast due to his track success, but you want to see that on the football field. It would be great to see him get more passes thrown his way to get a better feel for his skill set and if he’s worth keeping on the roster.

Rookie TE Grant Calcaterra has missed a lot of time due to injury so this will be his only game of the summer. He has a good shot to make the team, but he will need to show what he can do in a game setting. He’s a talented receiver so he should look good in that area. As a blocker, he just needs to show he can be functional.

Jack Anderson has played all three interior OL spots this summer. Coaches love versatility. He struggled in the opener and then played better last week. Another good showing would help his case for a roster spot. If the Eagles keep 10 OL, Anderson could be the final guy.

The Eagles drafted Kyron Johnson because he could rush the passer and fly around the field on STs. Johnson showed some flashes last week as a pass rusher. He’s undersized so he has to be disruptive. He needs another game like that to make the coaches think he should be on the roster.

Kennedy Brooks hasn’t had many touches this summer. I’d like to see the coaches feed him tonight. He’s slow and there’s no disputing that. But he’s also smart, patient and instinctive. Those are good qualities in a RB. Brooks has no chance at the roster, but he is fighting for a practice squad spot.

Safeties. I can’t list just one guy because this is such an odd position. Jaquiski Tartt seemed like a virtual lock for the roster when he was signed. Then Tartt missed a couple of weeks of camp for personal reasons and you started to question his outlook. Tartt played well last week and the coaches have said good things about him. I don’t know if he’ll even play tonight. If not, that’s a sign he’s likely made it. If he only plays early, same thing. If he plays half the game…things are less certain for him.

Josiah Scott and Andre Chachere can both play CB, nickel and safety. Chachere is the better STer. They could be battling each other for the final roster spot. It would help if one would do something to separate from the other.

Reed Blankenship has looked good in both preseason games. He’s a true safety and not as versatile as Scott/Chachere. I think Blankenship could still win a roster spot. He needs another good showing to stay in the hunt.

I didn’t mention K’Von Wallace. I think he’s done enough to earn a spot at this point.

Coaches will be watching to see who can make plays, who avoids mistakes and who can help on STs.

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