Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Roster Week

Posted August 27th, 2023 | Comments Off on Roster Week

The preseason is over. Training Camp is over. The next order of business is choosing a 53-man roster and filling out the practice squad. Roster cuts must be made by 4pm on Tuesday. The Eagles have started the process of making cuts.

That leaves 30 more official cuts to go.

There are reports about other players being waived.

Jackson is the only one that surprises me. I thought he had a good preseason and had earned a roster spot. The argument against him is that he will turn 26 in November and is still a project. Normally by that age you are who you are. I give Jackson some flexibility on that because he’s made a position change and had some injury issues. I still think he’s worth keeping around.

The Eagles have a stud TE in Dallas Goedert. They have a blocker in Jack Stoll and a backup receiver in Grant Calcaterra. Those two combined for 16 catches last year. If you keep Jackson, when is he going to play and how do you use him? That’s not an easy question. I just hate to give up on a big guy who can run and has good hands. This is one of those good problems to have. Jackson is an interesting project and the Eagles are passing on him.

We got some good news on the injury front.

Goodrich is on the bubble for a roster spot so being healthy is crucial for him. Ojomo and Covey will be important role players this year so they want to practice to be ready for the regular season.

Quez Watkins came back recently so it will be important for him to get back to where he needs to be. Watkins had a good camp prior to his injury so the hope is that he’s going to be an improved player this season. As good as the offense was last year, Watkins can make that unit even better.

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I think this is a good point that we can overlook at times. The coaches see things we don’t because they spend so much time with the players. A couple of years ago the Eagles kept DT Marlon Tuipulotu despite him having a mediocre TC and looking bad in preseason games. The coaches liked his potential and felt he was worth keeping around. He’s turned into a valuable role player. That was a really smart decision.

I still think Siposs shouldn’t feel safe about keeping his job. He’s struggled for a while and really hurt the Eagles in some big games. That’s different than having a couple of bad practices.

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Howie Roseman and the pro personnel staff will have a busy week. They have to study the cuts made by the other 31 teams. They’ll be looking to see if there are any players they want to claim/sign. You never know when another team will cut someone loose that fits your scheme/roster.

Roseman will also be calling the other teams in the league to see who might be available in a trade. Last year a call like this led to CJ Gardner-Johnson becoming an Eagle. Roseman has legit interest in always improving the roster and is willing to make moves. He will take chances.

The staff also needs to figure out who they want on the practice squad. Most of those players will be guys the Eagles cut, but they could add a player or two from other teams. The scouts have studied preseason game tape for the other 31 teams. They also have the pre-draft scouting reports. There are some players the Eagles will have interest in. They can talk to the players to see if they’re interested in coming to Philly, but there aren’t any guarantees.

The Eagles do as good a job as any team in the league at adding to the roster at this time of the year. It will be interesting to see if they can find another good player or two to add to the mix.

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Roster Prediction

Posted August 26th, 2023 | 4 Comments »
The Eagles need to decide on the 53-man roster by next Tuesday. This is a combination of players to win today and some talented players to develop for the future. There are numbers you’d like at each position, but things don’t always work out that way. Do you cut a talented CB to keep a mediocre LB just because you’re heavy on the back end and light in the middle? That’s dangerous. You always want to focus on talent. At the same time, you need enough depth to handle injuries and you need the right guys for STs. You’re looking for the right 53, not just the best 53.
The top 50 or so spots will likely be the same for just about everyone. It is the final few spots where things get challenging.

Projection

QB – 3 – Hurts, Mariota, McKee

There is no surprise with this group. The only question is if McKee will get a chance to win the backup job.

RB – 4 – Swift, Gainwell, Penny, Scott

The Trey Sermon era comes to an end. He didn’t show enough to make you want to keep five RBs. The other players have more talent and experience. We can debate how they’ll be used, but we know who the RBs will be.

https://twitter.com/EaglesXOs/status/1691860833570091255

WR – 5 – Brown, Smith, Watkins, Zaccheaus, Covey

I think the Eagles were hoping a backup receiver would emerge this summer. Didn’t happen. Devon Allen was hurt. Joseph Ngata had some good moments, but he lacks the quickness/agility to be an NFL receiver. Deon Cain flashed, but was too inconsistent. I hoped Jadon Haselwood would be the sleeper to emerge, but he didn’t make enough plays. Covey is back because of his ability as a PR.

TE – 4 – Goedert, Stoll, Calcaterra, Jackson

Jackson showed me enough that I think you want to keep him around. Watch the first play below. You see a big TE running smoothly and catching the ball on the move. Looks fluid and natural. That’s what you want in a TE. Can you figure out a way to use him? That’s the challenge.

https://twitter.com/AidanDoc_/status/1695119208151990367

OL – 9 – Mailata, Dickerson, Kelce, Jurgens, Johnson, Steen, F Johnson, Driscoll, Opeta

The starting five are set. Tyler Steen is the top backup. Jack Driscoll brings experience and versatility. The Eagles were impressed by Fred Johnson and just signed him to an extension. I went back and forth on Opeta, but the Eagles love a deep OL so keeping nine guys up front makes sense. Josh Sills just didn’t play well enough the past two weeks to earn a spot.

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DL – 6 – Cox, Davis, Williams, Carter, Tuipulotu, Ojomo

This is an obvious group, assuming Moro Ojomo is healthy. If the Eagles have any concerns with him, they would keep Kentavius Street for the first few weeks.

Edge – 6 – Reddick, Sweat, BG, Smith, Barnett, Patrick Johnson

You can make an argument for keeping Janarius Robinson. Robinson showed flashes this summer, but I don’t think he won a spot. I’m guessing the Eagles will be able to put a couple of Edge players on the practice squad. Tarron Jackson is also a possibility there. Kyron Johnson just didn’t do enough to make the team.

LB – 3 – Dean, Cunningham, Elliss

I hate going light at LB. I went back and looked at the end of the 2022 season. The Eagles played with three active LBs (Edwards, White, Elliss). They went heavy on the edge. It doesn’t look right to me, but Nick Morrow had a less than spectacular summer. I do think people are overly down on him, but I didn’t see anything that makes you feel he’s got to be on this team. Cunningham did win a spot. He was terrific. Elliss played pretty well, but I still see him as more of a role player.

SAF – 4 – Blankenship, Edmunds, Brown, Evans

I re-watched part of the Colts game to take another look at Justin Evans. He played better than I realized. K’Von Wallace was okay, but the coaches like Evans. And he does have more experience (25 starts) and overall ability. Wallace should make it to the PS.

CB – 6 – Slay, Bradberry, Jobe, Ringo, Maddox, Ricks

I kept Eli Ricks over Mario Goodrich. Ricks showed more potential this summer and the Eagles do have a pair of aging corners on the outside. There is no natural backup to Maddox, but you should be able to get Goodrich or Josiah Scott on the PS in case they are needed.

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ST – 3 – Lovato, Elliott, Siposs

The Eagles have a terrific LS and PK. They need a punter. Siposs has the job for now, but that will change as soon as the Eagles see who is cut and can find an upgrade.

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PRACTICE SQUAD

  • Trey Sermon
  • Devon Allen
  • Joseph Ngata
  • Jadon Haselwood
  • Brady Russell
  • Julian Good-Jones
  • Josh Sills
  • Josh Andrews

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  • Marvin Wilson
  • Janarius Robinson
  • Tarron Jackson
  • Nick Morrow
  • Ben VanSumeren
  • K’Von Wallace
  • Mario Goodrich
  • Mekhi Garner

I think they could look to add a DT to this mix. Noah Elliss would have been perfect, but he got hurt. The guys added recently aren’t compelling. Kentavius Street could get picked up by a team that is light at DT.

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