With the preseason finally coming to an end teams around the NFL must cut their rosters from 80 to 53 players on Saturday afternoon. Below is my best guess at the Eagles 53-man roster heading into the 2011 season opener against the St. Louis Rams.
Quarterbacks (3)
Michael Vick
Vince Young
Mike Kafka
Thoughts: There is no doubt that Vick, Young, and Kafka will be the three quarterbacks on the Eagles roster. While there were questions surrounding Young’s grasp of the west coast offense, the former Titan solidified the number two quarterback position with a strong showing in the Eagles final preseason game against the New York Jets.
Running Backs (3)
LeSean McCoy
Ronnie Brown
Dion Lewis
Thoughts: While there were some questions surrounding Lewis’s size, the 5th round selection out of Pittsburgh quieted the doubters with a strong training camp and preseason. Lewis is a strong runner with a low center of gravity. He had 15 touches for 100 total yards and a touchdown in the Eagles preseason finale at New York. Eldra Buckley seems like the odd man out. Rookie RB Graig Cooper out of Miami has a chance to make the practice squad.
Fullback (1)
Owen Schmitt
Thoughts:
While I think Schmitt will make the final roster fullback is a position to keep an eye on for the Eagles. The team tried to claim former Lions fullback Jerome Felton on Thursday but lost out to the Carolina Panthers. Seventh round rookie Stanley Havili hasn’t shown enough in the preseason to justify a roster spot. Schmitt will make the initial roster but it will be interesting to see what fullbacks become available after Saturday’s league-wide cuts.
Wide Receivers (6)
DeSean Jackson
Jeremy Maclin
Jason Avant
Steve Smith
Riley Cooper
Sinorice Moss
Thoughts:
The top five wide receivers are locks to make the team. The tough decision is whether or not the Eagles decide to keep a 6th wide receiver heading into the regular season. Due to the uncertainty surrounding Jeremy Maclin (health) and Steve Smith (knee), I think the Eagles will keep a 6th wideout to start the year. The question then becomes whether they keep Chad Hall, Sinorice Moss, or Johnny Lee Higgins. While Higgins has the best track record, I don’t think he has shown enough during training camp and the preseason to earn a roster spot. It then comes down to Hall vs. Moss. Hall has been more consistent and has a stronger grasp of the offense. However I think his fumbled punt return on Thursday night may have sealed his fate. The 6th wideout will have a minimal impact in the Eagles explosive offense and would be on the roster for their special teams ability. Moss is more explosive and is the better punt returner of the two so he makes my final roster. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles kept Hall over Moss or even went into the season with just five wide receivers.
Tight End (3)
Brent Celek
Clay Harbor
Donald Lee
Thoughts:
Celek and Harbor are both locks to make the team and should see significantly playing time throughout the season. I feel that Donald Lee showed enough during the preseason, specifically in Thursday night’s finale against the Jets, to justify a roster spot. Although Cornelius Ingram is finally healthy after several knee injuries, there isn’t a spot for him on the Eagles roster. He could potentially be a practice squad candidate for a second straight season.
Offensive Line (8)
Jason Peters
Evan Mathis
Jason Kelce
Danny Watkins
Todd Herremans
King Dunlap
Jamaal Jackson
Julian Vandervelde
Thoughts: The Eagles offensive line is still a major work-in-progress. There is almost no way the Eagles go into the regular season with just 8 lineman. I currently have Winston Justice starting the season on the physically unable to perform list. Justice has been on PUP all summer and has yet to take a snap during practice. While the Eagles and Justice continue to say that he is close to returning the former starting right tackle is coming off of microfracture surgery. I have him sitting out until Week 6 which would free up a roster spot. Ryan Harris’s back injury will send him to IR. Mike McGlynn, who was the Eagles starting center last season, does not fit Howard Mudd’s system and will be cut. Although Reggie Wells has performed well at right tackle since being resigned, I can’t see him making this team. I currently have Jamaal Jackson on the Eagles roster but I would not be surprised at all if he ends up getting released. Jackson has clearly fallen out of favor with the Eagles coaching staff and would be an expensive backup. I expect the Eagles to sign 1-2 offensive lineman after cuts are made on Saturday.
Defensive Line (10)
Trent Cole
Cullen Jenkins
Mike Patterson
Jason Babin
Antonio Dixon
Darryl Tapp
Derek Landri
Anthony Hargrove
Daniel Te’o-Nesheim
Philip Hunt
Thoughts: The somewhat surprising cut along the defensive line is veteran Juqua Parker. While Parker has had a very strong career in Philadelphia and is arguably the Eagles second best defensive end against the run, if defensive line coach Jim Washburn feels he can get enough out of his young lineman, Parker will be a $4.3 million cap casualty. Darryl Tapp has had a very strong preseason and seems destined to flourish in Washburn’s wide-nine system. Anthony Hargrove can play both defensive end and defensive tackle and will provide the Eagles with flexibility along the defensive line. I’ve decided to keep Derek Landri over Trevor Laws. Landri has a high motor and seems like a player that Washburn would love to have along his defensive line. Laws missed a ton of time this summer and is heading into the final year of his contract. I don’t think he is in the Eagles future plans. Philip Hunt has earned a spot on the Eagles roster. The former CFL standout has had an outstanding summer as a speed rusher off of the edge. Hunt and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim will battle for a roster spot once Brandon Graham is eligible to come off of the physically unable to perform list after Week 6.
Linebackers (5)
Jamar Chaney
Casey Matthews
Moise Fokou
Brian Rolle
Keenan Clayton
Thoughts: I expect the Eagles to add another linebacker at some point. They could cut Akeem Jordan and then resign him after week one. If they do this they would only have to pay Jordan on a week-to-week basis rather than guaranteeing him a full season salary. Rolle has not only earned a spot on the roster but has earned the right to get a look at nickel linebacker alongside Chaney. There are a lot of question marks surrounding the Eagles undersized and inexperienced linebacking corps.
Cornerbacks (6)
Nnamdi Asomugha
Asante Samuel
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Curtis Marsh
Brandon Hughes
Trevard Lindley
Thoughts: The top three are a stone-cold mortal lock (TM Howard Eskin, who retires Friday afternoon). Marsh is a third-round pick with a lot of potential who played very well during training camp and the preseason. Lindley was drafted in the 4th round out of Kentucky last season and still has upside. The coaching staff has been impressed with Brandon Hughes since picking him up off of the New York Giants practice squad last season. I think he has done enough to make the initial roster. I expect veteran CB Joselio Hanson to be traded by Saturday at 6 p.m.
Safeties (5)
Kurt Coleman
Nate Allen
Jaiquawn Jarrett
Jarrad Page
Colt Anderson
Thoughts: I made room for Colt Anderson on the final 53-man roster. Special teams coach Bobby April loves Anderson. He was the Eagles best special teams player last season and deserve a chance to excel again in 2011. Jarrett suffered a hamstring injury in the final preseason game but it doesn’t seem serious enough for the Eagles to stash him on IR for the season to free up a roster spot. I expect Coleman and Page to be the starting safeties in the season opener.
Special Teams (3)
Alex Henery
Chas Henry
Jon Dorenbos
Thoughts: I have a feeling that the Eagles are going to miss David Akers several times during the 2011 season. While 4th round pick Alex Henery has a lot of potential, he has been very inconsistent throughout the summer. There will definitely be growing pains with a rookie kicker and punter this season.
Leave a Reply