Monday, August 18, 2008

Projecting the Eagles 53 man roster, version 2.0

Two games into the preseason, the Eagles still have some tough decisions to make with their final roster. Given how well the back-ups played last week, some of the players "on the bubble" may have done enough to make the squad. Here is my second attempt at predicting who will make the Eagles final roster. Changes from last time are listed in bold.

Offense:
QB(3): Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, A.J. Feeley

RB(3): Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter, Lorenzo Booker

FB(1): Jed Collins

WR(6): Kevin Curtis, Reggie Brown, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis

TE(3): L.J. Smith, Brent Celek, Matt Schobel

LT(2): Tra Thomas, King Dunlap

LG(2): Todd Herremans, Scott Young

C(2): Jamaal Jackson, Nick Cole

RG(2): Shawn Andrews, Max Jean-Gilles

RT(2): Jon Runyan, Winston Justice

Defense:
DE(6): Juqua Parker, Trent Cole, Darren Howard, Chris Clemons, Bryan Smith, Jerome McDougle

DT(4): Mike Patterson, Broderick Bunkley, Trevor Laws, Dan Klecko

LB(5): Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley, Omar Gaither, Akeem Jordan, Joe Mays

CB(5): Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard, Joselio Hanson, Kyle Arrington

FS(2): Brian Dawkins, Quintin Demps

SS(2): Quintin Mikell, Sean Considine

Special Teams:
K(1): David Akers

P(1): Sav Rocca

LS(1): Jon Dorenbos

Will start season on injured list: Jack Ikegwuonu
Ikegwuonu won't play this season, he's getting himself healthy for 2009.

Likely to start the season on injured list: Victor Abiamiri
Abiamiri still thinks he has a shot at being ready, but with all the depth the Eagles have along the defensive line he's likely to go on IR.


Most likely to get cut/traded: Darren Howard, Lito Sheppard
With McDougle's emergence and his large salary, Howard is a prime candidate to get cut. The likeliness of Lito getting traded seems to be diminishing, but don't be surprised if he just goes AWOL because he's unhappy with his playing time.

Players on the bubble:
RB: Tony Hunt, Ryan Moats
Hunt played the game of his life against the Panthers, but it still might not be enough to make the team. Anyone playing behind Westbrook, Buckhalter and Booker won't get any carries, so there is no point in the Eagles keeping four RB's. Hunt probably has some trade value now, so ship him out for a draft pick. Moats has no shot.

FB: Jason Davis
Collins still has the edge over Davis because of his strong special teams play. Davis may still make a late charge for the spot, but if the Eagles had to decide today, Collins would be the guy.

WR: Michael Gasperson, Shaheer McBride, Jamal Jones
Simply not enough room for a 7th wide receiver. I doubt the Eagles will even keep six, they might part with Greg Lewis or Hank Baskett, but both have played well in the preseason.

TE: Kris Wilson
Wilson has had a terrible camp and has done nothing to prove he should make it ahead of Schobel. Schobel at least knows the offense even though he doesn't have a ton of talent.

OL: Mike McGlynn, Mike Gibson
Simply a numbers game with these two rookies. With the way King Dunlap has been playing, he seems assured of a spot, leaving the two Mike's out. Both will likely find their way to the practice squad, although there is still a chance Scott Young would get cut to make room for McGlynn.

DL: Montae Reagor
Reagor had surgery on his knee so he could be stashed on the IR.

LB: Rocky Boiman, Andy Studebaker, Justin Roland
Boiman was brought in to be a veteran presence amongst the linebackers and a big special teams contributor but he has been a disappointment on special teams and has yet to show much at linebacker. Studebaker will be stashed on the practice squad. I mention Roland here because he made that great play in the Panthers game, but he's not going to make the team.

CB: Nick Graham
Graham and Kyle Arrington appear to be battling for the 5th corner back spot. Arrington made more plays in the Panthers game, so he gets the nod for now.

S: J.R. Reed, Marcus Paschal
Reed is a tough guy to cut considering how well he played at the end of last season. The Eagles could choose to go with 4 corners and keep Reed, but with the Eagles not desperate for help in the return game, Reed could be gone. Paschal is good on special teams, but there's no room for him.

That's the team as I see it. Did I leave anyone off? Who needs to be cut? Discuss in the comments section.

6 comments:

  1. JR Reed showed more as a safety in the New England game than Considine has ever shown since he has been here... what is it with the Simoneau/Considines that these coaches fall in love with? I mean, is this reverse affirmitive action???????

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  2. Didn't Dunlap already get cut when andrews came back

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  3. Franklin Dunbar was waived, King Dunlap is still on track to make the team. I can see the confusion there.

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  4. Tony Hunt was just moved to FB today. I bet he makes the team.

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  5. Yeah, just did a post on Hunt, he has to have an inside track to make the team now.

    http://allthingsphillysports.blogspot.com/2008/08/tony-hunt-starting-fullback.html

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