Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Projecting the Eagles 53 man roster, version 3.0

Three games into the preseason, the Eagles roster picture is beginning to clear up. The Eagles played one of their better all-around games against the Patriots, dominating on special teams while showing some encouraging signs of improvement on offense. Here is my third attempt at predicting who will make the Eagles final roster. There aren't too many changes from last time, but anything that is new is listed in bold.

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

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

FB(1): Tony Hunt

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, Mike McGlynn

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, Victor Abiamiri, 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(4): Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard, Joselio Hanson

FS(2): Brian Dawkins, J.R. Reed, Quintin Demps

SS(3): 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.

Could to start the season on injured list: Victor Abiamiri, Bryan Smith
Abiamiri still thinks he has a shot at being ready, but with all the depth the Eagles have along the defensive line it's possible he will go on IR.
Either Abiamiri or Smith has to go to IR, because there isn't room for that many DE's.

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. Lito probably won't be traded at this point, escpecially with how thin the Eagles are at CB now.

Players on the bubble:
RB: Ryan Moats
Moats is done. The Eagles would rather slide Tony Hunt back to running back than have Moats get any carries, making him the 5th RB. His career could be over, although some desperate team might give him a shot.

FB: Jed Collins, Jason Davis
Tony Hunt won't be the best fullback in the world, but the Eagles are doing what they can to give him a roster spot, leaving Collins and Davis out. Collins would have the edge over Davis if Hunt makes the team as a running back instead.

WR: Michael Gasperson, Shaheer McBride, Jamal Jones
Even with the Kevin Curtis injury, the Eagles won't be keeping these guys. They would rather only have 5 receivers on the roster, anyway.

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: Scott Young, Mike Gibson
I think McGlynn has done enough to earn a spot over Scott Young. Young is versatile and can play a few positions along the line, but the promise of McGlynn is too much to keep stashed away. Gibson will likely be on the practice squad.

DL: Montae Reagor
Reagor had surgery on his knee so he could be stashed on the IR. There are rumors circulating that he will be cut.

LB: Rocky Boiman, Andy Studebaker
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.

CB: Nick Graham, Kyle Arrington
Graham and Arrington were battling for the 5th cornerback spot but neither of them will win the job. The Eagles will go with only 4 corners and move Demps if they need a 5th.

S: Marcus Paschal
Keeping only 4 corners allows the Eagles to keep J.R. Reed. Reed was too good down the stretch last year to simply cut. 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.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really like Kyle Arrington, he needs a strong showing against the Jets, I'm still hoping he makes the 5th cb spot if we have one..

Anonymous said...

The Eagles should cut Buckhalter and keep Collins and Hunt

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