Monday, July 27, 2009

Projecting the 2009 Eagles 53 man roster, Ver. 1.0

With Training Camp getting under way shortly, it's time to start taking a look at how the Eagles roster will shape up. This post is my first attempt at predicting what the Eagles 53 man roster will look like for the first game of the season, and I will update it every week or so right up until the Eagles make their final cuts. Below the roster list I have also listed several players who are on the bubble and I gave reasons why they might not make the final roster. Feel free to help me out, as this is my first pass at predicting the roster this season, let me know if I'm leaving anyone off or if you agree or disagree with my choices.

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

RB(3): Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, Lorenzo Booker

FB (1): Leonard Weaver

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

TE(3): Brent Celek, Matt Schobel, Cornelius Ingram

LT(2): Jason Peters, King Dunlap

LG(2): Todd Herremans, Max Jean-Gilles

C(2): Jamaal Jackson, Nick Cole

RG(2): Stacy Andrews, Mike McGlynn

RT(2): Shawn Andrews, Winston Justice

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

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

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

CB(5): Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, Joselio Hanson, Ellis Hobbs, Jack Ikegwuonu

FS(2): Quintin Demps, Rashad Baker

SS(2): Quintin Mikell, Sean Jones

Special Teams:
K(1): David Akers

P(1): Sav Rocca

LS(1): Jon Dorenbos

Possible to start the season on the injured list: Victor Abiamiri, Brian Westbrook
Both players aren't expected to be practicing with the team until mid-August. You can bet on Westbrook answering the bell when the season starts, but Abiamiri is injured so often that there is always a chance he misses time

Most likely to get cut/traded: Sheldon Brown, Reggie Brown
If he holds out, which he probably won't, or decides to be a headache, then the Eagles might entertain the idea of trading Sheldon. As of right now, that looks doubtful. Reggie Brown will probably make the team, but he is definitely low man amongst the 6 wideouts.

Players on the bubble:
FB: Kyle Eckel
There is no way that Eckel will beat out Weaver for the starting fullback spot, so it will be up to him to prove that he can be a valuable special teams contributor. Keeping two fullbacks is a waste of a roster spot, though, so Eckel might need to prove his worth at runningback.

WR: Brandon Gibson, Shaheer McBride
A numbers game will keep these two off the roster because there is no way the Eagles keep 7 recievers. Both are likely headed for the practice squad.

OL: Mike Gibson, Fenuki Tupou, Chris Patrick, Paul Fanaika
Not enough room to keep more than one backup at each offensive line position. I am interested to see how Gibson does this training camp, however. He was on injured reserve all last season and could beat out Mike McGlynn if he has a good camp. Tupou and Fanaika were both picked up in the draft, but the Eagles are too loaded to keep either one. Tupou has the better shot and would be great on the practice squad.

DL: Jervonte Jackson
Jamaal's brother is just a training camp body, nothing more.

LB: Tank Daniels, Moise Fokou
Tank is always valuable as a special teams guy, so he could earn a spot on the roster. Fokou was the last of the Eagles draft picks in the 7th round but figures to be a longshot at best.

DB: Macho Harris, Dmitri Patterson, Trae Williams, Byron Parker
Harris is a tough one to leave off the roster, the Eagles will surely try to put him on the practice squad, but he just misses the team because Ikegwuonu is healthy and acquitted of all charges. If the Eagles trade Sheldon Brown or someone gets hurt, Harris should make the team easily, although he could also beat out Rashad Baker if the two are close to even. Patterson also has a shot, since he spent the end of last season with the team, but it's going to be hard to budge any of the other DB's out of a spot.

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

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