Early Predictions for the Final 53

[Leonard Tose]

Not bad LT

I don't think Colt Anderson or Teo will make it though

Hunt will get Teo's spot and a vet LB will be added and no more safeties than the 4

Yeah, the new kickoff rule pretty much means Anderson and Buckley ain't making the team.

It's either Hunt or Teo, IMO, if Parker doesn't get moved. Right now, I think Teo has a slight edge.

[Leonard Tose]

And Landri may make it over Howard

I think Landri might make it over Laws. But Howard better step up his game if he wants to stick.

[dawkins20]

I can just see us keeping 8 O-Lineman and one on the PS

that one won't be Howard IMHO

[Eagle60]

I can just see us keeping 8 O-Lineman and one on the PS

that one won't be Howard IMHO

I think that you have a hard time finding 8 that can play period. I agree, except that Howard isn't any worse than the rest of the garbage they have. Let's hope Justice recovers!!

[YourPalChrisMal]

http://www.csnphilly.com/08/14/11/bF...826&feedID=730

Frank: 10 Eagles sitting on the roster bubble

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- We’re still nearly three weeks from final roster cuts down to the regular-season limit of 53.

Before then, players will come and players will go. Guys will get hurt and guys will heal. Some who are performing at a high level now will be forgotten by then. Others who haven’t really found their niche yet might be making a big impact by then.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said he doesn’t even look at the roster numbers this early in the preseason, simply because so much can and will change between now and 4 p.m. Sept. 3, when he has to reduce the roster -- which now has 92 players on it, including three on the Reserve-Physically Unable to Perform list -- by a whopping 39 players.

Still, it’s not too early to take a look at 10 players who are sitting precariously on the roster bubble 2 ½ weeks into training camp.

Out of the 92 guys in camp, about 30 are locks to make the team and about 30 are locks to not make it. These are 10 guys in the middle.

Phillip Hunt, DE
The numbers are tough at defensive end, but Hunt has been showing up lately, using his first step and quickness to beat offensive tackles fairly regularly. Hunt had some good rushes in the game Thursday night against the Ravens and has had a good stretch of practice as well. The thing with Hunt is that at 245 or 250 pounds, he’s only a situational, third-down pass rusher, so he has to continue showing up as a pass rusher to have a chance. The only defensive ends who are really roster locks right now are Trent Cole and Jason Babin. Daniel Te’o-Nesheim was a third-round pick last year, so he’ll likely stick. After that, it’s a free for all.

Chad Hall, WR
The former Air Force star is the kind of guy everybody counts out when training camp begins, but then he just keeps making big play after big play and by the time camp is over, he’s elbowed his way back into the roster picture. As good as Hall was last summer, he’s having an even better camp this year. With Jeremy Maclin a PUP candidate, Sinorice Moss banged up lately and Johnnie Lee Higgins not doing a whole lot, Hall could stick as a fifth receiver behind DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper and Steve Smith, who the Eagles continue to believe has a good chance to be available by the opener. If Smith starts out on PUP, Hall’s chances go up.

Derek Landri, DL
He really showed up in the game against the Ravens, getting work with the first, second and third defenses. Landri isn’t just some guy off the street. He started 16 games for the Panthers last year and was fairly productive, with 63 tackles and three sacks. Again, there aren’t many spots available behind Cullen Jenkins, Antonio Dixon and Anthony Hargrove and -- it appears -- Mike Patterson. If Trevor Laws can’t get healthy, it will sure help Landri. Right now, he’s fighting the numbers, but he’s making it tough for the Eagles.

Eldra Buckley, RB
Buckley is one of those guys Andy Reid just likes having around. Smart player, knows the offense, tough kid, outstanding special teams player. But with the new kickoff rule, a guy like Buckley might not be as valuable as he was in the past. Right now, Dion Lewis is in the lead for that third running back spot, but Buckley always seems to find a way onto the roster.

Mike McGlynn, OL
Last year’s starting center is fighting for his job these days. McGlynn has been demoted behind Jamaal Jackson and rookie Jason Kelce at center and is now essentially a deep backup guard and emergency center. McGlynn could be a victim of new offensive line coach Howard Mudd’s scheme, which values smaller, faster, more athletic linemen (Kelce is 6-3, 282 and Evan Mathis is 6-5, 300) over hulking linemen like McGlynn (6-4, 315) or Max Jean-Gilles (6-4, 355), a three-year starter the Eagles didn’t try to re-sign. McGlynn did a pretty good job last year as a first-time starter, but he just doesn’t seem to fit what the Eagles are doing now.

Jarrad Page, Safety
With Marlin Jackson out with another injury, this time a sports hernia, the recently acquired Page has quickly worked his way into the safety picture. His acrobatic goal-line interception against the Ravens didn’t hurt, but Page has been very quick to learn the defense, and on a team without any real experience at safety -- Coleman, Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett are all 23 or younger -- a smart, athletic six-year veteran like Page is a valuable commodity. He doesn’t have the team made yet, but it’s going to be tough to cut him.

Colt Anderson, DB
Another tremendous special teams player that all the coaches like because he’s smart, tough and versatile. There are just so many talented defensive backs on this roster, they can’t keep all of them. If the Eagles keep six corners, that means four safeties at most, and it might come down to Anderson or Page. If the Eagles trade Joselio Hanson -- which certainly makes sense -- they could keep five corners (Nnamdi, Asante, DRC, Marsh, Lindley) and four pure safeties, plus Anderson. You just kind of get the feeling Anderson does enough good things that he has a good chance to stick around.

Brian Rolle, LB
The Eagles like Rolle, the rookie sixth-round pick from Ohio State, and have been creative looking for different ways to use his unique talents. He’s small and short but is making a case for a roster spot with his power and energy. One of those guys who plays bigger than he looks. If Rolle can be a force on special teams, he could come out ahead in a battle for a fifth linebacker spot behind the three starters and Keenan Clayton, with Rashad Jeanty, Akeem Jordan and Greg Lloyd also in the mix.

Brandon Hughes, CB
Another talented young corner, but they can’t keep everybody. Hughes will play somewhere in the NFL this year, and he’s going to make it very tough for the Eagles to run him off. Hughes is smart, athletic, fast, around the ball, just a solid young corner. Without a Hanson trade, Hughes’ prospects look very slim. Even with a trade, he’ll have to continue performing at a very high level to have a shot.

Austin Howard, OL
The former undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa was one of Juan Castillo’s pet projects when Castillo was O-line coach. Now, Castillo’s defensive linemen are making this a challenging summer for Howard. He’s another huge guy (6-7, 335), who probably doesn’t fit into what Mudd likes to do. The one thing Howard has going for him is that right tackle is kind of a mess right now, with Winston Justice hurt, Fenuki Tupou hurt and Ryan Harris hurt. With King Dunlap starting for the time being, the only other healthy backup tackles right now are Joe Toledo and Spencer Johnson, who both signed on Saturday, so Howard’s experience gives him a chance.

E-mail Reuben Frank at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RoobCSN.

[YourPalChrisMal]

http://igglesblitz.com/philadelphia-...-the-final-53/

First Stab at the Final 53
Posted: August 24th, 2011 | Author: Tommy Lawlor

I’ve been putting it off for a while, but figured it was time to finally unveil my initial guess at the 53-man roster. Here goes:

QB (3) : Vick, Young, Kafka
RB (4): McCoy, Brown, Lewis, Schmitt
WR (5): Jackson, Maclin, Avant, Smith, Cooper
TE (3): Celek, Harbor, Lee
OT (4): Peters, Dunlap, Justice, Howard
OG (3): Herremans, Watkins, Mathis
OC (2): Jackson, Kelce
That is 24 players on offense.
DE (5): Cole, Babin, Parker, Tapp, Teo
DT (5): Patterson, Jenkins, Dixon, Hargrove, Landri
LB (6): Chaney, Matthews, Fokou, Clayton, Rolle, Jordan
S (4): Allen, Coleman, Page, Jarrett
CB (6): Asomugha, Samuel, DRC, Hanson, Marsh, Hughes
That is 26 players on defense.
STs (3): Henery, Henry, Dorenbos

Okay, so now for the logic behind some of the decisions. I only kept 5 WRs. No one player has established himself as such a good RS that he absolutely forces you to keep him. My thinking is that a backup RB (Brown or Lewis) can be the primary KOR. Jackson and Maclin can split the PR duties.

Some people might see me as being careless with RS. Here’s what makes that so tricky. Say we keep Moss/Hall/Higgins…that guy would have to be the 5th WR on gameday. That means Riley Cooper, our lone big WR, is inactive. I hate the notion of Cooper sitting.

Lewis didn’t see RS duty in college, but did some in high school. The Eagles want to work him in there in the next couple of weeks. If he could be the KOR, that would be great. Maclin has KOR experience from Mizzou. If 50 to 60 percent of KOs are going to be touchbacks anyway, I hate to devote a roster spot for just that.

I kept Lee as a 3rd TE. I don’t expect him to be active. He’s here as an insurance policy. Lee is here as a luxury item. He is expendable.

No Ryan Harris? I just don’t think you can trust his back right now.

Center is a position that has me curious. If we go with Kelce, do we keep Jackson around as veteran insurance at G and C? Would he go for that? I would not be surprised to see the Eagles go find some other veteran cut by another team who is a better fit for the Mudd system. Mike McGlynn seems to have really fallen from favor.

I hated cutting DE Phillip Hunt, but the thing is that we don’t need him. Graham is on the PUP list. If someone gets hurt, Graham can jump back in at midseason. Also, we’re not all that old at DE. Cole and Babin should play a few more years at a high level. Tapp isn’t old. Teo is young and so is Graham. Hunt is Practice Squad material. You risk losing him, but right now he’s the odd man out.

Why keep Derek Landri over Trevor Laws? Just seemed like the right thing to do. Landri reminds me of Paul Grasmanis. You can put him in the game at any time and know you’ll get maximum effort. He can start or come off the bench. We can only count on playing 4 DTs. Laws wouldn’t be one of those 4. Keep Landri. Try to trade Laws.

The only question at LB is whether we cut Akeem Jordan and add a veteran. I’m sort of hoping that’s what happens, but keeping Jordan wouldn’t be a terrible move. He is a good STer.

I hated to cut Colt Anderson, but decided to go heavy at CB. That meant only 4 Safeties could stick around. Colt is a great STer and would be a good PS candidate. He’s definitely hurt by the new kickoff rule.
CB is mostly obvious. I did make one move of note, cutting Trevard Lindley and keeping Brandon Hughes. I like Hughes better. The smart move may be to keep Lindley and then try to get Hughes on the PS. That would help you stay as deep as possible. I didn’t totally rule out trading Joselio Hanson. I kept him around due to his experience and the fact he can fill in at Safety if needed.

If possible, my Practice Squad would be:

WR Rod Harper
WR Gerald Jones
WR/RB Chad Hall
OG Julian Vandervelde
DT Cedric Thornton
DT Marlon Favorite
DE Phillip Hunt
S Colt Anderson

The big thing to keep in mind when looking at the roster and P-Squad list is that these will be greatly affected by the final 2 preseason games. DE Phillip Hunt could play his way on the roster. DT Marlon Favorite could play his way off the PS. And so on. That final game will be huge for who gets the last couple of spots on the roster and definitely who makes the PS.

[YourPalChrisMal]

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/i...Cut--WRTE.html

Who Makes the Cut – WR/TE

Our eight-day look at who makes the Eagles’ 53-man roster continues today with a look at wide receiver and tight end (Defensive end, offensive line, running back, cornerback and linebacker have already been tackled).
The Eagles are loaded at wide receiver, so there will probably be some tough decisions to make in a week, especially after Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith practiced for the first time Saturday. The same could also apply – at least the tough decision part – to the Eagles’ tight end, especially if they plan on keeping just two.

Teams must pare rosters down to 80 by Tuesday. Final cuts are on Sept. 3.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Likely to keep: 5-6.

Locks: DeSean Jackson held out and missed the first 11 days of training camp, but the Eagles’ ace receiver is ready for the start for the start of the season, even if the team obviously isn’t ready to rework his contract. Maclin, the other ace in the Eagles’ deck, had the scare of a lifetime when doctors believed an illness could have been lymphoma. But he’s been cleared and is on pace to start the season. Jason Avant is one of the league’s top slot receivers – the best, according to coach Andy Reid – and has increased his reception totals in each of his five seasons. It’s going to be interesting to see how Smith fits into the offense. As stated above, the Eagles already have a pretty good slot receiver. Coming off microfracture knee surgery, he’ll probably be eased into action and will be insurance in case one of the Big 3 get hurt. With Maclin and Smith back Riley Cooper has fallen on the depth chart. The 6-foot-4 receiver is assured a spot on the roster, but playing time may be harder to come by.

Bubble: If the Eagles keep six receivers Chad Hall is the likely pick. Reid and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg like Hall’s flexibility, but he’s lost some of his attractiveness with the return game not as important and Dion Lewis a better change-of-pace in the backfield. Johnnie Lee Higgins has the most experience in terms of kick returner, but he really hasn’t had a chance to show what he’s capable of because there have been so many touchbacks during the preseason. He hasn’t impressed as a ball catcher. Sinorice Moss’s best chance of making the team lies as a punt returner, but his preseason numbers –two returns for 4.5 yards, two fair catches – haven’t sparkled.

Gone: Rod Harper has done some kick returning, but doesn’t offer much else. Gerald Jones has flashed some skill as a receiver and would be a welcomed practice squad member. Terrance Turner was released on Friday.

TIGHT ENDS

Likely to keep: 2-3.

Locks: Brent Celek’s receiving statistics took a hit last year for a number of reasons (76 catches for 971 yards and eight TDs to 42 catches for 511 yards and four TDs). He was dinged up early, subsequently dropped several passes in the first few weeks and was asked to block a little more as the season progressed. He’s in better shape this preseason but may not get any more looks than last season because of all the weapons on offense.

Near lock: If it’s down to Clay Harbor or Donald Lee for the second tight end spot, Harbor gets the nod. He really hasn’t done much to make you go, “Wow, he really improved from his first to second year.” But he’s been ahead of Lee in playing time and has been more an integral part of the offense during the preseason.

Bubble: Lee’s experience is going to make it hard for the Eagles to cut him. He’s not necessarily a blocking tight end, but he can do that and would fill that role if the Eagles plan on using a lot of two tight end sets.

Gone: As written before, Cornelius Ingram is one of the nicest athletes a reporter will ever cover. But nice doesn’t get you on the roster. He’s back from his knee woes and hasn’t had a setback this camp, but the explosion that we saw two years ago out of the 2009 fifth-round draft pick just isn’t there.

[YourPalChrisMal]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/...r_choices.html

Eagles face tough roster choices
POSTED: September 1, 2011 By Jeff McLane
Inquirer Staff Writer

Fifty-three is an odd number, but it's the number Eagles coach Andy Reid must get his roster to by Saturday.

Usually, at this point, maybe two or three jobs are on the line, and the final preseason game would help in separating one candidate from the other.

But for various reasons, as listed below, the Eagles' 53-man roster this year is far harder to predict than in recent memory.

The Birds have five extra bodies heading into Thursday night's game at the New York Jets. Because of the NFL lockout, teams are allowed to have 80 players following Tuesday's deadline for first cuts as opposed to the normal 75.

The work stoppage that eliminated offseason workouts and the new collective bargaining agreement that has softened practices have made it more difficult to evaluate players.

The return of the salary cap has put several veterans who would be assured spots on the bubble.

Plenty of decisions remain to be made, not all of them on whether to keep or cut a player. Several trades are likely to occur. Last year, the Eagles dealt offensive lineman Stacy Andrews to Seattle and linebacker Tracy White to New England, and acquired defensive end Antwan Barnes from Baltimore in the hours just before the 6 p.m. deadline.

So, here is one reporter's stab at who makes the team:

Offensive linemen (10). The toughest position to predict because of injuries to tackles Winston Justice and Ryan Harris, the line has undergone a mass transformation under new coach Howard Mudd. Jason Peters and Todd Herremans are the starting tackles, Evan Mathis and Danny Watkins the guards, and Jason Kelce the center. Justice says he'll be ready for the start of the season, so we'll take his word for it and pull him off the physically unable to perform list. Harris, who had back surgery, appears pegged for injured reserve. King Dunlap can back up both tackle spots. Center Jamaal Jackson could be cut, but the Eagles need the veteran in case the rookie ahead of him slips. Reggie Wells, who can play both tackle and guard, somehow finds his way on the roster. Rookie Julian Vandervelde provides some interior depth. Mike McGlynn, a 16-game starter at center year ago, has a relatively high cap figure ($1.1 million) and has looked out of sync all camp.

Running backs (3). The Eldra Buckley experience has come to an end after two seasons. Rookie Dion Lewis, who has dazzled in the preseason, made sure of that. LeSean McCoy and Ronnie Brown are the top two tailbacks.

Fullbacks (1). Owen Schmitt has been solid since replacing the injured and subsequently released Leonard Weaver. Rookie Stanley Havili has practice squad written all over him.

Wide receivers (6). Two weeks ago, Jeremy Maclin and Steve Smith weren't anywhere near sure bets to avoid the PUP list, but both have since been activated and thus make Johnnie Lee Higgins and Sinorice Moss unnecessary. With DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, and Riley Cooper the other locks, Chad Hall is battling numbers. The Eagles carried only five receivers a year ago, but Andy Reid likes Hall, and they need a return man.

Tight ends (2). Brent Celek and Clay Harbor clearly top the depth chart and are on the roster. The Eagles have carried only two tight ends for the last two seasons and will likely stay that way. That means veteran Donald Lee, who has had a rather pedestrian preseason, is the odd man out. Cornelius Ingram has another year of practice-squad eligibility.

Quarterbacks (3). No-brainers here: Michael Vick, Vince Young, and Mike Kafka are the signal-callers.

Defensive ends (5). Juqua Parker has a number of strikes against him. He hasn't played for weeks because of a calf strain; is 33 years old; and, perhaps most important, will cost the Eagles $4.3 million against the cap. He's a goner. Trent Cole, Jason Babin, and Darryl Tapp are not. Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and Phillip Hunt survive for now but could be expendable if and when Brandon Graham gets off the PUP list.

Defensive tackles (4). Trevor Laws' future with the Eagles could come down to how he plays against the Jets. He has been out almost all camp with a hip flexor injury, and newbies Derek Landri and Anthony Hargrove have shined. But Laws showed enough promise a year ago to earn another season. Cullen Jenkins, Mike Patterson, and Antonio Dixon are the top three.

Linebackers (6). Jamar Chaney, Casey Matthews, and Moise Fokou form the starting threesome. Brian Rolle replaces Matthews in the nickel and is a budding special-teamer. Keenan Clayton still has value. Akeem Jordan helps out on special teams and is insurance in case the rookies struggle. Rookie Greg Lloyd could either land on the practice squad or suffer a phantom injury and head to IR.

Cornerbacks (5). The Eagles may initially need to keep Joselio Hanson on the 53-man roster, but he likely will be dealt at some point. So he's not on this list. Asante Samuel, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie form the nickel triangle, and camp surprise Brandon Hughes is the dime corner. Rookie Curtis Marsh has potential. Trevard Lindley could sneak onto the squad as a sixth cornerback because he's only in his second season. But he gets cut here.

Safeties (5). Five safeties is a heck of a lot to keep on a roster, but coordinator Bobby April needs one special teams ace, and he gets it in Colt Anderson. Kurt Coleman and Jarrad Page are the starters, and Nate Allen and rookie Jaiquawn Jarrett the backups.

Specialists (3). Alex Henery is the kicker, Chas. Henry the punter, and Jon Dorenbos the long snapper. Book it.

[kyfred]

QB (3) : Vick, Young, Kafka
RB (4): McCoy, Brown, Lewis, Schmitt
WR (6): Jackson, Maclin, Avant, Smith, Cooper, Hall
TE (2): Celek, Harbor,
OT (4): Peters, Herremans, Dunlap, Justice
OG (3): Watkins, Mathis, McGlynn
McGlynn can play everywhere and he sticks for versatility
OC (2): Jackson, Kelce



DE (4): Cole, Babin, Hunt, Tapp
Parker goes not because he is not capable but because his cost is more than Laws. I think it boils down to Jenkins and Hargrove being able to bounce to DE if required and getting Graham back at some point this year.

DT (6): Patterson, Jenkins, Dixon, Hargrove, Landri, Laws
LB (6): Chaney, Matthews, Fokou, Clayton, Rolle, Jordan
S (4): Allen, Coleman, Page, Jarrett
CB (5): Asomugha, Samuel, DRC, Marsh, Hughes

STs (3): Henery, Henry, Dorenbos, Anderson

[Leonard Tose]

My final guess job.

QB: Vick, Young, Kafka. Hopefully that hammy was minor.

RB: McCoy, Brown, Schmitt, Lewis. They could go really light here and just forget about carrying a fullback.

WR: Maclin, Jackson, Avant, Smith, Cooper, Moss. Hopefully Chad Hall's stinker last night seals his doom. I've got to figure they will keep one guy around to return kicks and punts so we don't have to see DeSean back there all the time and we don't have a repeat of the Greg Lewis fiasco of a few years ago. Moss looks the best to me of the group that includes Hall and Higgins.

TE: Celek, Harbor, Lee. Donald Lee looks too good to cut to me.

OL: Peters, Herremans, Jackson, Watkins, Kelce, Mathis, Justice, Dunlap. They go light here, mostly because nobody on the second team is especially impressive, but also because Mathis and Herremans can play guard or tackle, and Jackson can play guard and center. Austin Howard didn't do enough to earn a backup tackle job, but King Dunlap did. Justice sneaks onto the active squad. They might look for a veteran for guard depth. Vandewelde to the practice squad. McGlynn is also a goner, unless they trade or cut Jackson because of his cap hit. They won't do that, will they?

DL: Cole, Babin, Patterson, Dixon, Jenkins, Laws, Tapp, Hunt, Hargrove, Landri. Hargrove started the game at LDE last night. That tells me Parker is a goner. Laws played well last night and I think he made the team as a result. Hunt has done nothing but get after the QB the whole preseason, if Teo makes it over him, it's a damn outrage. Teo has shown nothing. 5 DT's is probably too many, but Landri has played too well to cut.

LB: Chaney, Matthews, Fokou, Jordan, Clayton, Rolle: Rolle has really stepped up and earned not just a job, but a role as the nickel LB. Good for him. He edges out Clayton, who has also looked very good in that role playing with the backups. Both of those guys can really cover. So can Chaney. Eagles have a bunch of LB's who can cover. Run support? We'll see. Jordan could still go if they see a veteran on the waiver wire.

CB: Asomugha, DRC, Samuel, Marsh, Lindley, Hughes: Still expecting a Hanson trade.

S: Allen, Jarrett, Coleman, Page: There are rumblings that Jarrett could come down with mystery injury that would send him to IR, and would presumably open up a spot for Colt Anderson.

Specialists: Henery, Henry, Dorenbos.

[stocknowledge]

Didn't VFK have a final roster contest thread? That thread and this should be merged.