Eagles defeat Jets 28-10 Get down to 53 with some surprising cuts

The Eagles after last night went undefeated in the preseason for the first time since 1995 with a win over the Jets 28-10. Trent Edwards lit it up again as he has all preseason with 197 yards and two touchdowns which earned him a roster spot as the Eagles cut Mike Kafka today. Here are all of the 22 players that did not make the cut.

Roster Cuts:
QB Mike Kafka- Could not get on the field which hurt him as Edwards was amazing in the preseason.
S Oshimigo Atogwe- Just could not stay healthy
TE Brett Brackett- Was a good pass catcher but struggled to block.
LB Keenan Clayton- Got stuck with the number of linebackers the Eagles kept.
DT Landon Cohen
DT Atonio Dixon- The Eagles stuck with Cedric Thornton over Dixon but was a bit of a surprise the Eagles did not keep 5 DTS as instead they kept 7 defensive ends.
TE Chase Ford- Athletic but Eagles only kept 2 tight ends.
WR Mardy Gilyard- Caught a few touchdowns and was very impressive but was caught in a bad situation on how many receivers there were.
WR Chad Hall- Hall has been with the team for a while but Damaris Johnson just outplayed him and has the versatility to be the punt returner.
CB Joselio Hanson- The veteran corner was beat out by rookie Brandon Boykin for the starting slot job so since Hanson can't play on the outside there was no use for him.
FB Emil Igwenagu- Versatile but Havili outplayed him.
T DJ Jones
P Mat Mcbriar- The former pro bowler was beat out by Chas Henery who played very well in the preseason.
WR Marvin Mcnutt- Just was nowhere to be seen in the preseason could not get by Damaris Johnson or the number of receivers kept.
LB Adrian Moten
DT Ollie Ogbu- More of a practice squad player showed some good things in preseason.
LB Ryan Rau- Was very impressive in game vs Jets but just got caught up in numbers game, more of a practice squad player.
DE Monte Taylor- In a crowded position will be good P squad player.
S Philip Thomas- Good game vs Browns but not enough to beat out Jarrett.
DT Frank Trotter- Did not look to shabby in the preseason but just did not do enough.
OL Steve Vallos- Got beat out by Dallas Reynods who played very well.
OL Brandon Washington- Sixth round pick but with an injury did not see the field enough to compete.

So with all these cuts the Eagles decided to go with what surprised me the most which is why I am bringing it up is that the Eagles kept 4 running backs. This has never happened under Andy Reid as Coach but I guess he and the Eagles just loved what they saw in both Bryce Brown and Chris Polk and did not want to let either go. Now the question is how can they utilize each one. Obliviously McCoy will get most of the touches and then you have Dion Lewis who will probably get 6-8 snaps a game. I see the Eagles using him in passing situations at times as he can catch the ball very well. Bryce Brown showed some explosiveness on the outside and averaged at least 5 yards a carry. Now how many snaps will he get in games I don't know with him or Chris Polk but with Polk he was a great pass blocker in the preseason so maybe in third and long situations you see him out their blocking. Its just so hard to utilize all these players with McCoy playing pretty much the whole game but we will see what Reid does.

The Fans in Philly are very excited as the Eagles have a lot of depth at most positions and its going to be a fun season starting off with the Browns next Sunday only 8 more days! Here is the final roster position by position.


QB (3): Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Trent Edwards
RB/FB (5): LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis, Bryce Brown, Chris Polk, Stanley Havili
WR (5): DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper, Damaris Johnson
TE (2): Brent Celek, Clay Harbor
OL (9): King Dunlap, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Danny Watkins, Todd Herremans, Demetress Bell, Dennis Kelly, Julian Vandervelde, Dallas Reynolds
DL (10):Trent Cole, Cullen Jenkins, Derek Landri, Jason Babin, Phillip Hunt, Darryl Tapp, Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry, Fletcher Cox, Cedric Thornton
LB (6): DeMeco Ryans, Akeem Jordan, Mychael Kendricks, Jamar Chaney, Brian Rolle, Casey Matthews
CB (6): Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Brandon Boykin, Curtis Marsh, Brandon Hughes, Trevard Lindley
S (4): Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman, Jaiquawn Jarrett, Colt Anderson
ST (3): Alex Henery, Chas Henry, Jon Dorenbas

Eagles vs Jets Preview

The Eagles finish off the Preseason against the Jets tomorrow night and it might be the last for a lot of the players but some will with a good performance can make the team. These are 6 players that you should look at the most in this game who are battling for a roster spot.

WR Marvin Mcnutt- Mcnutt has been very quiet in the preseason, He only has one catch which came last game against the Browns. This is not a good sign as other guys like Damaris Johnson have shined proving that he belongs as one of the five-six recievers. Mcnutt needs a very good performance tonight and a little luck that the Eagles keep six receivers. If not he would be a good practice squad player, but someone I bet would take him as he has great potential with his size and strength.

RB Chris Polk- Polk has not by any chance had a bad preseason but he has been over shined by fellow rookie Bryce Brown who has been outstanding in his time on the field. Polk has been great with pass protection and has run with a chip on his shoulder. He has busted through defenders and showed some good speed. Like Mcnutt he needs to hope the Eagles keep four backs or he will most likely be the odd man out.

WR Chad Hall- Hall just like Mcnutt will need to hope the Eagles keep six receivers because to me Damaris Johnson is a lock to be the 5th guy. Now unlike Mcnutt the Eagles know what they have in Chad Hall, a gritty, small, quick, great hand receiver who has produced when on the roster. He has made some good catches in the preseason and has a great chance of being the sixth guy, again if the Eagles keep six guys.

S Jaiquawn Jarrett- The former second round pick is for sure on the roster bubble and has a good chance to make it but a bad performance against the Jets could cost him a spot on the roster. To me the Eagles will keep obliviously Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, I do believe as well that they keep Oshimigo Atogwe to add some veteran presence at the position. The Eagles liked what they saw in Jarrett at Temple, he was a hard hitter but really has not shown that big hit ability in his time with the Eagles. Jarrett with a good performance will solidify a spot as the 4th and last S on the team.

CB Brandon Hughes- Hughes has intrigued me since the day he came to Philly, he has good size and plays well in press coverage and showed that some games last year against the Cardinals and Patriots. The reason he is on the roster bubble is because if the Eagles only keep 5 CBS he might be the odd man out but it all depends on a certain battle at this position. Rookie Brandon Boykin and Veteran Joselio Hanson are competing for the starting slot corner spot. So far it has been pretty even, I think both Hanson and Boykin have played well in the preseason. If I was Hughes (Not saying I would root for a teammate to fail) I would want Boykin to win the job and here is my reason why. If Boykin wins the job then there really is not any reason to keep Hanson mostly because he can't play on the outside and this means that Hughes gets the 5th and last spot on the roster. A strong performance will help his case so for him just go out and shut down those mediocre Jets WRS and he should be fine.

 DE Darryl Tapp- This one might be a surprise to some people and might not, The Eagles are loaded at the defensive line and all of them are making their case on why they should make the team. Tapp is in a tough position. He has played well in the preseason having a couple sacks and a forced fumble and recovery but here is when it gets interesting. Tapp is still young so maybe instead of cutting him you could get a low end draft pick from some other team who is looking for a solid, productive defensive end. Or we could go heavy at the position and keep Tapp and Hunt who is the other guy that if not Tapp would get cut but there is no way Philip Hunt this year will not have midnight green on as he has just shined in the preseason. Tapp could either solidify a spot or have another team be very interested with a strong performance against the Jets. He needs to get at whoever is playing QB for the Jets and get some sacks.

Eagles take on the Jets at 6:35 Thursday in their annual final preseason game finale. Tune in to 6ABC to watch the game if you are local in Philly.

Eagles Cut 10 Players Plus Big Change in Depth Chart

The Eagles have to get down to 75 players by the end of the weekend so they cut 10 players Saturday to get down to 79 and one was a surprising cut to me.

Eagles Cuts:
WR Elvis Akpla
S Wade Bonner
DE Xavier Brown
WR Brian Hernandez
WR Mckay Jacobson
WR Tiger Jones
G Alfred McCullough
S Tom Nelson
OT Thomas Welch
CB Kevin Thomas
CB Cliff Harris

Cliff Harris was a big surprise to me, he was a stud on the field at Oregon and really impressed in Training Camp and even had a interception against the Browns. I can see why they cut him, they have a very deep roster at CB so a lot of good names will get cut. I see the final result being 1. Nnamdi Asomugha 2. DRC
3. Brandon Boykin 4. Curtis Marsh 5. Brandon Hughes. Now maybe instead of Hughes you see Joselio Hanson but if Boykin wins the slot job I just don't see a reason to keep Hanson. So to me Lindley and Hanson do not make the team so that they can keep more D-lineman which is the deepest position.

A surprise move at the Linebacker depth chart was made today as LB Akeem Jordan beat out LB Brian Rolle. Wow I did not see that coming, I thought that it was down to Chaney and Rolle but since Rolle did not impress in the preseason and Chaney is hurt so that left Jordan to have a great preseason and swoop the job into his hands. Now I do not see him being the starter through out the hole season, I am a big fan of Rolle who played his way into the starting spot last year. If Jordan struggles than I think Reid will quickly move Rolle...or Chaney into that spot.

Andy Reid updated the injuries today saying that Babin has a good chance to play vs the Browns. The bad news of the day was that Reid said that Mike Patterson will miss a huge lump of time during the season if not the whole season because of his brain surgery. Riley Cooper will most likely not play vs the Browns and the same goes for Casey Matthews.

The Eagles annual Flight Night is tonight at 7:00 and Vick will practice which is fun for the fans and for Eagles fans.

Eagles Legend RB Steve Van Buren Passes at 91

The Eagles today have lost a legend in this city. Hall of Fame Running back Steve Van Buren died today at the age of 91. Van Buren to me is the all time greatest running back to ever wear the Eagles uniform. Van Buren was the huge reason in the 40s why the Eagles became back to back champions. In 1948 the Eagles defeated the Chicago Cardinals for their first ever world championship mainly because of #15. In that game it was a blizzard out  side but that did not keep Van Buren from having a impressive game. He Scored the teams only touchdown in the game as they won it 7-0. The following year the Eagles returned to the NFL Championship this time against the Rams, The game was not in a blizzard this time but in the rain and thick mud. Steve Van Buren set a record for most rushing yards in a game with 196 total yards. The Eagles go on to defend their title as they win back to back titles mainly because of Steve Van Buren. Van Buren's life will be celebrated all around the NFL today, I don't know how much people know about how this man helped the NFL be what it is today.

Eagles vs Patriots Recap

The Eagles won their second preseason game 27-17 Monday Night in Foxboro against the Patriots but another scare to the Eagles starters put a damper on the game. During the second drive of the Eagles offense Vick dropped back looked looked found nothing rolled to the right and threw up a deep ball to Desean and was brutally hit by Jermaine Cunningham. Vick held his ribs right after and could not get up, this is exactly what you did not want to see in a preseason for the second game in a row Eagle fans were holding their breath again for the news that Vick was ok. Luckily they got that news, Vick's X-Rays came back negative so his ribs are just sore, he will play in the season opener vs the Browns. After that news everyone could relax and watch the game but what does Vick have to do to stay healthy? He has gotten hurt two consistent games so the chances he can play all 16 games are slim. My take on what he needs to do is sometimes just give up on a play and get to the ground or throw the ball away. With his talent and ability he refuses to give up on a play and that is why he gets hit so much. If he can slide and when a play blows up give up he should be ok. Going back to the game it was actually a pretty succesfull game for the Offense but the Defense again had its ups and downs. The offense moved the ball both running and passing scoring 3 touchdowns in the redzone which is a great thing knowing how bad the Eagles were there last year. The defense looked good at times and bad, they completely shut down the run game not letting the Patriots go anywhere there and Asomguha and DRC played lights out as Cromartie had a INT which was taken back after a penalty on a late hit by Cox. There was the problem throughout the game..Penalties the defense was getting stops but you kept on seeing the yellow flag on the field. The other problem was getting off the field on third down. They had probably 3 third and longs which were 15 yards or longer that they blew with either penalties or just bad coverage. Lets take a look at the 3 stars from both Offense and Defense.

OFFENSE
1. Nick Foles QB- Foles had another great game coming in for a injured Vick, He really stayed poised and moved the ball great. He stepped up in the pocket and put the ball in the perfect spot for the WRs. He was really clicking with Desean Jackson hooking up for 4 Receptions for 82 yards. Foles finished with 217 Yards  2 Touchdowns and 1 INT. If he keeps playing like this he will pass Kafka as the backup for Vick which is a very very important job.

2. Lesean McCoy RB- McCoy looked great Monday night having 7 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown plus two receptions for 12 yards. The Eagles need to see McCoy do good because if Vick goes down, they will need to rely on McCoy to carry the load until he comes back. Although he only had 42 total yards he hit the holes so fast and scored a red zone touchdown which is very important knowing again how bad the Eagles were last year there. Fantasy owners as well should be very happy with McCoy's play so far.

3. King Dunlap LT- Dunlap really has the advantage right now for the starting Left Tackle spot over Demetress Bell as he had a very impressive start. Dunlap was completely shutting down Chandler Jones not letting him get anywhere near Foles. He showed a lot of mobility in the run game getting up the field and making some blocks which is a great sign as Jason Peters thrived in that last year. He should remain the starter for the preseason but if he struggles, Howard Mudd is not afraid to bench him as shown when he did it to Bell.

DEFENSE
1. Mychal Kendricks LB-  Kendricks is making the Eagles very excited for the regular season. He again was the leader in tackles in the game having 6. He was terrific in coverage and was just incredible against the run. He plugged up the holes and finished all his tackles. He even almost got a sack as he beat the tackle and locked up the QB who got away but was then quickly brought down. If he can continue to play like this, I think the Eagles LB problems are solved.

2. Philip Hunt DE- There is no way that the Eagles could even think of letting this guy go, he has just been stellar in the preseason again posting a sack and a forced fumble. He was rushing the passer all night, the offensive line just had no answer for him. The Eagles don't have to worry if one of their ends go down because Hunt is the best backup possible. Hunt will make this team over Tapp so the only way Tapp can make the team is if the Eagles keep more ends because Hunt is a sure thing to make the roster.

3. Curtis Marsh CB- Marsh had a solid game against the Patriots when Cromartie got injured he stepped right in and shut down his receiver. Luckily if one of the Eagles CBs go down they know they can count on Marsh, he had two really good pass breakups against Stallworth really getting up in his face and playing great press coverage. The Eagles need Marsh to step up in case of an injury and so far I am feeling pretty confident in him.

The Eagles take on the Cleveland Browns Friday but don't be surprised when the Eagles show the Browns absolutely nothing as they are playing them in the season opener. Lets hope Vick does not play so we don't have to see him go down again (Cross your fingers).

Eagles vs Patriots Preview

The Eagles take on the New England Patriots Monday Night, this will be the second preseason game for the Eagles but things are a bit different from last game. Both first teams struggled against the Steelers in week 1 so they need to have a bounce back performance against the Patriots and for the defense it will be hard going up against Tom Brady. All I want to see is that the drive Brady plays the Eagles get off the field on third down which they had a hard time doing last game. For the Offense I am not looking for a ton of points or anything, all I am looking for is that the offensive line protects Vick, McCoy runs the ball efficiently and they move the Ball down the field. When they go in the redzone I expect them to fix their issues there and get in the endzone. Now the QB position will be a different picture this game with Mike Kafka out with a hand injury. So with that Nick Foles will be the 2nd string and Trent Edwards will be the 3rd. I want to see if Foles can have another impressive game as last game he threw for 144 and 2 touchdowns. If he has another solid performance Andy Reid is going to have to think about who he puts as Vick's backup. I am very excited to see Maclin and Celek playing in this game which will I am sure help the starters move down the field. Nnamdi Asomugha is going to play as he got injured at camp on a collision with teammate Nate Allen. He had a sore neck and no concussion symptoms. Trent Cole is also expected to be in the starting lineup Moday Night which will only add to the domination the D-Line put on vs the Steelers. Jason Babin is still a no go as he is still recovering from his injury.

Injury Report: The players that will not play against New England are, Jason Babin, Casey Matthews, Riley Cooper, and Mike Kafka.

Position to Watch For: I am really watching the Left Tackle position in this game as King Dunlap has been practicing with the first team over Demetress Bell. If Dunlap performs well Howard Mudd will have to think hard about who he wants as the starter.

Player to Watch For: Marvin Mcnutt WR- He did not touch the ball last game and struggled on his route running. If he does not have a good performance in this one he could be looking at being cut because Damaris Johnson has looked amazing at WR and PR.

Prediction: Eagles win 20-7 Vick throws touchdown to Desean Jackson

Eagles vs Steelers Recap

The Eagles won a thriller Thursday night against the Steelers with a game winning 51 yard field goal by Alex Henery. The final score was 24-23 at the Linc and I had 3 stars from each offense and defense that stood out the most. First I want to talk about the game quickly from each quarter.

First Half- The starters looked a little rusty especially the defense giving up a ton of third down conversions. The d-line looked amazing as usual but the secondary had some miss communications. The one touchdown the starting defense gave up was a pass to Emanuel Sanders who was being covered by Asomugha. I did not think this was Asomugha's fault as Jarrett did not step up and swat the ball down when Sanders beat Nnamdi instead he just stood there and jogged to Sanders and was too late. The offense was rusty as well only having 2 drives which were both three and outs. Vick gave us a scare on the last drive getting injured when he threw the ball and banged his thumb up against Jason Kelce's helmet. Luckily Vick is OK and will practice Saturday.

Second Half- The backup offense and defense played much better than the starters scoring 3 touchdowns and a game winning field goal. In the third quarter Nick Foles looked a little less than elite throwing two deep touchdowns. The first was an amazing play when he rolled to the right as he was being chased by a defensive end, he threw the ball on the run to Damaris Johnson who ran it in for the score. On the second scoring drive     Foles threw a deep fade to Mardy Gilyard for a 44 yard score. The pass was perfect right between the defender and Gilyard who caught the ball and dove for the touchdown. Trent Edwards came into the game in the fourth quarter and was just as good as Foles was in the third. Edwards led a huge drive down the field and on a 4th and 2 he threw a quick pass to Jamel Hamler who made two guys miss and dove for the endzone. That drive put the Eagles in the lead late in the game. The Steelers came right back down the field and ate up most of the time and scored a field goal with 1:57 left. This was actually good for the backups to get some practice in a final drive situation late in the game. Edwards stayed comb and moved the ball efficiently down the field. Another fourth down came and Edwards threw a perfect pass to receiver Tiger Jones for the first down. Alex Henrey then booted a beautiful 51 yarder for the win.

3 Stars on Defense  

1. Nick Foles- Foles really made me confident that we have some talent at the quarterback position behind Vick. He threw for 144 yards and 2 scores in his debut as an Eagle so he will  push Kafka for the right to be Vick's backup.

2. Trent Edwards- This is a good sign that our QBS are playing well. Edwards threw for over 100 yards and 1 touchdown and a last minute drive to seal the victory. I don't know if he will make the Eagles roster but he is showing other teams that he can still play in this leauge. 

3. Damaris Johnson- Johnson led the team in receiving and looked impressive punt returning so to me he is in the lead for the fifth and possibly last WR spot. His touchdown showed that he can create separation with the corner and get open in the open field. 

 3 Stars on Defense

1. Vinny Curry- Curry looked really good Thursday night throughout the whole game really getting after the quarterback and shutting down the running backs. He led the team in total tackles witch I am sure impressed Jim Washburn (Defensive Line Coach), if he can play like that he will get a lot of playing time during the regular season. 

2. Mychal Kendricks- Kendricks was one of the few standouts in the starting group on defense. He had 4 tackles some for losses, he just looked really comfortable in the system and just went out there and finished all his tackles. If he keeps playing like that throughout the preseason he will for sure be the starting SAM linebacker come Week 1. 

3. Whole defensive line- The d-line as dominant having 7 sacks, 2 by Philip Hunt, 1 by Brandon Graham, 1 by Cedric Thornton, 1 by Xavier Brown, 1 by Monte Taylor, 0.5 by Tapp, and 0.5 by Brian Rolle. So obliviously the sacks were spread around which is a great thing. 

The Eagles next face the New England Patriots on August 20th at Foxboro. The Eagles starters on both sides of the ball need to have a bounce back game or Eagles fans including me will be worried. 

Eagles vs Steelers Preseason Preview

The Eagles kick off the preseason Thursday at 7:30 at Lincoln Financial Field and can I say it is so exciting for football to be back.
There are a players from both offense and defense to watch for both rookies and veterans lets go over the players that I and you should watch for on offense and defense.

OFFENSE

RB Bryce Brown- Brown is in a battle with Chris Polk for the last running back spot and so far he is leading it. If he can have a productive game against Pittsburgh Thursday night, it will be huge in the battle for the roster spot. He will get a ton of snaps during the second half and some in the first half so he will get his opportunity. Stat Prediction: 60 yards 1 Touchdown

RB Chris Polk- Polk is behind Brown right now for the third running back spot so a great night against the Steelers will help him a lot. He will share the reps with Brown in the second half and Reid wants to see what he has so the Eagles will run the ball a lot in the second half. Stat Prediction: 42 yards 1 Touchdown

WR Marvin Mcnutt- Mcnutt has done a great job in training camp filling in for Riley Cooper as the #4 receiver. He needs a solid performance in Week 1 to make sure he can hang on to a roster spot and not be beat out by Chad Hall or Damaris Johnson. Stat Prediction 4 Receptions 40 Yards

FB Stanley Havili- I really need to see if Havili can run with the starters and produce when he gets the snaps. The Eagles might not even keep a full back in order to maybe keep 6 receivers or dare I say 4 running back? So not by any chance does Havili have a secure spot on the roster, he needs to have some what of a good game because also there is another guy creeping up behind him FB/TE Emil Igwenagu who is a versatile player who could play both positions so maybe the Eagles look to him over Havili. We shall see.

Stat Prediction 2 Rushes for 8 yards

WR Damaris Johnson- Johnson is in a very good position right now if he can show that he is a productive punt returner, the Eagles might choose him over Mcnutt or keep 6 receivers. As long as he shows some good signs at punt returning and catch a couple nice passes than Chad Hall will fade from the rear view mirror but don't count out Hall he'll be in the swing of things during preseason. 

Stat Prediction 3 Receptions 20 Yards Punt Return TD (That is a pretty bold prediction.)

Defense 

DT Fletcher Cox- The 12th overall pick will get a lot of reps with the starters against Pittsburgh in the first quarter. If he can do what he did at training camp and make some nice stops I will be happy with his development. Stat Prediction 5 Tackles 1 For a loss

DE Vinny Curry- Curry was one of the second round picks for the Eagles this year and so far at camp he has been a monster in the one on ones and 11 on 11s. I expect with all the injuries on the d-line that he will get a lot of playing time early. I would love to see him get a sack or rush the passer a couple times. 

Stat Prediction 6 Tackles 1 Sack

LB Demeco Ryans- What I am looking for in Ryans is that he makes sure everyone is lined up correctly and that he covers well and finishes his tackles.

Stat Prediction 4 Tackles 1 Pass Deflection

LB Mychal Kendricks- Kendricks will be the starting SAM Linebacker tomorrow night and I am super excited to see what he does in the reps he gets. Just like Ryans if he can cover well and tackle fine ill be comfortable with him as the starter still.

Stat Prediction 3 Tackles 1 Pass Deflection

CB Brandon Boykin- Boykin is competing with Joselio Hanson for the starting slot corner position and also he is the starting kick returner. Boykin has been really good with coverage in the slot so far at camp but this will be a real test to see if he can go up against some good Steeler receivers. I hope to see him take some reps with the starters so he can go up against Antonio Brown and Emanuel Sanders. 

Stat Prediction 2 Pass deflections 3 Tackles

CB Curtis Marsh- I am very interested to see how Marsh is developing and this will be the real test to see if he can hang on to his spot over guys like Kevin Thomas who was a starter with the Colts. 

Stat Prediction 2 Tackle 1 Pass Deflection

It will obliviously take more than just one game to officially judge all these players but with a game under their belt we will get a good look at what they have. Watch the Eagles take on the Stelelers at 7:30 on 6ABC or if you don't live in Philly watch it Friday at 1 on NFL Network.

Eagles release first official Depth Chart

The Eagles released their first depth chart of the season on Monday and it had pretty much the starting lineup and backups you expected but some are a bit shocking.
Lets start at the Quarterback position.
                                                                         OFFENSE
QB: 1. Michael Vick 2. Mike Kafka 3. Nick Foles 4. Trent Edwards
No surprises here Edwards just won't be able to find a roster spot on this team.

RB: 1. Lesean McCoy 2. Dion Lewis 3. Bryce Brown 4. Chris Polk
So there you have it as of right now Bryce Brown is leading the battle for the third RB spot over Chris Polk. As this does not clinch it for Brown if he can continue to impress during the preseason he will likely win this spot.

WR: 1. Desean Jackson 2. Jeremy Maclin 3. Jason Avant 4. Riley Cooper 5.Marvin Mcnutt 6. Chad Hall
Those are the top 6 in the depth chart the others are not listed as a numbered spot but it is what I expected although seeing Chad Hall over Damaris Johnson is a bit of a surprise but I think as the preseason starts if Johnson can do good at punt returning then he will beat out Hall.

TE: 1. Brent Celek 2. Clay Harbor 3. Brett Brackett 4. Chase Ford 5. Emil Igwenagu
Not surprised by this it is what was expected my only thing with this is will the Eagles keep three tight ends? They ran a lot of two tight end sets last season so maybe they hang on to Brackett.

LT: 1. Demetress Bell 2. King Dunlap 3. DJ Jones
Bell will fill in for Jason Peters and will have a trusty backup in King Dunlap who looked good in his limited playing time.

LG: 1. Evan Mathis 2. Julian Vandervelde 3. Alfred McCullough
Vendervelde will backup Mathis....nothing surprising here either.

C: 1. Jason Kelce 2. Dallas Reynolds 3. Steve Vallos
Kelce had a great rookie season and we hope for him to repeat that this year. Reynolds has impressed at camp so far lets see what he does during preseason.

RG: 1. Danny Watkins 2. Mike Gibson 3.Brandon Washington
Gibson who is in his second stint with the Eagles has looked good in camp but as the season goes on I see Washington jumping ahead of him.

RT: 1. Todd Herremans 2. Dennis Kelly 3. Thomas Welch
Dennis Kelly looks really good so far at camp dominating during the 1 on 1s with the lineman he should be a good backup for Herremans encase he goes down.

                                                                       Defense
LDE: 1. Jason Babin 2. Brandon Graham 3. Philip Hunt
Obliviously Babin has the starting spot but a good competition with Graham and Hunt but Graham has looked amazing during training camp lets hope that he can do that on a consistent basis during the preseason in order to secure his spot on the roster. Hunt will need to impress during the preseason to take that last end spot from Tapp.

LDT: 1. Cullen Jenkins 2. Fletcher Cox 3. Cedric Thornton 4. Ollie Ogbu
Cox will get a lot of playing time during the season in the 4 DT rotation probably at the right DT spot but as for right now he is listed as a LDT. Thornton is making a huge run for a roster spot really impressing in training camp. He has been great during the 11 on 11s and 1 on 1s plus he has been taking some reps with the first team defense. He could beat out Antonio Dixon or maybe the Eagles keep a couple more tackles and he is on that list but we shall see. Ollie Ogbu is a project for the Eagles and will most likely be on the practice squad.

RDT: 1. Derek Landri 2. Antonio Dixon 3. Frank Trotter
I was a bit surprised at the beginning of training camp when Landri was on the first team defense but as camp went on I was more and more pleased with Landri's play and as of right now with Patterson out he will be a good replacement to be in the rotation with him, Cox and Jenkins. Antonio Dixon is probably the best run stopping tackles the Eagles have but he has Cedric Thornton creeping up behind him trying to take his roster spot which is a realistic possibility right now. I think the Eagles hang on to him and he will produce when on the field. Sorry Trotter but there is not enough spots for you to make the roster, Like your last name though.

RDE: 1. Trent Cole 2. Darryl Tapp 3. Vinny Curry
Cole is the most consistent end on the roster and should have another double digit sack season this year as long as he stays healthy which throughout his career has not been a major issue. Tapp is going to have to elevate his game during the preseason in order to beat out Philip Hunt for the last spot but I just don't see him making the roster, Hunt has too much upside. Vinny Curry will be on the team for sure as a second round pick this year, He looks good in camp but I am going to be watching him very closely during preseason to see how far he has progressed. He should see playing time during the season and the more he improves, the more game time he will play.

WILL Linebacker: 1. Brian Rolle 2. Jamar Chaney 3. Keenan Clayton 4. Adrian Moten
Rolle and Chaney are in a battle for this spot and as of right now Rolle is the starter but Chaney could push him out of the job if he plays well in preseason. Chaney was though promoted to a starter in the nickel package which will give him a lot of playing time aside Demeco Ryans. Keenan Clayton is battling with Akeem Jordan for the last linebacker spot so he will need to out shine Jordan early or Jordan will win the job because of how well Akeem Jordan played at the end of last season.


Middle Linebacker: 1. Demeco Ryans 2. Casey Matthews 3. Ryan Rau
No surprises here Matthews will be a good backup for Ryans and will most likely be a backup at every linebacker position.

SAM Linebacker: 1. Mychal Kendricks 2. Akeem Jordan 3. Monte Simmons
Kendricks is the starter come week 1 unless there is a injury (Knock on wood). So far he has looked solid at camp doing good coverage wise and stopping the run. Jordan is as said before battling Keenan Clayton for the last linebacker spot, I expect him to win the job unless Clayton shines over him during the preseason.

Cornerback: 1. Nnamdi Asomugha 2. Dominique Rogers-Cromartie 3. Joselio Hanson 4. Curtis Marsh 5. Brandon Boykin 6. Brandon Hughes
So there you have it so far Hanson is beating Boykin for the starting slot job as both have had good camps. I expect Boykin to make his way into that spot if he impresses in the preseason plus he is a kick returner so his roster spot is safe from being lost. Brandon Hughes so far is leading the competition between him, Trevard Lindley, Kevin Thomas, Cliff Harris, etc for the last corner spot. He has looked good in camp having a interception but the spot is still up for grabs as Cliff Harris has looked impressive at camp, but don't rule out Kevin Thomas either who the Eagles got in a trade with the Colts. He was the starter in Indianapolis and was productive at times and struggled at times. He will challenge Hughes as well but as I have said about a thousands time now PRESEASON WILL DECIDE ALL.

Free Saftie: 1. Nate Allen 2. Oshiomogo Atogwe 3. Philip Thomas
Allen has been quiet at camp but in a good way, he has covered well and is just going out everyday and doing his job. Atogwe has not looked great but not bad either he is just getting beat a lot by the tight ends and has struggled at times so I don't see him competing for a starting spot as of right now, he will provide a excellent backup for Allen and Coleman.

Strong Saftie: 1. Kurt Coleman 2. Jaiquawn Jarrett 3. Tom Nelson
This is Coleman's job to lose from Jarrett who is more a threat to Coleman then Atogwe and so far he has made some nice hits in practice and his coverage has been good. Jarrett has also looked good at camp taking first team reps with Nate Allen out the past couple days, if he wants to get playing time he needs to show his stuff during PRESEASON and not make mental mistakes.

                                                                    Special Teams
Kicker: Alex Henery

Punter: 1. Matt Mcbriar 2. Chas Henry
So as of right now Mcbriar is the starter and I don't see that changing. Mcbriar is a pro bowl punter when healthy so as long as he can stay healthy he will cost Henry a roster spot.

Punt Returner: 1. Damaris Johnson 2. Chad Hall 3. Brandon Boykin 4. Cliff Harris
This could be Johnson's opportunity to make the roster. If he can produce at this position so Desean Jackson won't have too he will beat out Chad Hall.

Kick Returner: 1. Brandon Boykin 2. Damaris Johnson 3. Chad Hall
The Eagles have not had a productive kick returner since Quinton Demps a couple seasons ago so if Boykin can be anything better than what Dion Lewis was last year he will be the starter.

Long Snapper: Jon Dorenbos

Preseason kicks off this Thursday at 7:30, it will kick off a lot of the roster battles that could affect this depth chart.

Eagles heart broken as Andy Reid's son Garret Reid dies at age 29

The Philadelphia Eagles suffered a huge loss Sunday morning as Head Coach Andy Reid's son Garrett Reid died in his room at Lehigh University. The cause of death is unknown at this point, Howie Roseman addressed the media first this morning "Garrett Grew up with this team which makes this news even harder for us to process." "On a personal note we have been with Andy for a long time, he has always been strong for us so we are going to be strong for him right now. As a father and a friend we are all hurting." Jefferey Lurie also addressed the media in the afternoon as well as Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, Michael Vick, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Jason Avant. Jeffery Lurie said he expects Reid to be there at the first preseason game against the Steelers on August 9th. We at GetRealFootball.com are deeply saddened and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Reid family.

Eagles Training Camp Notes: Military Day

The Eagles came back from a day off fresh and looking great both offensively and defensively. The day
started off with a bit of a scare when reports came in that Trent Cole has a shoulder injury, luckily it is noting serious he is day to day.

DEFENSE: When the hitting started the defense came out strong stopping everything the offense
threw there way. The linebackers and D-Line looked the best as guys like Vinny Curry really got after the
QB having 2 sacks in the 11 on 11 thud drill. He and most of the young D-lineman like Brandon Graham and
Philip Hunt having benefited from getting the first team reps while Cole and Babin are out. The two
linebackers that stood out the most to me were Demeco Ryans and Brian Rolle who really early stuffed the
run and played really good coverage against the tight ends. Going back to the defensive line I am very interested in defensive tackle Cedric Thornton who has looked great throughout the whole camp including today when during the 1 on 1s with the lineman he just flew by the offensive lineman and showed a lot of power and strength when he bull rushed the O-Line a couple of times. The real question is though how many defensive tackles will the Eagles keep? Lets break it down so now matter what you are keeping 1. Cullen Jenkins, 2. Fletcher Cox, 3. Derek Landri, 4. Mike Patterson. After that its up for grabs, I would say that the Eagles keep 5 or 6 tackles so there is probably room for one or two more guys who in my opinion would be Antonio Dixon who is our best run stopping tackle and then if they keep another tackle it would probably be Cedric Thornton but if they don't keep 6 the Eagles will have a very hard decision to make on Dixon or Thornton.

OFFENSE: The offense came off to a slow start during camp when really they could not get anything going running the ball, the defense just would not allow them to move the ball anywhere. As the day went on the offense started to get it going running and throwing the ball. During the move the ball drill it was the #1 offense against the #2 defense, it started off with a 15 yard screen pass from Vick to Shady McCoy who had good help from the offensive line to get the big gain.The Eagles moved the ball very well getting all the way down to the 15 thanks to a huge run from Bryce Brown. Brown then finished the drive with about a 5 yard touchdown. During the #2 Offense vs #1 Defense drive it was the Bryce Brown and Chris Polk show all drive long, Brown started it off with a nice run down the sidelines for 13 yards. Then Chris Polk comes in and gets 2 really nice runs one where he broke 3 tackles and got the first down. As Brown and Polk drove the offense down the field I was thinking to myself "How are they ever going to let one of these guys go", and that is the biggest situation on the offensive side. Can there be a way where the Eagles manage to keep both Polk and Brown? A suggestion I made to Dave Spadaro from PhiladelphiaEagles.com was that you could list either Polk or Brown as a fullback, that could work but most likely it will not happen. The preseason to me will decide which one of these guys makes the team but I just don't see the Eagles letting Bryce Brown go. Going back to the drive Mike Kafka managed the drive very nicely and capped it off by throwing a nice pass to tight end Brett Brackett who is another guy who has looked sharp in camp. That is another interesting situation for coach Reid and the Eagles, will they keep 3 tight ends? To me obliviously Celek and Harbor are penciled in as the one and two tight ends but what about Brett Brackett and also Chase Ford (I don't see Ford making it Brackett is looking better so far in my opinion) the Eagles liked to run a lot of two tight end sets last year and in case Celek or Harbor goes down it would be a safe move to know you kept another quality tight end to fill in when  there is an injury. I would not have brought up the Eagles keeping 3 tight ends normally because usually the Eagles don't keep 3 but Brackett is making it a legitimate argument.

Injury Report:

• Trent Cole is day to day with a sore shoulder joint, it is nothing to be worried about he will be back in about a week. 
• Jason Babin has a calf strain that will sideline him for 3-4 weeks, He will be ready to go come week one.
• Cullen Jenkins left practice Wednesday with what the Eagles are calling a hamstring injury. He got an MRI Wednesday night so it should sideline him for a week or so but no time table on his return so far. 

The Eagles get back to work Thursday when the pads go on at 2:45.