Eagles will play their first preseason game this Friday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars and there are a number of training camp battles for jobs and a number of players must have the game of their lives under the bright lights, in order to survive.
The wide receiver position has battle going on but it’s probably already settled.
Hank Baskett is back with the Birds after going on a trip to the Super Bowl with the Colts. He’s in a tough position because rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper has been one of the surprises of training camp. Cooper has all but secured the fourth wide receiver position, so the final spot will go to either Baskett or veteran special teams monster Kelley Washington.
Andy Reid has already called Washington one of the best special teams performers in the league. He was brought in here for one thing and that’s playing on the special teams. One of the goals of this year’s coaching staff is to improve the play of the team’s special teams.
Washington is also a big, physical receiver who fits the west coast offense. This all puts Baskett in an almost impossible situation. Some way or another Baskett will have to convince the coaches that he and not Washington will make the Eagles a better football team.
When asked about his situation Baskett responded, ““Every year I’m concerned with my spot. Nothing’s changed this year. Every year’s the same. As soon as you get complacent that’s when you’re not going to be here. It’s going to be a battle whether [WR Kelley] Washington’s here, [WR] Riley’s [Cooper] here, anybody was here. You always have to come out here grinding because anything can happen at any time.”
It’s a good thing for Baskett that he can fall back on his wife’s reality show because I don’t see how he makes this football team, unless somebody gets injured.
There’s also a battle going on to see who will be the third running back on the roster and special teams play is sure to be a major factor in the decision.
Running backs Eldra Buckley, veteran J.J. Arrington and rookie Charles Scott are battling for the chance to backup LeSean McCoy and Mike Bell at the running back position. Buckley is clearly in the lead because of his knowledge of the team’s offense and his quality special teams play.
He showed yesterday that he knows how to run hard, when he gets his hands on the football.
Arrington is coming off of micro-fracture surgery on his knee and he’s missed time in the camp due to injury. Despite having been the 3rd down back for the Arizona Cardinals a couple of years ago, Arriington hasn’t been able to consistently catch the football.
Scott is a big bruising runner but he’s unaccomplished as a receiver and quite shaky in his blitz pickups. If he makes the football team it would surprise me. His reps have been greatly reduced over the last week or so.
There’s a good battle going on at one of the backup safety positions.
Rookie Kurt Coleman is a hard-hitting safety who has shown the ability to intimidate receivers and decipher the Eagles pass coverage responsibilities. Coleman doesn’t have great speed but he’s shown the ability to stay in the proper position on receivers so he can make up for his lack of speed wth savvy play.
He’s running ahead of veteran safety Quintin Demps, who hasn’t improved as a safety since his first year. He continues to make mistakes and let receivers get behind him. There continue to be times when he’s caught out of position. Demps is a good kick returner but that’s not going to save him this time unless he plays some outstanding games in the preseason.
Sav Rocca has been booming the ball but free agent Ken Parrish has been holding his own by booting it pretty good himself. It’s not out of the question that Rocca could lose his job. We’ll have to sit and wait, but the Eagles have been thrilled with the job Rocca has done over the last couple of years.
Backup center A.Q. Shipley is injured and he’s probably missing his chance to make this football team. With Jamaal Jackson coming back from knee surgery and Nick Cole out with a sore knee, Shipley could be getting some of the reps with Mike McGlynn and Dallas Reynolds at the center posiiton.
He would be trying to prove to the Eagles coaches and GM Howie Roseman that he could block defensive tackles in this league despite having short arms.
At the tackle position, Austin Howard is making a strong run at King Dunlap’s backup tackle position. Dunlap has gotten stronger but his feet still seem to be anchored in the ground. It’s a close battle which go either way, so the preseason games will play a strong role.
At the defensive end spot, Victor Abiamiri is probably spending his final days on the Eagles roster. Ricky Sapp’s inability to play linebacker has made him a defensive end which adds another body to that group.
Good stuff G,
How is the battle at TE, DT positions looking so far..
I don’t see Arrington on Scott making the team. I don’t think the Eagles intending on having arrington anyway. They get a 6th round pick if he doesn’t and you know how we like to stock up on late round picks. Would it be strange for the Eagles to carry 6 WRs? They did that before when injuries were an issue and they may do it again if they can’t decide and just activate 6 on game day. In 08 the receivers were GLew, Baskett, R. Brown, Avant, Curtis and Jackson. Being a beast or playing well in camp if not the same as playing well in a real game. They will probably only have 2 QBs active on gameday anyway.
To Scorp
I think 5 WR”s this year since they will probably carry 3 TE’s and still have the flexibility to spread
TE’s Ingram and especially Harbor out wide who in essence plays like a 6th WR in a lot of formations
I think Buckley nials down 3rd RB spot and 1st Year player C Scott goes to practice squad and gets a year under his belt to learn the system and nuances of the passing/blocking part of the game and could be a force for next year.
scorp – I don’t think they EVER dressed 6 recievers, let alone 5. Yeah, you only list 2 QBs as active, but they still need the active spots for ST players, backup LBs and DBs, and you need backup lineman on both sides of the ball. Even when curtis was injured etc… they never dressed most or all of the WRs….
When Ried stated that the whole offense needs to improve, I hope that was a shot at the leader of the offense since it goes through the QB. This Kolb need to be put on a short leash because the offensive players are not responding to this so called player with exceptional Leadership qualities. We were told he commands the huddle and have a quick release but the offense is worse this year than any of in the immediate past during training camp and this team is supposed to have better players at the skill position.
Let’s think for a moment …Our offense had a better camp against a stout defense when we had Pinkston, Thrash, and Mitchell.
Why?
songs, you are making assumptions and using your normal simplie minded thought processes here – continued props for consistency. The ONLY reasonable comparioson, would be comparing McNabb’s first full year as a starter to Kolbs. That camp and this camp. That said, this camp is fresh in your mind, and you’re reacting to the negative press about the O that’s going on. You are ASSUMING that it’s more negative than years past, but where have the comparisons by the media saying that it’s comparitively worse than all of the other years been? Nobody has said that – you just assumed it. Also, do we have an issue along the interior Oline? would that effect it? Are there rookies involved in the passing game now? Yep. Anyone saying Jackson, Maclin, Celek, Avant, – are having trouble in the passing game? I think not. If you’d only hold your own thought process to half the level of scrutiny that you hold Kolb too…..
Depending on whether Q Demps makes the roster which is not a given the way Safety COleman is playing, Who is going to be the kick-off returner for this team… If Hobbs is the starter at CB, I doubt
he will be returning kicks full-time… maybe a C Hall can sneak in as the 6th WR if he can handle kick-off duties, or maybe Eldra Buckley… Anyone have some thoughts on who the kick-returner will be this year…This too important of a postion to learn by trial and error and the Eagles have been down this road too often before..
Who ever said that ‘Our offense had a better camp against a stout defense when we had Pinkston, Thrash, and Mitchelll’!? Just you songs – and that ‘stout defense’ you refer too – the #1 defense, that defense was going up against the #2 offense (that’s how it works in camp). So the defense that went up V. McNabb and the (sorry excuses for) recievers you mentioned, was actually the #2 defense – not so stout. Point being – you don’t get training camp – you just don’t understand it. And you think it’s directly comparable to play on the field against other teams in games. You sir, are alone in that thought.
Paul – I don’t think Hobbs will be held off of KR duty just because he’s starting. They still used Djax at punts, and say they still will. So I think that he’s the starter there – he’s still one of the best in the league at that position, so they’ll play him there. I also think that Maclin might get another shot now that he is a more mature player.
Yes schiller I know they haven’t dressed 6. I meant to say activate 5. Having 6 WRs on the active roster wouldn’t be strange and wouldn’t surprise me. Dress 5 and 4 will get most playing time.
And as fragile as Jackson is and Maclin may be, you might need 6 on the active roster. Let’s face it, Jackson will get injured eventually. It’s just a matter of how bad and how long he will be out but I doubt he’ll escape the season without at least tweaking an ankle, back or hamstring or God forbid another concussion. I’d rather have 6 WRs than 3 TEs.
Yeah, I guess with this group of WRs, you never know. It’s tough to see because if Hall makes it (assuming he’s on special teams returning), than each guy has a role – the top 3, Cooper and Washington for big RZ targets, Washington on STs and Hall at returner…. you’d be forced to dress all 6 it seems, or cooper wouldn’t be used….. Amazing how depth changes things.
Wait Paulman, now Hall could be the 6th WR? Didn’t you just say you thought their would only be 5?
Anyhow, I don’t think Hobbs starting has an impact on him returning kicks. He may split time with Buckley but for the most part if they can stick their best player back there for punts they can surely stick Hobbs back there on kickoffs. I don’t where Hall makes this team at all. If there is only gonig to be 3 RBs and 5 WRs, where does he fit in?
Agreed, I doubt they’d dress 3 Tes. But that’s still par for the course. It’s gonna be an interesting set of cut days.
Schiller, I agree. It’s like we almost have to have 6 WRs on the active roster because of the depth and the different roles each player has and the different ways they can contribute.
Yeah, I don’t think Hall makes it. They need secondary, LB and OL help, and Hall would just be a luxury.
Yeah they’ll stick Weaver in there as the 3rd TE I think before they keep 3 on the active roster. I believe he was the 3rd last year. And you’re right, the cuts days will be interesting because the potential depth you can have at one position leaves you vulnerable at another. But I do think 6 WRs. As much as we love passing the ball and with the different types of players who can contribute also on special teams and combine that with Jackson being a little injury prone and who knows about Maclin injury wise too, 6 sounds about right. And we have big WRs to not need 3 TEs. Ingram and Celek should be enough with a guy like Cooper on the outside.
I dont agree scorp – I think Harbor and Ingram both make the team. I really do. And I think 5 Wrs. – Cooper, Washington. We’ll see.
Yeah I just think it’s better to have the extra WR than the extra TE with the potential for injuries and with the bottom 3 WRs all having the ability to contribute on special teams in one way or another. The 3rd TE just seems useless to me because they will put Weaver in there. No need in having the 3rd TE if your fullback can fill in for blocking assignments. But we’ll see.
Scorp – I hear ya, but then are you comfortable getting rid of Ingram? Because Gcobb, the team website, and philly media all are saying that Harbor is ahead of Ingram right now. I think they really don’t want to quit on Ingram yet at this point, so they keep him around, and Harbor is in line for more playing time now….
To Scorp,
I honestly don’t think Hall makes the team and I also think they go with 5 WR..
I was thinking out loud about the possibilty of Hall only if he were used as Kick-off Returner if they elect not to use Hobbs and if Demps isn’t good enough at back-up Safety to make the squad…
I really think they carry 3 TE;s with Celek,Ingram and Harbor all making it.
(Baskett will be the odd man out and I think he gets released at the end of the week to allow him time to hook up with another team)
Yes I would be. If he’s not good enough then you gotta go with the best guy. I wouldn’t keep 3 TEs because I don’t want to give up on a late round pick. I mean let’s face it, the 3rd TE barely sees the field unless there’s injury and he becomes the 2nd TE. Maybe Harbor is better and then we are still better off than we were last year when the only TEs were Celek and Alex Smith. Either way, the 3rd TE or the 6 WR won’t be active on gameday. So would I rather keep Hall or the 3rd TE? Hall for me but that’s just my opinion because I know Hall will contribute on special teams when called. The other TE, who knows. But I hear you though and I wouldn’t be totally shocked if we saw 3 TEs.
Paul carrying 3 TEs wouldn’t be surprising to me but only 2 will suit up most likely. So to me, I don’t care who the 3rd TE is really. They are a non-factor unless injury comes up where they become the 1st or 2nd. Same thing with the 6th WR but we know what Hank Baskett is and Hall can probably contribute a lot faster than a 3rd TE because of his versatility. I doubt Hall makes the team, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see 6 WRs or 3 TEs. But my preference is WRs because of their potential and injury potential with Jackson and Maclin. But that’s just me.
Demps stinks so bad man. He’s good on kick returns and a good gunner on special teams coverage but he stinks as a safety in this defense. I doubt being good at the 1st 2 things is enough to keep him on the teams when you have 4-5 guys who can return kicks and play special teams as well and also contribute in their position.
guys, what’s the over and under on Samuel’s tackles this year?
scorp – I’d put it even at the same relevance as how many sacks David Akers gets. It’s irrelevant to his job. With a better SAM LB (whether it’s Jordan or Clayton), Bradley back, and improved safety play, (what I think will happen), Asante won’t be such a weakness because he won’t be forced to make the tackles as much. He’s an interceptor, a cover guy, But not a tackler.
With Ingram’s injury history, there’s no doubt Harbor makes the roster and I would not be surprised to see Harbor as the #2 TE who will likley see the field a lot more than Ingram since he will play on Special Teams where Ingram most likely won’t.. I believe Ingram will be on the In-Active list the early part of the season and then make his way into the line-up once his explosiveness and confidence returns. I do think the Eagles will employ a 2 Tight-End Set more often than in the past to take advantage of their skills of Harbor & Ingram
LOL @ schiller. I agree. But it will interesting to see how many d-coordinators attack him by throwing screens to hit side and quick passing routes where he is forced in one on one coverage and have to make a tackle on the WR is going up the sideline for a TD. We will see.
Yeah. Ok. But I still put that in the same category as Kolb scrambling for an athletic play – it’s incidental – not part of HIS game, and although it would be ideal to have an all around ‘complete’ player, i’ll take the stud at 1 thing over the complete ‘decent’ player anyday.
I guess but eventually that thing the players sucks really bad at is going to bite the team in butt. Yes his INTs look good in the regular season but not want to move up to the line of scrimmage to stop a Dallas screen play that everyone knows is happening doesn’t look good in January. I do agree about taking the stud at one thing, I just wish he didn’t suck that bad at tackling. In my opinion if you play defense you should tackle. Period. But I digress because I’m not going back and forth over Samuel, I like the guy and he will get INTs (even if he leaves his teammates out to dry) but he will get burnt, beat and run over.
Samuel will only be as effective as the play of the Eagles Safeties,and OLB will be
He was toasted so often last year with some poor judgement on route jumping and poor coverage from the back-end of the Defense from Macho,Sean Jones and Mickell. I am more concerned about the other CB spot where Hobbs will be targeted early and often to see if he’s up to being a Starting NFL CB (especially coming off his injury to see if he’s up for the physical play)
According to Philly.com, Demps is a lock for the #3 safety spot – and it makes sense. They said he’s having a quietly solid camp there. And who would they keep other than Coleman there? It’s pretty clear Demps makes the team so he’s another option at KR….
Yeah Paul I agree. For one the safeties weren’t that good and then they have to worry about the CB’s assignment too. That’s too much for them. I wonder what the communication was around that or does Samuel just do it during the game and expect the players to cover his back end. The way the players were chirping at the end of the season, they acted like they didn’t know what was going on at times. Samuel just can’t take those kinds of chances when the safeties aren’t that good and this is why I’m afraid for the secondary. It’s already going to be hard for Allen to play safety in this defense at this level and then leaving him out there to clean up for Samuel could be disasterous. But then again, Samuel is worthless if he isn’t taking chances. I’m starting to like the overall solid player more than the guy who excels in one area and sucks at everything else especially when it’s so dependent upon his teammates picking up slack at a questionable position.
I could see Demps as the 3rd safety and only in their on blitz plays and obvious running situations. As big as he is, he’ll knock someone’s head off. But I still don’t want to see him in coverage. I only want to see him chasing someone who already has the ball.
Scorp – yeah, frankly I don’t want to see him at all unless he’s a KR. I want Allen and Mikell on the field, and maybe Coleman…. but I think he makes the team. We can’t carry on 3 safetys….
I think that Def Sec Coach from last year (Bill Stewart) really hurt the progress of many of the players
development and was a bad hire last year.. I think most knew he was a 1 year and done coach with the Eagles as many in the Secondary tuned him out the last month of the season..
The hiring of D Jauron will pay big dividends for the Eagles team and to the young players in their Secondary
paul – plus he tipped the plays to the cowboys, that’s how they knew em….
I believe he was the one who suggested McNabb play “Air-Guitar” during the introductions too..
A bubble screen to Samuel’s side just went for another 25 yards.
You will see every team employ that Bubble Screen and Delayed Draw running play versus the EAgles Defense until they show they can stop ot… McDermott better have some good,new schemes and the players need to be aggressive and better open field tacklers… The Packers,Bears,Giants,49ers,& Cowboys,Colts,Texans,Titans, will all be running these plays to death… About the only opponent not to worrry about running it effectively are the Redskins since their QB McNAbb will either overthrow and underthrow a 5 yard route..
Yeah he tipped the plays….You think this organization thought he might do just that when they hired him?
Trade down a first round pick to the Cowboys that helped their defense and we end up with an interception waiting to happen to replace a position that was already a position of strength. Then hire a coach from Dallas that help expose your team. I have to give it to Jerry Jones, Thought he was inept without Jimmy Johnson. But now after he’s won multiple Superbowls and it seems have hired right with a team that have manhandled our squad..it’s not too far to think that right now the Cowboys “ARE THE GOLDEN STANDARD”.
I think Jerry Jones is really the “Antichrist” and has his disciples working overtime to have
“Armegeddon” only hit Philadelphia and effect Eagles Fans.
First he suckers the Eagles in swapping draft picks and selects D/LB Anthony Spencer
then he does it again this years and selects ILB Sean Lee (who will be a 10 Year starter for them)
Then he has the Eagles Hire Def/Sec Coach Bill Stewart last years which was a disaster, then this off-season he gets his owner buddy/disciple Daniel Snyder trade for Eagles All-Time Franchise QB
D McNabb… I think Jone’s plan is to win this years Super Bowl held in Dallas and then there will be a strike/owners lock out in 2011 and then Armegeddon hits in 2012 so this could be the very last year of the NFL as we once knew it…
Songs, you have outdone yourself. That is barnone the funniest thing I’ve ever heard you say. First you adamantly chastise the notion that the eagles deserve praise and credit for making the playoffs consistently, winning a lot of games and making it ato the superbowl. Now dallas wins one playoff game THIS MILENIUM and you crown them the gold standard. I’m not saying banner should have ever said that, but you sir are hilariously unreasonable.