6:01 pm, Saturday August 31st. This is going to be an important time and date for the 2013 Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles will announce their final roster cuts, and so will the other 31 NFL teams. Depth at the wide receiver, cornerback and safety positions must be attended to by the front office. These are immediate areas of need, not to say upgrades are not also needed elsewhere. Roster spots were won last night, and other players simply should not be part of this team even if they give 100% effort on every play, it comes down to talent and not about liking a player. With that said, there are noticeable strengths and weaknesses of this football team from what I observed throughout the preseason.
-The Eagles have a lot of depth at line-backer, demonstrating a combination of speed with pursuit of the quarterback and athleticism to force turnovers. The line-backers also looked awful with their coverage skills, not a few, not some, all of them. I think the Eagles have depth with Acho, Knott, Brown, McCoy, Graham behind the starting four of Barwin, Kendricks, Ryans and Cole. Will the linebackers improve throughout the season with the 3-4 transition? I really hope so, or tight-ends and running back are going to pile up huge numbers against us.
-Goodbye Coleman, Anderson stays as our special team standout safety. Nate Allen will stay, but what has he done besides being a veteran that should give him the starting spot for this team? Wolff may have zero NFL snaps, but I like what he “could” offer versus what I know we will get from Nate Allen.
-We are very thin at wide-receiver. Nobody is good enough for the fifth spot. On the tight-end front, Harbor and Ertz had two drops each last night. The Eagles are a tight-end based team. I’m not overly worried about Ertz, he will be a solid contributor this season. Does Harbor make this team because he fills the role that Kelly needs from some of his payers? Harbor has shown he can line up at receiver, tight-end and play special teams. Being a jack of all trades may be enough for him to stay; although wasn’t that the reason we signed Casey this off-season?
-Special Teams! Look I played special teams, and I loved the discipline and physicality that you needed to play the non-glorified position. I have loved the coverage from the Eagles all preseason long. And Mr. Donnie Jones has looked great punting the ball; a great signing by the Eagles that’s gets overlooked with the flurry of off-season moves.
-Bennie Logan was a huge question mark from my end when the Eagles drafted the former LSU player in the third round. The guy has shown an ability to play all positions on the front line. Thornton was the shoe-in for the 3-4 defensive end spot opposite of Fletcher Cox. Coaches will have a tough time keeping Logan off the field, in addition to what Vinnie Curry has also demonstrated.
-Will the Eagles keep 4 running backs? Brown and Folk did not fumble the football last night; although Brown still holds that football too loosely for my liking. Tucker scored both a touchdown and converted the 2-point conversion. It may have only been enough to garner a spot on the practice squad, but with no fullback, it does allow the Eagles some flexibility with numbers in other positions.
-The Eagles have three cornerbacks. Lindley is awful and Poyer is not ready to make serious contributions this season. You need depth and that depth is not on this roster.
My advice for the Eagles is just a few target players. Sign a cornerback that is cut by the Seahawks. Make the trade with the Bills at whatever cost to acquire free safety Byrd. Sign a receiver who can make a play after the catch, even if it’s just a one year rental. Am I asking too much? I think we will know how serious the Eagles about being a “contender” amongst this transition season.
Lol stop filling our heads with nonsense like we actually have a chance at acquiring Byrd!
I agree with all your other points though I think the secondary could use at least 2 new faces especially if their strength is stopping the run. Signing a wide receiver could be tricky because any guy worth having is going to want 1-3 million dollars so for one year is it really worth it? Maybe, since we have no one to compliment Desean.
I could definitely see them looking for quality OL depth with Herremans being shaky and Watkins likely on his way out. A seasoned G/C will most likely be an addition.
I’m actually excited to see some of the veterans that get cut on Saturday. I don’t think the eagles should hesitate if a solid safety/corner becomes available that way we can get them in and ready for Week one.
My season prediction: 6-10.. The defense has made it clear we cannot be taken a playoff contender
This roster is going to be pretty similar to what it is now. There will be no players brought in that is going to be a high impact game changer. That will have to be addressed in the off season with free agency then the draft. It’s time to get real about this!!!
not going to happen, but Eagles should definitely overpay to acquire Byrd if there is even a slight chance to get him.
It will have to wait to after the Season,
The BIlls are not looking to trade their Best Defender in their Secondary after signing him to their Franchise Tag.. makes no sense, if they wanted to move him, they would have done so a while back????.
wonder what “injury” Momah is going to have pop up so he lands on the IR for the season.
Momah has very little natural instincts as a WR and does not make this Roster or PRactice Squad in my opinion..
He probably needs to go to Canada and play for a Season or 2 and then re-attempt to play in the NFL.. He is nowhere close to NFL Ready..
Biggest move to Improve the team is Cut or Trade Micheal Vick!
Yeah that would go over well with the rest of the team.
We”ll talk more in week 16