The clash of a former Eagles’ starting quarterback and Matt Barkley will go down Thursday night. Not a terrible plot line as typically the fourth game of the preseason is a showcase for roster cut hopefuls and practice squad considerations.
As for the Eagles, there is a glaring hole on this roster, and I’m interested to see how it’s going to be resolved. I want to see our placekickers, Henery and newly acquired Parkey; take a few attempts in that 45+ yard range. I’m sweating the thought of going into the season with Henery as our kicker. I don’t feel any outcome on Thursday will create the urgency that many of us are feeling with the kicker position. The Broncos lose their kicker for the first four games, and immediately make a trade to fill the void. The Eagles have been too passive with this matter, and games every year come down to a last second tying or go ahead field goal.
This is not college where you can “make-do” with scheming around the lack of consistency of your field goal kicker. Kickers are creatures of awkward habit, once doubt creeps in and confidence is rattled, it’s all but over for guys like Henery.
There are depth positions to still be won. Running back, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive end and linebacker all have battles to fill out the 53 man roster. I believe the Eagles know who their quarterback, tight-end, nose tackle, cornerback and safety grouping are going to be.
Guys are going to be going all-out, so even if the names like Long, Bair and Momah do little to grab your attention, their efforts will be entertaining; even if it’s against second and third stringers.
The last dress rehearsals before the games count for something; the preseason has been a mix of highs and lows.
Are there more questions than answers in 2014 than in 2013?
With expectations being greater and a better feel for the entire roster and coaching staff, some would argue that with the pressure to build on the success of last season; more questions hang over the heads of the 2014 team.
I expect a lot of the Following..
Lots of Running Plays (Tucker,Josey & Barner and possibly Polk)
I believe Tucker has secure the 3rd Spot behind McCoy & Sproles,
So basically 1 Spot for Josey/Barner & Polk to battle it out
5th/6th WR open with 4-5 Players battling it out
(Benn,Momah,Maehl,D Johnson,Murphy & Pratt)
QB Barkley has had all week to plan on Starting and will probably
Play into the 2nd half with 2nd String OL
If he plays well, keeps a nice Tempo and leads some scoring drives
He makes the Roster, if not, looks overwhelmed, scared or makes poor decisions, he will be released..
Many back-up spots up along the Defense
5th OLB, 4th ILB, 5th CB or Safety who stays and who goes
The Kicker Spot– how does new Kicker do in Game situations
How does Henery handle the pressure…
So even a meaningless game with #2’s & #3’s will be important for Depth
And many Players trying to make the final 5-7 Spots on the 53 Man Roster or at least impressing enough to make the 10 Man Practice Squad
I expect a very boring, ugly game. Let’s just skip the game and get the regular season started already!
Exactly.
It’s bakup bowl. Who cares.
The games with rookie QBs I may watch. Other than that…no.
What’s up GCobb and his merry men —
missed you jokers this summers –
just spent a half hour reading Denny and Jeff’s articles for the past couple months —
gathering that the new Eagles starters are Maclin and Barber on O and Jenkins on D.
Major new contributors on D are the new NT Allen and Carroll and Sproles and J. Matthews on O. Any news on the new Wide Receiver Josh Huff and Marcus Smith? Are they long shots to see field time?
Barber will be a fill in for 4 games do Lane Johnson being suspended. Maclin we hope stays healthy, last week was a brutal scare with how his leg bent.
As for the new guys.. Huff got hurt vs the Bears, he was looking more like a special teams return guy than immediate starter, and there is no timetable on his return.
Matthews has looked comfortable after the first game, and he should mad the slot to start the season, and see his role increase as the season goes os.
Smith is still very raw, you see what he can do on a few plays, and then watch him in coverage and realize that only certain packages he is ready for to start the season.
Allen has been strong, he has found his way into the backfield often, and his look is one fans will like, long hair flowing, big belly showing.
Carroll has been hurt, but it would appear he will be the 4th CB and will assist with the coverage of TE’s this season with the weakness of our LB’s being able to cover.
Sproles has been quiet, and it does not suprise me. We have seen Johnson run a few wheel routes that are designed for Shady/Sproles. Sproles will be a factor this season, there was no reason for Chip to do much with him in the preseason, he is a vet, he is a smart/hard working kid who will make him impact both with the offense and on special teams.
Tonight is about the last few roster spots,.. Who wants it more. I’m sure coaches have the deoth charts penciled in, but one terrific showing by a player could certainly cement a spot on the final 53 man roster.
thanks Jeff — I’m behind the curve on my Eagle knowledge right now.
haha, right now? always!….you’ll remain behind on Eagles knowledge, considering your a Giants fan….
Big Lion – your posts this coming week should be good since you are located in the den of the enemy down there in Jacksonville with some good info.
For the whatever it’s worth dept, E0SB,
I will be post an NFC East Breakdown of Each Team, Strengths/Weakness, surprise Players, Position Rankings,etc,etc
And my over thoughts of the Eagles & on the NFC East by the weekend
As Teams pkay their Final Pre-Season Games and Solidify their Rosters
For the upcoming Season..
What’s up EOS? Man that is going to be a lot more difficult then people think.
Ive seen enough. Beau Allen is a stud and a steal.
Parkey knocking down 54 yarders? Goodbye Henery?
No ? Good enough for me hello parkey
There goes our kicker go parkey. How bad is Henry, one kick and I’m sold wow
You gut to like this RB Josey, he has sone hops,
Kind of reminds me a little of a young Brian Westbrook..
Eagles need to keep him as that 4th RB
Behind McCoy,Sproles & Tucker
I envision him taking over in 2015 as that Scat Back and replacing
Darren Sproles..
I told you Oman Josey is the man and Benny is balling
Agreed Paul be they will keep the Oregon guy.
Kenjon Barner should not make this team over Josey, Tucker or Polk as he has done nothing to distinguish himself thus far to justify a spot on the 53 man roster.
Mosey is from University of Missouri whi h runs a very similar system
As Oregon.. I’ve been a Josey Fan for a while and think he’s a perfect fit for the Offense…
Yes…Josey would be a good replacement for Sproles in a year or two.
Way to go Parkey! Big freakin FG, great hang time on the kick off too!
We will keep Parkey. Henery doesn’t have a small chance of wearing this uni after tonight
Henery will be cut by Saturday guys
Why is Polk not playing
He could not go because of the hamstring.
He’s still hurt and will be unemployed as of Sat
At 4pm..
He may have been told to sit out and rest the hammy with an understanding that he will be on 53, seriously, if Brad Smith is slated to make the team and he has been injured and done nothing…how can you justify keeping him but not Polk? Please don ‘t tell me Brad is a special teams guy and a swiss army knife as Polk is a better talent.
wr’s are gonna be maclin, cooper, Matthews, benn, and waiver wire pick up and huff to IR or the dam 6 week ir
Goodbye Henery and Casey I like Trey Burton good player
Looks like WR Benn is winning the 5 WR Spot
With Jeff Naehl a possible 6th depending on Humff’s status
Safety Maragos over Ed Retnold who looks Practice Squad bound
CB Marsh or Watkins as 5th CB
TE Trey Burton to Practice Squad
RB’s Barner & Polk released
QB Barkley as Eagles 3rd QB but probably inactive most weeks
no way keep barner over josey, he won’t make it to the practice squad the guy is a 2nd rd talent with a bad injury ruined him. I say mccoy,sproles,josey,tucker and barner is gone
watkinn or marsh pman easy one watkins marsh is so terrible at coverage
I feel sorry for polk you don’t play you won’t make the team
god casey sucks he can read plays pretty good but dude cannot tackle he whiffs way too much
dam that should be a int…..well Reynolds to practice squad
I tell you the Steal of the Draft
RB Jeremy Hill for the Bengals whose had a great Summer..
He and Back Bernard give the Bengals a great combo
Heading into the Season…
Man I promise you Watkins will not make as a receiver in buffalo another dam rib injury there are going to be bad this year
Watkins hurt another rib ?
nah same rib just “reinjured” don’t worry Watkins I wouldn’t wanna play for buffalo either
He should just be sitting to let that thing heal.
Couple of Observations
1) Is Steeler’s Coach Mile Tomlim on the Hot-Seat?
I believe he is as the Steelers have finished 8-8 the last 2 Seasons missing the Playoffs and they look very bad this Summer
A 3rd Year of missing the Playoffs, off the field issues with Players in recent years, running off some Veterans before their time (Hines,James Harrison)
A lack of Developing High Draft Picks in recent years leaves
Many Steeler Fans very concerned.. A Dysfunctionable relationship
Between OC T Haley & QB Big Ben, no contract extension or commitment to Big Ben… Their Defense had slipped big time,
DC LeBeau close to retiring..
The Steelers play in the tough AFC and play the 4 Teams in NFC South thic year.. They may be fortunate to Win 6-7 Games
HOly shit I just found my fantasy kicker,,,fuck yea
Parkey is butter ! Henery ‘s name is being removed from his locker and belongings placed in a plastic bag this second.
dammit roc can’t even catch a easy one can’t wait till he’s gone
Johnny Manziel just threw the most horrible wounded duck I have ever seen leave the hand of a qb.
omg ehl was it that bad lol
It really was…he got his receiver killed too. He is struggling with his accuracy throwing from the pocket.
good job barkley you are a good 3rd string qb lol
Brian baldinger who I respect a bunch just said lane Johnson is BY FAR the best tackle in the draft last year. Says head and shoulders above Joekel etc…. The dude is an nfl films junkie… Good enough for me
Joekel has been struggling mightily this preseason.
But the informed people o. Here say Johnson sucks… I will trust baldy’s opinion over theirs
As has 2nd Year Eric Fisher of the Chiefs
As has J Matthews as has Greg Robinson who was moved to Guard
For the Rams…. It’s very rare for an OT to come in his Rookie Season
And Start and not look bad or overmatched at times..
Yes…Robinson was moved to guard. He also got benched for his pkay too.
Lane Johnson will be an All-Pro in 2015…
This setback and Suspension may be the best thing that’s happened to him,
When looking back ..
Didn’t some people on here want taj Boyd? Please stand up
That would be Koolbreeze and songs.
They must be idiots!
Holy cow Johnny Manziel is shit.
Every throw is either an overthrow, a wobbly flutter ball, or an worm burner.
Yet the announcers are (typically) al goo goo ga ga cause he ran around like an idiot one drive, completed a couple passes and they scored a TD.
Have fun with that. Running around QBs always fail.
Are you seeing that Vinny..he looks like shit. The announcers are hyping every pass that he completes. He has fumbled on sacks and just looks overall terrible.
Its completely terrible.
Where’s TS? Didn’t she say he had “it”
Oh wait….that’s picking on her….I’ll stick with hammering Songs and Koolidiot….they were both on Manziel weren’t they?
Yes it was Kool and songs saying Manziel has it. I swear his passes are fluttering all over the damn place. 4-11 64 Yards and a td.
Tre Burton has some good hands and runs nice routes.
Any Player I’ve had my eye on all Camp..
He’s gotten better and better as the Pre-Season has gone along
He may sneak in if the Eagles can Trade TE Casey which will be difficult to do at his $3.5 Million Contract..
Eagles need to cut the chord with Casey
I could have sworn that people on here LOST THEIR MINDS last week when the Eagles gave up tennis balls and a guy whose name I forget already for a kicker from Indy.
Lmao OH THE HYPOCRISY
I thought it was a good trade considering it was a RB at an overflowing position. People can say what they want but I would say based on Parkey’s performance this preseason (I think Kicking FGs is pretty similar on all teams just adjust for LS timing and holder) Chip and Howie maybe do not deserve the Andy Reid he’s got a blind spot treatment they were getting.