Typically NFL teams rest their starters for the final dress rehearsal of the preseason. It’s an opportunity for players who are on the bubble to earn one of the few remaining spots on their respective teams and an audition for other players to hopefully land on a practice squad.
I don’t believe it is necessary to start any starters, in addition to guys like Vinny Curry, backup quarterback Mark Sanchez, rookies Nelson Agholor and Eric Rowe.
As for position battles; the third string quarterback, that’s right, the “third string quarterback.” At this point Barkley has been the better quarterback, but Chip likes everything about Tebow. If I’m Chip, I’m starting Tebow in the first half and Barkley in the second.
The depth of the offensive line was my biggest concern once Mathis was released, and still is heading into week four of the preseason. When Lane Johnson injured his knee against the Packers, the immediate question that came to mind was who is the next guy up at tackle? I’ve been satisfied with how the offensive line has looked so far with the starters, but the backups concern me. Guys like Tobin and Kelly have held their own while Moffitt has really disappointed me. I’m closely monitoring other teams who are cutting veteran offensive lineman as I’m not confident or comfortable with the depth on this roster.
This Thursday is about the defense for me. I’m not worried who wins the sixth wide receiver job between Miles Austin and Jeff Maehl, my focus is on the secondary.
There is concern with the depth at outside linebacker, but I feel Billy Davis is going to be creative with the depth he has at the inside linebacker position, plus find a way to have Vinny Curry on the field more.
Who is the fourth and fifth cornerback for the team, and better yet, where is the depth at safety?
If I had to make the call right now, Biggers is the fourth cornerback on the depth chart with Watkins claiming the fifth spot. Ed Reynolds by default becomes the third safety and a coin flip between Prosinski and Couplin?
It’s not overly exciting or comforting to see the drop off from the starters in the secondary to what is left in terms of depth.
Many fans can’t get themselves to watch the last preseason game; it’s full of names that you are never going to hear again. With Tebow trying to earn himself a spot on the team, I get the feeling a few more fans than usual will tune in come Thursday.
3rd QB Battle between Barkley & Tebow which whoever Wins the Battle most likely is never Activated for Actual Games
6 WR Between Ajiroutu, Maehl & Bailey
8th OL (Back-Up Center between Molk & Vandervelde)
9 OL (Back-Up Guard between Moffitt, Andrews & Bunche and likely a Player rarely Active on Game Days so look for Bunche to make it as a developmental year)
8th LB between MS2, Brad Jones, Nagee Goode & Daheem Watkins
5th Safety between Ed Reynolds & Jerome Couplin
(I like Couplin)
5th CB between Biggers & Rice (Biggers gets the nod while Rice makes Practice Squad)
I also would not be surprised for the Eagles to pickup a DB off the Waiver Wire from another Team… There may be a Young Player on the Bronco’s that Coach Undlin is familiar with and likes as an example..
Speaking of ex-bronco players Paulman I was very surprised the the Egles didn’t go after Rahim Moore a former player Udin has worked with in Denver.
Solid point about Broncos, I’m paying attention to OG Andy LeVitre formally of Bills and looks like about to be cut by the Titans.
I think Moffitt stays due to his NFL experience, Chip may feel he just needs to get into game shape and has the right tools.
As for LB- Brad Jones, Marcus Smith, Kiko, Brayman, Ryans, Hicks, Barwin, Graham, Kendricks, Goode. I think they keep 10, with injury history to some of the starters and stress on special teams, they keep a deep class at ILB/OLB.
The depth at safety is certainly a concern, I’d still use Watkins as my 3rd safety over the other guys. He hasn’t done anything to really stand out to me, but as for what Chip looks for from his safeties, I feel he is the best of the rest to fill the void if a starter were to miss any time.
As I’ve said before, its 4 DB’s, the safeties are former cb’s, guys will rotate spots, some move into nickel for specific packages while other guys bounce outside.
I see the same with their d-line and lb’s. It’s making audible with their defense to match the other offense. Yes it’s a 3-4, but it could be a ton of other looks throughout the season.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said it “sounds like” the Titans will retain LG Andy Levitre.
Set to count $8.6 million against this year’s cap, Levitre looked like a sure-fire cut after he lost his starting job to Byron Bell. The Titans do not have much veteran depth on their interior line, however, and they have the cap room to carry Levitre for another season. Tennessee could save $2.3 million against the cap by cutting Levitre.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Sep 3 – 9:31 A
the debut of ESPN’s hottest new NFL analyst at 1:30 pm today on ESPN 2:
JOE BANNER
c-c-c-c-c-compartmentalize —
Joe Banner stumbling trying to pronounce that word during his 30 seconds of air time. Suzy Kolber had to save Joe from choking trying to say compartmentalize as she pronounced the word for him. Bwahahahaaha Joe Banner looking like a fool.
Eagles 53 Man Roster after Tonight’s Game (Injuries could change a few things)
Offense (25 Players)
QB (3) – Bradford, Sanchez & Barkley (Tebow Released)
RB (4) – Murray, Matthews, Sproles & Barden (Mostert to Practice Squad)
TE (3) – Celek, Ertz & Burton
WR (6) – Matthews, Agholor, Cooper, Huff, Austin & Maehl (Ajirotutu Released
OL (9) – Peters, Barbree, Kelce, Gardner, L Johnson as Starters and Tobin, Kelly, Vandervelde & Bunche as Back-Ups (Moffitt Released)
Defense (25)
DL (7) Cox, Thornton, Logan, Curry, Hart, Bair & Beau Allen
LB (8) Barwin, Kendricks, Ryans, Graham, Kiko, Braman, Hicks, Brad Jones (MS2 gets Released, Daheem Watkins to Prectice Squad)
CB (5) Maxwell, Carroll, Rowe, Watkins and Biggers (Rice to Practice Squad)
Safety (5) Jenkins, Thurmond, Couplin, Maragos & Prosinski
I do believe the Eagles look to add another DB off the Waiver Wires and then Drop Biggers
I also could see the Eagles Keeping 9 LB (maybe N Goode until D Ryans is 100%, which may still be a few weeks away so Demeco Ryans could start out on Short-Term IR list and eligible after Week #5)
Special Teams (3 Players)
K – Kevin Parkey
Punter – Donnie Jones
Long Snapper – Jon Donebros
Rumors also have Eagles ILB Kiko Alonso possibly landing on the Short-Term IR list due to his left knee still swelling up on him causing him to be unable to participate in Drills, Practices or Pre-Season Games..
Kiko has not taken a Snap in a Pre-Season Game and it may just be unrealistic to expect much from him the first month of the Season..
So Alonso & Ryans could land on Short-Term IR meaning that MS2 & Najee Goode probably both make the 53 Man Roster if this occurs
kiko playing tonight
highly unlikely ryans does anything but start week 1
im hoping tonight is tebows last game in a nfl uniform
dont see brandon baire making the team
You could be right Henski..
They may want to only Carry 6 DL and go heavy at LB with 9 and keep MS2 who just doesn’t seem to have the Fire,Fortitude & Physicality that is required to be an NFL LB.. They should just move on from that mistake of a Pick..
Practice Squad (8 Players I think)
RB – Raheem Mostert
WR – Rasheed Bailey
TE – Eric Tomlinson
OL – Josh Andrews
DL – Brian Mahilik
LB – Diaheem Watkins
DB – Denzel Rice
DB – Randall Evans
I’m surprised fraud didn’t declare this ‘the most important game of chips career’ as he has for 2 of the 3 other live scrimmages
Pass Defense looks horrendous for the 2nd Week In a Row against a backup QB and Backup WR…
I believe the Eagles would be better off on moving Eric Rowe back to his Natural Position of Safety which is where he played for 3 Seasons at Utah before switching to CB his Last Season at Utah..
He looks so awkward and stiff at CB and should focus on Safety where maybe he can compete for 2016 Season…
Eagles may need to sign 2 CB’s off of other Teams Cuts
I hate to say it but when ms2 got hurt it was his end he needed the preseason…..they should trade for sio moore and lb corp will be ready
Sio Moore is a weakside LB – the eagles already have 2 of them already on the roster Kendricks and Kiko
Braman will be just fine playing the b graham role from last year until sio gets up to speed
Barkley sucks…he has no arm…cut both him and Tebow…
interesting Huff dresses and starts but Agholor doesn’t dress
Hope it means agholor starts but I think chip is trying to keep huff mentally sharp.
why can there back up to the backup make a thread the needle throw for a td and our guy is a dud– ok THAT IS MY LAST COMMENT ABOUT A ‘GAME’ WHERE HALF THE PLAYERS PLAYING WILL BE UNEMPLOYED IN A WEEK.
Barkley throws like sir Charles..
I think he throws more like princess dianna!
I don’t know who stinks more jaylen watkins or eric rowe?
Eric Rowe looks like Cary Williams.
Can we get a mulligan on that boykin trade…
It’s kind of Ironic that with all the big moves that Chip Kelly made in the Off-Season and Free-Agency the one that will most likely come back to bite this Team in the Ass is the Trade of Boykin as he is a proven Slot CB inthe NFL..
Even though the Eagles were very high on Jacorey Shepard, he still was a Rookie and unproven that the safe move for 2015 was to keep Boykin and let Shepard be groomed behind him and learn, now the Eagles go into 2016 and still won’t know if Shepard is a NFL Caliber Player ..
GTFOH….here we go again, jumping off a cliff for brandon boykin, future HOF player
I know I’m overreacting BUT bill F in Davis has got to go.I know many of the offense are 2s 3sand 4s ,but they compete ,as do special teasers (you assume because they’ve been coached up) while we’re all giddy here ,I see spatters of docile and passive attack from our defense ..they don’t have gap discipline and they’re giving up huge chunks of. Yardage so 2s -and 3s …I can’t stand passive play ..
I am not about to jump off any cliff for the Eagles or Chip Kelly… But the Eagles Secondary is now weaker without Brandin Boykin then they were with him… Anyone who doesn’t see this is not being honest with themselves or the lack of NFL Ready CB’s to replace him… It is what it is… Chip Kelly Putting his belief that 2 unproven Rookies in Shepard and Rowe were an upgrade over Boykin for the 2015 Season was a mistake on his part..it’s rare that a Rookie CB makes much of a impact in his 1st Season…
On a Side Note
Buffalo Billshave 4 QB’s on their Rostet
HC Ryan has named Tyrod Taylor the Stsrter and really likes Matt Sims upside for down the road… The Bills will be cutting either EJ Manuel or Matt Cassell..
The Eagles Should grab either one and release both Barkley & Tebow
Wish I had hair like Bryan braman…
It’s Preseason and Coach Kelly still doesn’t let Tebow attempt a Pass…
Cut him Please, He’s not an NFL QB
Barkley looks like a pitcher making his first ever big league start, not what you want from a 3rd yr guy.
Eric Rowe looks bad…Jalen Watkins is playing pretty well
Got beat on the first td pretty bad , but he is best cb 4 option currently on roster.
Neither QB has distinguished them self tonight, cut them both.
him self
This Raheem Mostert just seems to glide along the Turf..
Some Team will Scoop him up and he will make a Contribution for another NFL Team
Tebow-1 Barkley -0
both suck!
Gotta keep tebow both are cfl bound so get rg3 l…..lol
I’d love chip ala Denzel in (remember the Titans) walks by bill Davis and tells him ,if you don’t stop somebody “I’m taking over the defense”
Atleast I wont have to read fans this week say how much great depth Chip has accumulated. The Eagles backups stink.
Tebow has led his NFL teams to more 4th quarter comebacks and playoff wins than 60% of starting QBs in the NFL let alone the 3rd stringers. Give me a break with the guy atleast he has accomplished something.
Tebow has won the job…Barkley is out…
Winning the job..is like being the tallest midget in the circus …
Barkley is definitely gone and blew his opportunity these last 2 Preseason Games.. His Arm is simply not an NFL Caliber arm…
Tebow is not a NFL QB in my opinion..
I would rather have QB E J Manuel OT Joe Webb or even bring back GJ Kinnie who ante the 3rd String and contribute on Special Teams
I’m counting on finding guys on the wires ,because this isn’t good enough in the depth department ..
Eagles will need at least 1 CB & 1 Safety to add from Waiver Wire.. They also could use a veteran OL and
Prosinski is good on Special Teams but is not an NFL Safety and is too slow for playing back in pass coverages..
On another side note, Kurt Coleman is now on the Panthers and has looked good this Summer as their 3rd Safety and playing Special Teams
Chung looks good, Carey Williams looks good, Fletcher looks good even Nate Allen had 2 ints the other day. There is one common denominator in this whole equation.
Wow…Hundley isnt gonna be good. Man.. i was soo pissed we didnt get this dude in the draft. 4 td. I know its preaseason…but he sure as hell would have been a bad ass 3rd string. Damn!!!
Billy Davis defense looks just like it has the past 2 years. His 1st string defense looks a little better. That defense is terrible. I haven’t seen another backup defense in the NFL look that bad. Its the same exact shit. I don’t know what he is doing but there’s no more personnel excuses.
The Eagles have a talented offensive roster, but I hate all of the QBs not named Sam Bradford on this roster. Pretty scary when the 3rd string QB who is in his third year in the system makes Mark Sanchez look good. Matt Barkley is awful.
Bring Kinne back. Hell, bring AJ Feely back.
Yo hundley is straight balling……kid looks good…..we gotta make some waiver wire pickups, dbs look bad
They sure do. I may be jumping the gun..but Rowe looks like a safety to me. Doesnt cover good IMHO.
They sure do. I may be jumping the gun..but Rowe looks like a safety to me. Doesnt cover good IMHO.
They sure do. I may be jumping the gun..but Rowe looks like a safety to me. Doesnt cover good IMHO.
My bad..i dont even know how i posted so many times..LOL
Dag..he’s so overmatched bill Davis by Todd. Bowles ..and he had taken bills spot here in the desert and turned the cards with similar personnel into a stalwart defense …bill Davis sucks .
Has a corner ever looked as bad in his first preseason as Eric Rowe has and still gone on to be great? Talk about room for improvement.
Iooking baCK at this game tebow made improvements to his game, he actually went through progressions and looked like a qb…..ill take him as a 3rd stringer, the guy is a gamer
Joe Webb went 17 of 22 for 193 and 1 td in a big win.
That guy is going to be awesome.
best Tuesday night football QB in NFL history
Joe Webb from Carolina or EJ Manuel who Buffalo is trying to trade..
If Billscant get anything in return they may keep Manuel and Cut Matt Cassell instead ..