Archive: August, 2012
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles had their final practice before Monday's preseason game against the Patriots. They have a mock game on Sunday before heading to New England. Here are the particulars of the game:
- WR Riley Cooper (collarbone), DE Jason Babin (calf), QB Mike Kafka (hand) and LB Casey Matthews (ankle) will not play.
- The starters will play anywhere from a full half to the three quarters.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Eagles cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was fined $21,000 for unnecessary roughness committed in last Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a league spokesman. The decision was made because the NFL believed Rodgers-Cromartie unnecessarily struck a defenseless player in the head and neck area.
The hit occurred against Steelers backup quarterback Byron Leftwich and drew a penalty flag on the play.
The NFL's minumum fine will increase by 5 percent for the 2012 league uear and each league year thereafter, according to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
A question that has come up from Eagles fans often this summer is defensive coordinator Juan Castillo's use of Nnamdi Asomugha. At his best in Oakland, Asomugha was a shutdown, man-to-man cornerback. The Eagles used Asomugha in different ways last season, in both man and zone coverages, and sometimes on tight ends.
So the question was posed to Castillo -- what's the best way to use Asomugha? The Eagles defensive coordinator said it all depends on the matchup.
"There's some things that we could probably do in the New England game if it was during the season that we will not do," Castillo said. "I think it depends on the receiver. Dominique [Rodgers-Cromartie], the same thing. I think in the season, there will be some things that we won't do in the preseason so it's an advantage for those two guys."
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles will encounter tough decisions when determining their 53-man roster. During the next two weeks, The Inquirer's Eagles beat writers will try our best to predict who stays and who goes. The NFL deadline for teams to trim rosters from 90 to 80 is Aug. 27. Final cuts are due by Aug. 31. Here’s the lineup:
Wed, Aug. 15: Offensive line
Thur., Aug. 16: Defensive tackles
Fri., Aug. 17: Cornerbacks
Mon., Aug. 20: Running backs
Tues., Aug. 21: Wide receivers / tight ends
Wed., Aug. 22: Linebackers
Thur., Aug. 23: Safeties
Fri., Aug. 24: Quarterbacks / Specialists
Mon., Aug. 27: Defensive ends
LIKELY TO KEEP: 5-6.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Each day, we'll introduce a question to fans that you can answer and discuss in the comments section below. Here's one for today: Which position do you feel most comfortable about and least comfortable heading into the season?
Onto the links...
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles will encounter tough decisions when determining their 53-man roster. During the next two weeks, The Inquirer's Eagles beat writers will try our best to predict who stays and who goes.
Wed, Aug. 15: Offensive line
Thur., Aug. 16: Defensive tackles
Fri., Aug. 17: Cornerbacks
Mon., Aug. 20: Running backs
Tues., Aug. 21: Wide receivers / tight ends
Wed., Aug. 22: Linebackers
Thur., Aug. 23: Safeties
Fri., Aug. 24: Quarterbacks / Specialists
Mon., Aug. 27: Defensive ends
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Andy Reid said Thursday that the Eagles need a fullback in his offense.
But could he use a tight end or a running back as the "fullback" rather than keep a traditional lead blocker -- one that may not see many snaps -- on the 53-man roster?
Reid has options if he doesn't see the benefit of keeping a traditional fullback. Many NFL teams are doing without the fullback. Last season, Eagles fullback Owen Schmitt lined up for only 174 of 1,036 snaps, according to ProFootballFocus.com. The year before he was on the field for 352 of 968 snaps in 15 games.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Nnamdi Asomugha left Thursday's practice early because of a sore neck. The Eagles cornerback participated in the early, individual-drill portion of practice, but left before the more strenuous team drills. Asomugha had whiplash symptoms and a lacerated lip after he collided with Nate Allen on Monday.
He did not practice Tuesday and the Eagles had off Wednesday. Curtis Marsh has taken some repetitions in Asomugha's place, but he's still coming back from a hamstring injury. Brandon Hughes has also played some at right cornerback.
Joselio Hanson left practice with a dislocated right pinky finger. Rookie Brandon Boykin stepped up in his place at nickel corner.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Note: Here on Birds' Eye View, we're going to try to introduce a new daily blog entry that will provide your dose of Eagles stories to read each morning and what to expect from the Eagles coverage that day. For any tips or suggestions, e-mail Zach at zberman@phillynews.com.
FROM THE INQUIRER
If you saw Correll Buckhalter in a coach's outfit at training camp, you weren't mistaken. Buckhalter is now on the second act of his football life, and that includes doing something he never thought he would do:
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The three-week slog through training camp is over as the Eagles left Lehigh University on Tuesday and returned to Philadelphia to resume preparations for the season. Practices resume on Thursday at the NovaCare Complex as coach Andy Reid continues the process of weeding out the players that won’t make the 53-man roster.
In 12 days every NFL team must pare its roster from 90 players to 80. Over that span – excluding weekends – we’ll take a look at each position and predict who stays and who goes. Final cuts are on Aug. 31. Here's the lineup:
Wed, Aug. 15: Offensive line
Thur., Aug. 16: Defensive tackles
Fri., Aug. 17: Cornerbacks
Mon., Aug. 20: Running backs
Tues., Aug. 21: Wide receivers / tight ends
Wed., Aug. 22: Linebackers
Thur., Aug. 23: Safeties
Fri., Aug. 24: Quarterbacks / Specialists
Mon., Aug. 27: Defensive ends
