Eagles offensive line is in flux
Here is the fifth in a series of looks at the Eagles roster, focusing on the offensive line.
Eagles offensive line is in flux
Zach Berman
Here is the fifth in a series of looks at the Eagles roster:
Today: Guards and centers
On the roster: The Eagles can feel comfortable at left guard with Evan Mathis, who had a strong second season in Philadelphia even though he did not have Jason Peters and Jason Kelce on either side of him.
The right guard spot is more of a question. Danny Watkins has not been productive enough in his first two seasons with the Eagles after the team gambled on him as a 2011 first-round pick. He did not fit well in former offensive line coach Howard Mudd’s system and a fresh start might help. The Eagles need to hope that’s the case, because Watkins is already 28.
There’s also the possibility that Todd Herremans moves from tackle to guard, where he has spent most of his career. In that case, Watkins would be the odd man out. Julian Vandervelde is a developmental player. Jake Scott is a free agent who fit in Mudd’s system but likely doesn’t have a future in Philadelphia.
At center, Kelce is a valuable player if he recovers from a torn ACL and effectively grasps whatever new system is put into place. Look for him to be the starting center. That does not bode well for Dallas Reynolds, who was inconsistent in Kelce’s place last season. Matt Tennant is another center on the roster and will need to be evaluated by the new coaching staff.
Not on the roster: Whether the Eagles add a big-name guard would depend on their evaluation of Watkins and whether Herremans moves to guard. The Bills’ Andy Levitre and the Chargers’ Louis Vasquez are intriguing names as an unrestricted free agency considering their age and experience.
In the draft, Alabama’s Chance Warmack is the top player and would require a high pick. Guards do not usually go in the top 5, though, so he might hit the radar if the Eagles trade down.
At center, Warmack’s teammate Barrett Jones is the top talent. Stanford’s Sam Schwartzstein is expected to be a late-round pick, but he has experience on a good offensive line and in front of Kelly.
Coming Monday: Defensive line
Thank you Andy for the trash heap you left behind— stardog- It could easily take 8 or 9 years to reconstruct this disaster of a roster (to be a SB competitive team) that Reid has left behind. — BP2
- Maybe Andy will swap Watkins & Vick for the #1 pick.— yobill626
- You dont need a Mike Vick to win a SB.
You do need a very good O line and a good defense.
All those O line injuries killed us and i am not sold on the fireman.— 1000hugs - The new Eagles o-line coach will persuade Kelly to draft one of his big Alabama lineman in the first round...which is a good idea.— jim35
- Where the F is my comment?— Squizzy Magee
- the o-line was terrible last year and the year before when everyone was healthy. kelce and mathis are unbelievably overrated by local media. keep peters and herremans. move herremans back to guard and replace the rest— psualum
- Hard to believe that a 26 yr old Canadian, suffering from chronic foot problems and fresh off a whopping 2 years of organized football in America, would be a major disappointment in the NFL! Only geniuses can find gems like that in the 1st Round! Nice Job Howie! Sure, keep him another year, maybe he can teach all the other Players how to put out a trashcan fire!— cooperhawk
- This site's comments sections is the worst on the web. I spent five minutes composing a thoughtful comment about the O-Line and it's nowhere to be found, but then I bust off a "Where the F is my comment?" remark and it gets posted here 20 seconds later. Great moderating!— Squizzy Magee
- Squizzy, They have blocked bedpan and all he did was call the idiots like tpizza. laughingloud123, etc. morons and know-nothings. Which everyone knows they are. — BP2
- @Squizzy - You posted a thoughtful comment — The Truth Hurts
- i think on this team every position except running back is in flux.
— bloodymess - Why did fat boy Andy, who thought so much of the dog killer Vick, not take him with him to Kansas City. Thanks for nothing fatboy.— thomasg
- Why use derogatory nicknames? Can you not come up with anything more clever than fatboy? Seriously people get over yourselves. — Diddly
- Five whole minutes? Wow.— dasher
