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
I think it's been proven that Herremans is not a starting OT. He's servicible at the spot but will be moved back inside to LG. Mathis will be moved to RG. RT will be filled by a free agent or Luke Joekel/Eric Fisher at the #4 pick. Even with the starting O-line improved, the team needs to replace the backups once Dunlap is cut. Watkins and Kelly would be the only servicible backups. Some good bargain interior lineman in free agency and the mid-rounds of the draft would help. Perhaps Brandon Washington and Vandervelde are ready to contribute.— MrMiles1- You scripes have zero credibility!!! you were the ones that back in August called the O Line "solid". WRONG!!!!!!— BP2
- New online coach will have to get in there and evaluate the situation. You can find good o linemen late in the draft and as free agents, but it is critical to find them. I say...build from the tackles in. That seems to work the best.— Fritz and Alice
- Unless wecare desperate, Watkins with his chronic condition, lack of skill and intellect, should be traded,if anyone would want him, or just released. He may be a great person, but his performance forthe past two years does not warrant his staying with us another year.— 5thstrretpast
- Danny Watkins comes in handy when fires break out in the locker room...— BirdinParadise
- The "scripes" were correct when they said that in August since thet were talking about the 2011 OL which did well and was improving at that. Subtract Kelce, Peters and Herremanns along with Watkins struggles and you aren't talking about the same line anymore. Brilliant conclusion though...stunod.
Hiring of Bama line coach will come on handy if they go OL which I doubt unless Peters suffers a setback. He may see value in Watkins that Mudd didn't too. If Watkins is not in the picture moving Herremanns to RG still only leaves a hole at RT. Draft should be spent concentrating on playmakers on D. That is the area where the team suffered the most. Need the TOs more than a tackle.— tpizza - Looks like we'll be using a 3-4 so I think a NG is priority. We could possibly get one in the second round. The 4th pick is tough. Do we stay pact and get an OL or trade down and get a safety. Don't know of any NG's that went that high in the first round.
- Im hoping with Peters at tackle, Herremans and Mathis at guards and kelce at center and all healthy the only o-line position that will be questionable will be the one Watkins was supposed to fill and be good at. Then the question will be do we draft an o-loneman with the first pick (and if he is Joeckel or someone from Alabama I say yes) or do we use the pick on defense where it seems to be in worse of a flux. Will it be a 3/4 or 4/3. I think there will be enough o-lineman in free agency that can help if our o-lineman doesn't come from Alabama or Joeckel. When healthy Peters at tackle, Herremans and Mathis at guards and kelce at center looked good.— VegasEagleFan
They need a tackle and a guard. Don't count on Peters playing at the same level as before he riped his Achilles.- The O-Line is a mess and has been the Eagles #1 problem since Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas left. Peters, Herremans and Kelse are ALL coming off injuries, two of the three serious. Mathis is serviceable. Right tackle HAS to be the first priority. We got nothing there right now. I hope Kelly realizes this and makes the line his number one priority. Let's use that #1 draft pick for O-Line. Until the Eagles get a line that can block, it doesn't matter who the QB is, the QB is going to continue to get killed. And then there is the secondary..............Can both be fixed in one off season? Not likely.— Craig321
- Reid will draft Joeckel with the first pick.— p-diddy
- This is by far the worst website as far as posts go. It is constantly going down and what they allow and what they don't seems very random
- Maybe with the new coaches they will try Watkins at right tackle, the position he played in college. Never understood why the Eagles drafted a guy projected to be a tackle and play him at guard, especially a guy who has had limited football experience. He only played 1 position in college, what made them think he could master a totally different position in the NFL as a rookie?
