Post-OTA observations on the offense
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Post-OTA observations on the offense
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles’ OTAs are over and the countdown to the start of training camp is on (45 days and counting). During my weekly chats, I’m often asked to give my impressions of the team and of certain players, but it’s difficult to really offer a detailed answer when I’m typing as if the hair on my arms has been set aflame.
So after watching all 17 practices of the spring, here are some post-OTA observations and some predictions for who ends up making the 53-man roster. Sure, it's way too early to project that far ahead, but isn't that what blogs are for? (I’ll have the offense today and the defense on Monday.)
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Kevin Kolb had, by most estimates, a successful spring. He did pretty much everything he had to do. He made the delicate transition from backup to starter with his authoritative presence during practice. He made all the throws and all the reads he needed to make. And when he may have had an off day here or there he came back 24 hours later and was sharp.
He even made a slight adjustment. After watching him in the first minicamp and early in rookie camp, I noticed that Kolb could be demonstrative after he made a bad throw. He looked to be pressing a little bit. However, by the end of OTAs, Kolb seemed very much in control of his emotions.
Overall, he took a solid – albeit a very small – first step. Training camp and the preseason are next.
Michael Vick, meanwhile, was a mixed bag. There were times he would amaze with a tightly thrown 50-yard bull's-eye and there were times when he would woefully misfire on a quick, 5-yard out. If Kolb were to ever get hurt, there is no way Vick could run the same offense because he is nowhere near as accurate. I envision an offense similar to the one Donovan McNabb ran in his first two seasons as the Eagles starter.
Mike Kafka, obviously, still has a lot to learn. He’s a quick thinker and is effective with all the short, timing throws. But his arm strength just isn’t there yet. He’ll have a season as the third QB to watch and observe.
Makes the cut (3): Kolb, Vick and Kafka. Cut: None.
Running back: As Andy Reid likes to remind us, spring workouts are pretty much passing camps. So the running backs don’t get much work carrying the ball during 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 drills. With Brian Westbrook gone, LeSean McCoy moves to the forefront. He did a nice job of getting into the gym in the off-season and looks as if he might have cut down on the fast food. A late ankle injury curtailed his repetitions, but there is no threat to his first team standing.
Mike Bell has the second spot pretty much sewn up. The most important thing he needed to do during the spring was show that he could secure the ball when thrown to. He did. Weaver keeps plugging along. Rookie Charles Scott looks nimble enough for 238 pounds. He should be beat out Eldra Buckley for that last spot even though Buckley brings it on special teams. Martell Mallett, the former CFL star, looks destined to the practice squad.
Makes the cut (4): McCoy, Bell, Weaver and Scott. Cut: Buckley, Mallett and Dwayne Wright.
Wide receiver: I can’t say for sure why DeSean Jackson didn’t attend the last week of OTAs, but it seems like a move straight out of the Drew Rosenhaus playbook. Jeremy Maclin had a great camp. He’s a very determined camper. Don’t be surprised if he pulls down more receptions that Jackson this season. Jason Avant is a pro. I have the last two spots going to the big guys – 6-4 Hank Baskett and 6-3 Riley Cooper. “Hands” Baskett will make the gameday roster because of his special teams contributions. Cooper will have to settle for hanging on the sidelines. Dobson Collins, Jordan Norwood and Chad Hall could make an NFL roster elsewhere. They’ll have to settle for the practice squad here unless someone comes calling.
Makes the cut (5): Jackson, Maclin, Avant, Baskett and Riley Cooper. Cut: Collins, Norwood, Hall, Kevin Jurovich and Blue Cooper.
Tight end: Brent Celek has cemented himself as the leader on offense, aside, of course, from Kolb. The quarterback-tight end duo was in sync all spring and had some predicting a 100-reception season for the fourth-year pro. That’ll be difficult with so many receiving options, but Celek is guaranteed at least 75 catches. Cornelius Ingram proved that he could run on his twice ACL-torn knee. Now he has to show he can catch like he used to. He had a case of butterfingers the last couple weeks of practice. Clay Harbor is a worker. He’s got good hands and could take Ingram’s backup spot if he proves to be a better blocker.
Makes the cut (3): Celek, Ingram and Harbor. Cut: Martin Rucker.
Offensive line: I wish I could say I learned a lot about the rookie offensive linemen, but there isn’t much in the way of information during the spring. They run through o-line coach Juan Castillo’s assortment of drills, take in his vociferous instruction and stand idly through much of team drills. The most disconcerting thing to come from this unit was a recurrence of guard Todd Herremans’ left foot woes. With center Jamaal Jackson unlikely to be back by the opener and with Stacy Andrews still one giant, multi-million dollar question mark, Herremans’ injury is a cause for concern.
Max Jean-Gilles filled in for Herremans at left guard, and he looks significantly thinner after his lap band surgery, but he’s still a below average pass blocker. Nick Cole is the stopgap at center, but the Eagles would have really liked to have seen Mike McGlynn claim that spot. I don’t see much to indicate that will be the case. King Dunlap bulked up, but he’s still awkward and makes for a scary proposition as the third tackle. But who else do the Eagles have there? Maybe Fenuki Tupou, but he’s at guard right now. Maybe it’s one of the undrafted rookies, Jerail McCuller or Austin Howard. Who knows at this point?
Makes the cut (9): Jason Peters, Herremans, Jackson, Andrews, Winson Justice, Cole, Tupou, Dunlap, McGlynn. Cut: Jean-Gilles, Dallas Reynolds, A.Q. Shipley, Zipp Duncan, Howard, McCuller and Greg Isdaner.
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I see the Eagles in panic mode by October because : A) Kolb will get pounded and end up on IR because of Reid's pass crazy tendencies, he won't escape like MacNabb could and B) Nobody will respect the Eagles defense and decide to run the ball 60 % of the time or more.— MJPD345- tacklinjoe: You can't think of an Eagles' o-line this questionable back to 1991? How about every Eagles o-line from 1991-1998?— p-diddy
- I don't have a good felling about this squad; Too many question marks on the O-Line; Defense is also iffy. Lots can change between now and Sept 12; I hope the front office makes some good moves bewtween now and then.— StJames888
- remember kolb is a great leader..he led a division in the civil war the war of 1812 and the vikings over the gauls and..he will be out of the line-up before mid season and vick will take over the qb position. don't look for bradley to be around long either.— only 9
- Isn't there anyway Reid can get injured???????
- Hank will contribute to special teams? The Colts are still waiting...— 5280philly
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- Any organization that sits and looks at it's possible roster for the upcoming season, AND, look at the scheduled games this season, and would then trade their Pro Bowl quarterback to their rival down the street...could not possibly surprise you. I don't care about low throws, high throws or throwin' up, we had a Pro Bowl QB! I mean, is it me or what? Anyone that looked at our possible roster the day before McNabb got traded could in all reason say that this was a Super Bowl contending team. But management decided, I guess, that that was not what they wanted. So in the space of a day we went from a Bowl contending team to an also-ran. Unbelievable...I'm sorry, I'm just venting a little...— phillyboy88
- Will Neutron post a comment thats actually about football, or continue to worry about a qb thats not here anymore because it allows him to whine about race in his oh so subtle way?— anthonyaccurate
- Nice analysis - enjoyed the projections.
With player-for-player trades being so uncommon in the NFL, it looks like we're stuck with these O-linemen, unless some decent options get cut loose closer to the start of the season.— jpk- Comment removed.
I want to be the one who hikes the ball to Kevin.
