Who Makes the Cut: CB
Our eight-day look at who makes the Eagles’ 53-man roster continues today with a gander at cornerback (Defensive end, offensive line and running back have already been tackled).
Who Makes the Cut: CB
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Our eight-day look at who makes the Eagles’ 53-man roster continues today with a gander at cornerback (Defensive end, offensive line and running back have already been tackled).
A year ago the Eagles carried only five cornerbacks, two of whom split starts at right cornerback and are now gone. Ellis Hobbs has retired and Dimitri Patterson we’ll get to see tonight alongside another former Eagles cornerback in Sheldon Brown when the Eagles host the Browns. What a difference a year makes. Cornerback has become the team’s deepest position after two high-profile moves, giving the Eagles some flexibility in case they need to make a trade to fill holes at some other key spots.
First cuts come Tuesday when the 90-man roster is pared down to 80. Final cuts are on Sept. 3.
Likely to keep: 5-6.
Locks: Signed to a five-year, $60 million contract, Nnamdi Asomugha will start at right cornerback – just an minor upgrade over the Hobbs-Patterson combo former defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was dealt. As impressive as the Kevin Kolb-for-Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie-and-a-second-round-draft-pick trade was, it has lost some of its luster with Rodgers-Cromartie no longer starting and mostly playing the nickel. He’ll be involved often, but in retrospect the Eagles may have been better off addressing a position of need, like linebacker, if they truly had Asomugha in their sights. Some believed the Eagles would plug another hole by trading Asante Samuel after Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie were brought aboard. But he’s staying at left cornerback.
Near lock: Rookie Curtis Marsh is a virtually guaranteed a spot on the roster. A third-round draft pick the Eagles aren’t going to give up on the corner after a promising training camp. That being said, Marsh still has lots to learn and will occupy a low spot on the depth chart.
Bubble: Joselio Hanson has become a mainstay on the Eagles defense, handling nickel duties now for more than four seasons. But the Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie acquisitions make the 30-year-old expendable. The hot rumor has Hanson being dealt to the Panthers to be reunited with McDermott. That’s possible, but Hanson is at this point more reliable in the slot that Rodgers-Cromartie, who has never played there before. Plucked from the Giants’ practice squad last season, Brandon Hughes could make life miserable for Trevard Lindley. He’s playing at a higher level, but the Eagles have more invested in Lindley, who they drafted in the fourth round a year ago.
Gone: Jorrick Calvin primarily handled kick returns last season but his value has been diminished by the new kickoff placement rule. Jamar Wall has been injured most of camp. Isaiah Trufant is short.
Nice way to stretch out a one day article into 8 days. Its not as if you have anything to say that just about everyone doesn't already know. See Sheil Kapadia and Tommy Lawler.— izzylangfan
- He looks like the predator. — shamburg82
- That's one heck of a conclusion to you're article there Jeff. "Isaiah Trufant is short. The end."— shamburg82
- If Hughes is playing better than Lindley, and the coaches feel he'll still be better than Lindley in two years, then Lindley being a 4th rounder shouldn't mean a thing.
I think the coaches are looking at Asomugha, DRC, and Marsh as the trio of the future. Samuel will be gone in a year or two. Marsh is a better tackler and DRC has more speed.— armchairGM 
Comment removed.- Samuel has a high cap number of course and Hanson has 2.4 mill or so. Hanson was making more than Brown and Sheppard, reason for there disgruntledness. If you read other articles on this website you would know this already. Why pay your dime corner that much. More has been said of Hughes than Lindley. Phillip, below, confirms this. Jeff probably should have said more about Trufant, but there's not really much of a point. — beerflow
- Whatsthe411 -- quick answers: Lindley can't be on the practice squad this year because he was on the active roster last year. Hanson's contract is a factor in keeping him, especially if they want to re-up Vick and DeSean. Hanson makes about $2 million per. Lindley and Hughes make short money. He deduced Hughes is ahead of Lindley because Hughes gets in to the preseason games before Lindley. Done and done.— Phillip?
- Keep them all...and make it work....after all Jim Johnson would make it work.....now lets see if offensive line coach, turned defensive coordianator and lap dog for AR is really smart or just another yes man...— nuggett
Mail it in McClane...that's his name.
how can you now belittle the trade for DRC, and a pick for Kolb...address another position with the trade? how so? Arizona didn't have any MLB depth--hell they signed stewart bradley--if you make a comment then please explain the comment. Were there other offers for Kolb for a MLB or are you just speculating a bunch of BS?- They should trade Samuel and get a linebacker or RT, But since that makes too much sense, and Reid is much smarter than us, it won't happen.— ej610
- Comment removed.
- Either you don't watch football, or you just aren't well versed on the game. Otherwise, you would understand that Samuel is one of THE BEST CBs in all of football. Go ahead with the "poor tackler, bites on pump fakes" BS, bottom line the guy is a playmaker. He has more INTs in the last 5-7 years than any other CB in the NFL, which prompted one player from the AFC last week to state "Samuel could very well be the best player on the Eagles Defense". Trading him would be a horrible mistake, and unlikely, since the teams with solid depth at MLB that MAY be willing to trade also don't have pressing CB needs. — Plaxidental Shooting
- Sorry, Fathead, that above post was directed at ej610, who says the team should trade Samuel. My B — Plaxidental Shooting
