Who makes the cut: Offensive line
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Who makes the cut: Offensive line
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
We start our journey on the offensive line where there are fewer questions than a year ago when Howard Mudd remade the group. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a little haze after the starting five.
LIKELY TO KEEP: 8-9.
WHO STAYS: Demetress Bell, King Dunlap, Todd Herremans, Jason Kelce, Dennis Kelly, Evan Mathis, Justin Vandervelde, Danny Watkins.
WHO GOES: Mike Gibson, D.J. Jones, Alfred McCullough, Dallas Reynolds, Steve Vallos, Brandon Washington, Thomas Welch.
If they can, the Eagles will keep only eight offensive linemen. I think that’s the number because whoever is the backup interior lineman will also be asked to swing at both guard positions and center. That is essentially the one spot up for grabs and it looks like any one of four could claim it. I’m going with Vandervelde – a 2011 fifth round pick -- right now, although I could change my mind when I select a final 53. The second-year linemen did not play well in the preseason opener, so he has to show something over the next two weeks. His competition – especially Dallas Reynolds – did not fare so well either against the Steelers. Reynolds has been taking most of the repetitions with the second team at center, but he hasn’t come close to putting a stamp on the spot. Gibson and Vallos have more experience than either and could leap ahead of both, but they haven’t really stood out yet. This battle still has a ways to go.
Kelly is a project, but the Eagles like what they see so far. He’ll remain on the roster. Dunlap is currently starting at left tackle, but I think the Eagles will likely work Bell back up to the first team by the opener. Dunlap is a versatile backup having started at both tackle spots and left guard in the NFL. It’s tough to get a read on Washington. He’s been out for a while with a concussion. He looks destined for the practice squad.
- LOL!!! IT IS CARL WILSON-LIKE. WE JUST HAVE TO HOPE THAT HE IS NOT SINGING "HELP ME WATKINS" DURING PASS PLAYS THIS SEASON. "HELP ME WATKINS, HELP, HELP ME WATKINS..."
— bedpan - Peters injury was just a killer and they didn't address OL at all during draft, while loading up way too much on DLINE for only being able to play/ keep maybe 8 guys.— friedmozzarela
- they are porous, cant run block and cannot protect Michae.....Dunlap, a weak backup and too slow is the starter....but that makes michael feel good....after Todd, a good player, and Kelsce, a mybe at best, the rest are just cannon fodder and are hear because we wont spend money on anyone good....— nuggett
- THEM CALLING THIS O LINE "solid" IS AN INSULT TO THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE FANS THAT KNOW THE REALITY (VERY WELL DESCRIBED BY YOU AND HEELYEAH). — bedpan
- Pretty good, but thin.— tr88
- CENTER CAUSES QB TO LEAVE GAME DUE TO INJURY AND STARTING LT IS BENCHED. HOW CAN YOU SAY "pretty good"??? — bedpan
- Syddan26,Mike Vick has only been here three years out of Andy Reid's 14 year tenure. If you are holding Vick accountable for three years who is responsible for the eleven years he was not here? Regardless of who the QB is I will root for them to win that ever elusive SB !!!— Eaglehaslanded
- Sigh..... I would say 75% of the Eagle's fans are morons. Led by bedpan. The name fits the person.— Spider Rico
- BUT, 100% OF WHAT WE WRITE IS ACCURATE. — bedpan
Um guys, The Eagles offensive line was ranked #8 in the NFL last season. That's pretty solid since there are 31 other offensive lines. Please do your research before you post non sense. You can easily be discredited by someone who actually researches the issue. Not to mention you make yourselves look like total idiots. The loss of Peters does hurt but the Eagles will be fine. The left side is Vick's strong side so he should see what's coming. The real issue is McCoy. He gained most of his yards on the left side. Guys don't gain 1300 yards rushing behind a line that isn't solid.- "The loss of Peters does hurt but the Eagles will be fine." AND, YOU KNOW THIS BASED ON WHAT??? BASED ON THE BENCHING OF THE STARTING LT??? COME ON TN USE YOUR HEAD. THIS IS NOW A DIFFERENT O LINE FROM LAST SEASON. — bedpan
- "make yourselves look like total idiots"
"After a rookie season that had its ups and downs, it was somewhat refreshing to hear Jason Kelce speak with such honesty that his pass protection was the area of his game most needing work. This study confirms it, with Kelce ranking lowest of all centers in the league after giving up33 combined sacks, hits and hurries. That was 10 more than the next-worst center (J.D. Walton) and while it came on 651 snaps in pass protection (third highest of all centers), it’s still a number that is far too high for any player at that position."
"Quarterbacks hate push up the middle because it prevents them from stepping up into throws"
Dunlap isnt a starting tackle, hes very slow, its the truth
Bell isnt any better
Todd Herremans was a good guard, but mediocre tackle
Danny Watkins is a poor guard
i dont care what some "idiot" writes about o-line ranking #8, the o-line we have is not good
— r_u_kidding_me - GREAT POINTS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR FACTS AND LOGIC WILL JUST DRAW THE IRE OF THE KOOL-AID DRINKING TOADIES THAT REFUSE TO ACCEPT FACTS AND LOGIC. — bedpan
- --TNE- – You HAVE to stop answering to this guy - PLEASE. You’re encouraging an already incorrigible vapite -- which on any level is just CRAZY.
I think of him as the Rick Moranis character in the movie Ghost Busters; running around the dinner party introducing everyone, while explaining what they do [for a living] and how they met one another! The kid’s hysterical seriously.
— Laughingaloud123 - This comment has been deleted.— LJ14
