Who makes the cut: Offensive line
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.
Who makes the cut: Offensive line
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Veterans Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans lead a solid offensive line for the Eagles. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)
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.
Comments (60)
"solid offensive line"????? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???? CENTER GETS PUSHED BACK INTO QB WHO IS FORCED TO LEAVE GAME. STARTING LT IS BENCHED. YOU OBVIOUSLY DID NOT WATCH THE FIRST PRE-SEASON GAME.— bedpan- LOL!!! ACTUALLY SAW RUNYAN AT CAMP 2 WEEKS AGO. HE DIDN'T LOOK THAT BAD. — bedpan
- So you base your opinion on a couple of plays from the first pre-season game? Every team in the league would be horrible if that was the basis? You are a moron with the football knowledge of a flea, but hay just post 12 times on each article and maybe folks will confuse volume for intellect. Dope — DogBiscuitthedope
- BUT, COMPARED TO YOU, I'M A GENIUS. ALSO, STOP EATING THE EAGLE DOG BISCUITS AND BE A MAN. — bedpan
- It doesn't matter who plays offensive line for the Eagles. As long as Mike "Dynasty" Vick is the Eagles' starting QB, they will never win a Super Bowl. The truth hurts.— syddan26
- bedpan I don't like all the caps or the delivery but what you are saying is right. I agree.
Last year Kelce was the worst pass protectors of all starting Cs in the league over the last three years. If people want to say that he was learning, well, his performance actually dropped during the second half of the season. And yes our LT pickup was demoted. That is not good at all.
As for the rest of the line. Herremans had a very average year last year and Watkins is very promising but still learning. Meanwhile Evan Mathis is our best lineman and this is a guy who's been very average and injury-ridden historically. Not solid at all.
No team can compete for regular season wins much less the playoffs if their QB is constantly running for his life. Pressure up the middle is even worse. When your QB is getting knocked down by DTs in his face then your QB is more likely to sustain injury.
The only hope is that Mudd is so good of a coach that he has his line performing well. Otherwise the predictions of Eagles success this year are overblown. We not only have a potentially terrible O line but a defense clearly led by a DLine coach who runs a defense that bleeds ball carriers and TEs running up the middle. Our only chance to see anything at all is Monday night against the Pats.— HeelYes - DON'T CARE FOR YOUR USE OF LOWER CASE TEXT (DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS WORKS FOR ME THOUGH). BUT, YOUR ASSESSMENT AND CONCLUSIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY SPOT-ON TARGET. PLUS, GREAT POINT ON KELCE (THE WORST PASS BLOCKING CENTER OVER PAST 3 SEASONS) I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT RANKING BY THOSE GUYS AT PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS. — bedpan
- JUST READ R U KIDDINGS' COMMENT BELOW. KELCE IS NOT A "solid" CENTER. MAYBE IN 3 OR 4 YEARS WHO KNOWS. BUT NOT NOW. — bedpan
- Jim Morrison is alive and well wearing #62— ghost78
- No, I think its Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys — watsonmr
- 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
- LJ14, THE FOLKS AT PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS GRADED KELCE TO BE THE WORST PASS BLOCKING CENTER IN THE NFL OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS. KELCE'S GRADE (FOR HIS PLAY IN 2011) WAS THE WORST GRADE OF ALL OF THE CENTERS THAT PLAYED FOR ALL OF THE NFL TEAMS DURING 2009, 2010 AND 2011. YOU JUST NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I WROTE. AND, I USED LARGE TYPE FACE TO ASSIST WITH YOUR COMPREHENSION. NOW, I KNOW THAT THINKING MAY BE A NOVEL CONCEPT FOR YOU. BUT, TRY IT. YOU JUST MIGHT LIKE IT. — bedpan
- King cant play like a queen this year— blueye7
- TNEaglesFan, some yearend reports had Eagles Oline ranked in the top 5. However for this year, Peters is missing so they will have a drop off.— watsonmr
- JUST AS YOU WROTE, THERE "will be a drop off". NOW, BASED ON WHAT WE SAW VS. PITT. (LOSS OF STARTING QB), THAT DROP OFF IS IMMENSE AND POTENTIALLY CATACLYSMIC. — bedpan
- I believe it's Julian Vandervelde— t4tuck
- The line played great last year, Kelce pushed Ratliff all over the field and he is supposed to be a Pro Bowl Nose Tackle. Herremanns had a very good year, and so did Mathis. The only concern is or Peters, who was really good, and they will miss him for sure. The Vick injury was a freak accident that could have happened to anybody. Seriously, they O-line was very good last season while starting two rookies. Of course experience will help those guys.— Paul SoTX
- Birds go 10-6 and get to the second round of the playoffs. Nick Foles is your quarterback next year. Why all the negativity??— athousandgods
- WELL, THEY SHOULD GET 5 WINS AT LEAST WITH OUT EVEN BREAKING A SWEAT. COWGIRLS, SKINS AND BROWNS ARE ALL HORRIFIC. ITS ALL OF THE OTHER GAMES THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE. — bedpan
- this is crazy, and its only b/c the coaches so often also have bad judgment you may be right.
first of all, when have the eagles EVER only kept 8 O-linemen?
secondly dennis kelly is a joke, the one bad pick this draft. practice squad at best. no one should lose a spot to him.
washington should make it, but his injuries have made him a question mark.
i have it as 9 to 10, and it goes: dunlap, bell, mathis, kelce, watkins, herremans, with these 4 then should be the guys: gibson, VV, washington, vallos. (reynolds might get in there for one of these guys, depending on how they feel about kelce staying healthy, but if its only 9, vallos is likely out)— Mr.Sinatra - I didn't know Justin Vandervelde plays for the Eagles. There's a guy named JULIAN VANDERVELDE who does.— TommyGunn
- TOMMYG, AND I MEAN THIS IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, COMMENT POSTERS LIKE YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NFL THEN THE GUYS THAT ARE GETTING PAID TO COVER THE TEAM. — bedpan
- I don't know whether that is sarcasm or not haha. But I do believe that a journalist should at the very least get the names of the subjects he is writing about correct. — TommyGunn
- I think its Julian Vanderlay, Arts brother, who's agent is George Costanza.— watsonmr
- I'll agree with Mr. Sinatra. They picked Kelly for a reason, but he's coming along slowly. Keep Washington, who'll play four positions eventually. Vandervelde, Reynolds, and Gibson look like a toss-up.— armchairGM
- good one bedpan, needed a laugh.— camasbud
- WITH THE TEAM BEING SO MISMANAGED BY LAURIE/REID AND THE GUYS PAID TO COVER THE TEAM BEING BARELY COMPETENT, THERE ISN'T MUCH A FAN CAN DO BUT HAVE A LAUGH OR TWO. YOU KNOW THINGS ARE BAD WHEN SOME OF THE COMMENTERS (E,G., CHARLIEGARNER, NUGGET, GUYGUY, SEWELL, AVGWHTGUY, BABY GORILLA AND A FEW OTHERS) KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NFL THEN TEAM MANAGEMENT AND THE PAID SCRIBES. — bedpan
- bedpan=moron— DogBiscuitthedope
- DogBiscuitthedope < MORON. STOP EATING THE GREEN DOG BISCUITS AND BE A MAN!!!! — bedpan
- And where have you gone Winston Justice.— watsonmr
- Soem of you need to get a life ... so do I if I read your idiotic comments ...— petergou
- That beard gives Kelce an extra 10 pounds and helps obscure the view of D-linemen.— urbnasty
- #62 Jeremiah Johnson— cm3737
- Pre Season games???— dwilly
- I need to see Vick get the ball out quicker on the blitz. I'd also like to see a hurry-up package installed that he can call at certain points in the game. This would help the O-line a lot. It doesn't help that Vick is only 6' tall. He has trouble seeing the whole field, misses open receivers, and gets too many balls batted. Left tackle is a problem. If King Dunlap is the best the Eagles can do at LT, they are in trouble.— cletisvandam
- Most guys do the roster in one article. But you guys are so devoid of good article ideas that you have to stretch it out for two weeks. Shel Kapadia who was the only really good writer you had has already written two articles - each projecting the whole 53 man roster. He will do this several more times before the final cuts are made. I guess there is some institutional reason why the newspaper writers are so inferior to the bloggers. Why don't you write an article as to the reasons for that. It would be interesting, I think to a lot of your readers.— izzylangfan
- --izzy- - Got to disagree with you here; this year the roster position battles are so tight (and competitive) that it’s nice to see them broken out and nuanced for folks to read in detail. I haven’t had a chance to watch as much of the Training Camp footage as I would have liked, so to read up on the individual battles that are taking place daily is a plus.
Don’t know if you’ve had a chance to catch any of the news on the Giants’ D-Line troubles, but they are decimated along their front D-Line – Love that! So our choices at DT/DE could matter within our own division. I do however miss Shel.
— Laughingaloud123 - Reading every word in caps is annoying. Capping some words for emphasis, like TommyGunn did, is appropriate.— P Even
- i predict our o-line will be number 1 this year just you wait and see— forbes_rory
- Not in love with kelce, mathis is only here because danny watkins can't play...this line is in trouble from what i have seen. at least foles can take a hit, maybe a bit of foreshadowing during the pats game.— otown philly fan
How does your offensive line CONSTANTLY keep your qb off the field and in the training room and still be considered a good line. How do these clowns keep their jobs? Because Jason Peters can block and Mac Truck and Lesean McCoy is a cross between Barry Sanders and Ricky Watters? The interior of our line stinks. And the only guy who can block on a consistent basis is Herremann. Tired of hearing about how good this line is and most of Vick's injuries come IN THE POCKET.— Zeru- +1— HeelYes
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Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Jeff McLane
Inquirer Staff Writer
Zach Berman
Inquirer Staff Writer
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