Who makes the roster: Defensive tackle
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Who makes the roster: Defensive tackle
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Yesterday’s post teased to today’s look at who makes the 53-man roster at the quarterback and specialist positions. But there’s no fun in predicting the cuts in those areas because, well, there aren’t going to be any cuts.
So before we get to shoot fish in a barrel, here’s a summation of how things look at …
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
For the fourth straight season, Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley will be the Eagles’ starting defensive tackles. In this day and age, that’s an eternity. There was some off-season clamoring that the Eagles should get a defensive tackle, particularly one that can pass rush. But with Patterson and Bunkley more than serviceable in stopping in the run and the Eagles more and more comfortable moving their ends inside on passing downs, it wasn’t a move necessary for the team’s defensive scheme.
There’s also the possibility that the Eagles have a pass-rushing tackle already on their roster. Trevor Laws came with that tag when the Eagles drafted him in the second round two years ago. He’ll tell you to this day that he prefers getting after quarterbacks more than run stopping. But youth, injuries, and perhaps motivation, stunted Laws’ growth.
He came into this camp, however, healthy and seemingly rededicated and looked to be both early on. His effort eventually landed him on the first team nickel defense. But he seemed to tail off as camp broke and hasn’t done much in the first two preseason games. As a result, rookie ends Brandon Graham and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim have been the nickel tackles.
Graham is probably a sure bet to keep that spot, but Te’o-Nesheim isn’t and Laws could easily find his way back. Before camp he was one of the names being tossed around as the possible annual surprise cut, but he’s probably done enough to stick around, and being a second-round pick probably gives him one more year of grace.
Antonio Dixon was a pleasant surprise last year as an undrafted rookie. He was gassed by the end of the season, but hit the gym in the off-season and lost about 10 pounds. A mid-camp concussion kept him on the sidelines for an extended period, but the Eagles know what they have in Dixon and that’s a tackle that clogs running lanes.
Rookie Jeff Owens appears to be below the cut line with the Eagles normally taking just four tackles. He showed that he could get by guards in one-on-one drills during camp But he has had trouble transferring that skill to game time when you can’t just pin your ears back and rush.
It’s not outside the realm of possibilities that the Eagles keep five tackles, but I think they’ll cut Owens and try and keep him on the practice squad for the time being.
Keeps the playbook: Patterson, Bunkley, Laws and Dixon.
On the bubble: Owens.
Call your agent: Boo Robinson.
QUARTERBACK
Keeps the playbook: Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick and Mike Kafka.
On the bubble: None.
Call your agent: None.
SPECIALISTS
Keeps the playbook: kicker David Akers, punter Sav Rocca and long snapper Jon Dorenbos.
On the bubble: None.
Call your agent: None.
Tomorrow: defensive end.
oline = playoffs- i have a fantasy that the eagles play with 5 d-linemen and sometimes drop 1 in zone. ends that play tackle, tackles that play end, linebackers that play line, etc... they have so much versatility...— juggadore
- Bunkley, Patterson, and Dixon -- all very important. Hopefully Laws and Owens will both come on strong.— tacklinjoe
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Defense in the NFL is more about athletic versatility than specific guys playing specific positions.
- We are screwed.— kozykoz26
How does Dorenbos keep a roster spot every year? How on earth can we not train one of those guys how to snap? Does Dorenbos have just have the perfect physical assets for the long snapping position? I find it extremely hard to think that these coaches can't coach up a Fenuki Tupuo or even Jeff Owens to learn how to long snap. Actually T'eo would seem to make a pretty good candidate. It just doesn't seem that we should use a roster spot for a guy that is essentially a role player on upwards of 5 plays a game.— Skohr
I say the eagles go heavy on the d line and keep 5 defensive tackles. Patterson and Bunkley are locks and then the eagles keep Laws, Dixon and Jeff Owens. Jeff Owens is too good of a player to cut and he was the strongest defensive tackle in the whole draft. He was stronger than suh and mccoy so the eagles cant cut him.— briandawkins20- A bit dismissive of Boo Robinson, who had a strong game against Jax and has a shot at the PS.— ian no. 2
- Why the hell does bunkley have to wear a net on his head? Trying to hid his bald spots? Excuse me, but Laws looked like a monster against the Bengals durning the time he played Fridy night. They gave his sack to Brandon. Look at the replay and see Laws take the feet out from under Palmer before Graham arrived. Jay_Grace, another great post, poetic.— JACK V
- Skohr I take your point, there are a number of guys on the bubble that we'd like to see make the team and succeed but the last time we tried ad-libbing (or 'coaching up') at a '5-play-a-game' spot.. we couldn't field a punt.— UKEagle
- Skohr and UK ask the Gints and coach Fassel about not having a dedicated long snapper. Its just one of those things you have to have.— gobirds17
- eldiablodelsol2009, i realize this is not a political blog (you should as well) but if we're going to look at incompetent white house administrations, why dont we look at the current one. The administration that pushes its agenda through no matter what the majority of the country wants. The administration that would blame children to make themselves look good. The idiot that can't take responsibility for anything he does and blames everything on Bush, while since he signed that ridiculous stimulus package has lost over 2.5 million jobs, even though he promised it would create 3.5 million. open your eyes, you dont have to watch MSNBC or CNN and just nod at what they say.— NObama2012
- Laws is too slow to be a passrusher and too small to be a D.T. the ultimate tweener, there for perfect for ANdy. For Christ sakes, why doesn't Andy just start drafting form other sports!
