Who makes the cut: Offensive line
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Who makes the cut: Offensive line
Jeff McLane
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.
"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
- I agree bedpan, Im not sold on Kelce as an NFL starter, Jamal Jackson was a good starting lineman in this league and you just dont send him packing. Kelce could not make the o-line calls last yr ( which gave vick the added responsibility of doing Kelce's job ) I watched him struggle ( getting movement on the DT ) in short yardage situations.
I watched him get manhandled by Cowboys NT Jay Ratliff in both games vs Dallas— chalton harley - 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
- bt he couldn't fully do his job, MAKE THE O-LINE CALLS — chalton harley
- Jim Morrison is alive and well wearing #62— ghost78
- No, I think its Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys — watsonmr
