Who Makes The Cut: Cornerback
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Who Makes The Cut: Cornerback
Jeff McLane
The Eagles will encounter tough decisions when determining their 53-man roster. During the next two weeks, The Inquirer's Eagles beat writers will try our best to predict who stays and who goes. The NFL deadline for teams to trim rosters from 90 to 80 is Aug. 27. Final cuts are due by 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
LIKELY TO KEEP: 5-6.
WHO STAYS: Nnamdi Asomugha, Brandon Boykin, Joselio Hanson, Curtis Marsh, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
WHO GOES: Cliff Harris, Brandon Hughes, Trevard Lindley, Kevin Thomas.
Generally, the Eagles keep only five cornerbacks. Last year, they kept six for most of the season. Why? Well, the reason can be found in Atlanta this season. So it’s probably back to five for the 2012 season. Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie are your starters. It’s still difficult to get a read on how much they will man-press this season, but the departure of Asante Samuel will allow both to play at their natural spots and do at least a little more of what they do best.
Curtis Marsh, who is entering his second season, is the third outside corner. The Eagles say they like their 2011 third-round draft pick. It’s difficult to say if he's any good. He’s played only a handful of snaps in the NFL. He’ll be on the roster, though. Rookie Brandon Boykin has already sewn up the kick return job. He’s the nickel corner of the future. Is the future now? It doesn’t appear that it is just yet. Hanson has taken every snap with the first team. He’s looked solid. Boykin has a greater ceiling, but I think the Eagles don’t want to put too much on the rookie’s plate. So Hanson will make the team, even though a year ago he was released on cut-down day only to be signed several days later.
If the Eagles keep six Hughes would have the edge. He can play both inside and out and has game experience. Thomas came a few weeks ago in a trade with the Colts. I still don’t know what to make of his chances, however slim they are.
Harris raised some eyebrows with his play early in camp. The physical skills are there. But an ankle sidelined him for a week or so and the buzz has quelled probably enough that the Eagles can hide him on the practice squad this season.
As a side note any one else enjoy seeing Asante get toasted on that 54 yard TD last night?
I like Harris from what I saw and hope they keep him on the team. Marsh has shown nothing and that is troubling.— connorjr- good call Mclane. Eagles kept six last year without any being used in full time kick returner position. I can see six again.— dragoon6
- Asante will be missed. There is a reason why teams don't throw his way. The guy is one of the top db's ever.— mlaw
- Eagles - Asante = addition by subtraction. He is still a sucker for the double move because all he likes to do is jump routes and pad his interception totals. He got burnt badly by AJ Green for a TD. He was beat earlier in the game but the ball was under thrown with the receiver well behind him. Overpaid trash talker who, in the words of Bednarik, " couldn't tackle my Aunt Rose". Good riddance.— mortt1956
- Bye Bye Asante !!— dmanphilly
- mlaw - That is one of the funniest posts ever. Unless of course you were serious. And obviously you weren't...right?— cbanger
- I agree with mlaw - Asante was one of the biggest DBs ever.— dragoon6
- Harris better get back out there before he is toast. I don't see how they cut Hughes, personally.— Paul SoTX
- Mlaw maybe didn't watch Asante get burned the usual way -- a double move by Green last night. The whole NFL knows you can do that. Otherwise, he's a good corner, great ballhawk.
I'm with Paul. You've got to find a way to keep Hughes. And I would like them to keep Harris somehow, see if he matures, though I don't see how he clears waivers. You just can't have too many good cornerbacks. 8 games into the season, Asomugha, DRC, and Hansen could all be injured.— armchairGM - If I were the GM, Asomugha would be waived. His better days are long past. He wasn't good last year and is feigning injury now. Go with DRC, Hughes, Boykin, Hanson, Marsh, and Harris.— tbird
- @tbird: what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this comment forum is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.— Eddy123
- Hughes is probably better than Marsh, but Marsh was a high draft pick.— watsonmr
- Keep Hughes & Harris, not Marsh or Hanson. Marsh hasn't shown anything & we've already seen enough of Hanson to know what he has.
Eddy123: brutally funny, dude!— yobill626 - I don't see why a talented player who was playing himself on the team should be left off because of a minor, temporary injury. Seems short-sighted to me. I hope he makes it, because it could come back to haunt the Eagles if he doesn't.— conceptual_bro
- Keep Harris, Marsh, Hughes and Lindley have shown what they cand o in real games which is not much !!!— Eaglehaslanded
