Philadelphia Eagles: Breaking Down Final Roster and Week 1 Starters
Eight months have passed since head coach Chip Kelly assumed the reins of all Philadelphia Eagles personnel decisions. With Week 1 finally approaching, it's time to see whether the experiment will pay off.
Many of Kelly's moves have been controversial. Others have merely been surprising. At the very least, he oversaw a sweeping overhaul of the roster, with as many as 10 new starters expected to take the field for the Eagles on opening day.
The transactions have been debated ad nauseam, but up until now, we didn't know for sure how the 53-man roster and starting lineup would ultimately shake out.
With a September 14 Monday-night showdown looming with the Atlanta Falcons, it's time to break down exactly what Kelly has given himself to work with.
Quarterback
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Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Stephen Morris
Despite the fact that he hasn't appeared in a meaningful game in 22 months, Bradford's stock hasn't been higher since being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2010.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick only saw the field for four series during the preseason, yet in that brief time, he demonstrated why Kelly was willing to take a chance on him. Hopes are sky-high in Philadelphia right now.
Should Bradford succumb to another injury, Sanchez is a capable backup.
According to PhiladelphiaEagles.com's Alex Smith, the team added Morris to the mix as a developmental quarterback after cuts were made. He spent all of his rookie season on the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad.
Running Back
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DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, Kenjon Barner
While most observers expect Murray to handle the bulk of the ball-carrying duties for the Eagles, the 2014 NFL rushing champion may be sharing the load.
That's because Mathews is a fellow Pro Bowler and two-time 1,000-yard back, and a more even distribution between the two would allow both to stay fresh. It truly could be more of a 1A/1B situation on the depth chart.
Naturally, Sproles will get some touches as well, although the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane reported that he's been getting more work as a wide receiver this summer, so expect his receptions to rise.
It's difficult to see how Barner fits in barring injury, but he made the roster in part on the strength of his excellent punt return abilities.
Wide Receiver
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Jordan Matthews, Riley Cooper, Josh Huff, Nelson Agholor, Miles Austin, Seyi Ajirotutu
The Eagles deploy three wide receivers the majority of the time, which means that even though Matthews is still lining up in the slot for the most part, he'll be on the field a ton. If this summer serves as any indication, the second-year wideout is clearly the feature receiver and appears to be headed for a breakout season.
Interestingly enough, Cooper and Huff worked as the starters throughout training camp, yet it may be only a matter of time before Agholor—a first-round selection—overtakes one of them.
With the veteran Austin hanging around, it seems there's going to be a rotation of sorts regardless.
Ajirotutu doesn't offer much as a pass-catching threat, but he was brought to Philly for his ace special teams contributions.
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Tight End
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Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, Trey Burton
Momentum was growing for Ertz to make a big leap forward and possibly surpass Celek on the depth chart, but injury derailed those hopes. The 2013 second-round pick missed the entirety of preseason and didn't get a chance to showcase his improved blocking ability, which is the only thing that would bounce the 10-year veteran out of a starting job.
Burton is an intriguing prospect who can line up all over the formation. The second-year tight end didn't see much action on offense in his rookie year but made waves on special teams, and he should have a larger role overall.
ESPN's Britt McHenry reported on September 3 that Ertz isn't sure he'll be ready for Week 1. If he isn't, Burton looks like a viable short-term replacement.
Offensive Line
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Jason Peters, Allen Barbre, Jason Kelce, Andrew Gardner, Lane Johnson, Dennis Kelly, Matt Tobin, David Molk, Josh Andrews
The starting five went a long way toward easing concerns this preseason, particularly the guards.
Peters is getting up there in years, but he's still one of the best left tackles in the game. Kelce was invited to his first Pro Bowl last season, while Johnson—the fourth overall draft pick in 2013—really began to blossom last year as well.
The big question was in between, but Barbre and Gardner answered with the pair of journeyman veterans settling the left and right spots, respectively.
Depth remains a bit of an issue. Kelly, Tobin and Molk were all called into action in 2014, and the unit really struggled to open running lanes and protect the passer. Andrews failed to make the club as an undrafted rookie last season, but the guard is getting a shot now.
Defensive Line
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Fletcher Cox, Bennie Logan, Cedric Thornton, Vinny Curry, Brandon Bair, Taylor Hart, Beau Allen
One of the most dominant three-man fronts in football is anchored by Cox, a scheme-versatile end who can stuff the run or get after the quarterback. Next to him, Logan is turning into a run-stopping force and was literally unblockable at times this preseason.
Thornton is an excellent run-defending end as well but gives way on third downs to Curry, an explosive pass-rusher. The latter will also see action at outside linebacker this season.
After years of trying to make an NFL roster, Bair proved to be a serviceable backup for the Eagles last season. He could lose time to Hart, however, the 2014 fifth-round pick who redshirted last season.
Allen is the reserve nose tackle.
Outside Linebacker
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Connor Barwin, Brandon Graham, Marcus Smith, Brad Jones, Bryan Braman
Barwin was invited to his first Pro Bowl last season, and while a repeat of his 14.5-sack year seems unlikely, he's the jack-of-all-trades who makes the Eagles defense so versatile.
After five long years, Graham finally gets a chance to start, with the 2010 first-round pick stepping in for Trent Cole. This has the potential to be one of the best tandems of edge defenders in the league.
Then it gets a little sticky. Last year's first-round pick, Smith, is still a huge unknown after missing most of the preseason with a hamstring injury. Despite his nonexistent rookie season, the Eagles had little choice but to keep him, as the backups are Jones (better on the inside) and Braman (purely a special teamer).
As mentioned, Curry can help out here, but the situation is far from ideal.
Interior Linebacker
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Kiko Alonso, Mychal Kendricks, DeMeco Ryans, Jordan Hicks
Alonso finally suited up for the preseason finale, and while it was clear there was some rust, he gave a glimpse into what a force he can be.
The 2013 PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year seemed to be everywhere, which will pair well with the newly extended Kendricks, who is about as dynamic a playmaker as there is at the position.
Still recovering from an Achilles injury, Ryans appears to be the rotational piece.
Hicks isn't likely to see much action unless there's an injury, especially since Jones doubles as an interior linebacker. However, the 2015 third-round pick is already contributing on special teams.
Cornerback
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Byron Maxwell, Nolan Carroll, Eric Rowe, E.J. Biggers, Denzel Rice
The Eagles spent a lot of coin to bring in Maxwell from the Seattle Seahawks, with the expectation being that he'll solidify one half of the field. On the other side, the team seems comfortable with Carroll, and the sixth-year veteran does have a lot of starts in this league.
Nickel cornerback is where things start to get interesting. Rowe, a second-round draft pick, is a nice prospect, but his NFL education has been ongoing throughout the preseason, and it's unclear if he's ready for such a role.
Carroll could move inside and the rookie could line up outside, but he struggled there, too.
Biggers has played both spots and safety in the NFL, but none of them particularly well. It's an alternative, though. Rice made the club due to a strong training camp, although how often the undrafted rookie out of Coastal Carolina sees the field remains to be seen.
Safety
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Malcolm Jenkins, Walter Thurmond, Jerome Couplin, Chris Maragos
Jenkins is the lone holdover from last year's leaky secondary. The seventh-year veteran is a competent defensive back who fits Philadelphia's scheme perfectly.
So does Thurmond, it would seem, a converted cornerback who slid into a starting safety job as if he had been doing it his entire career. The Eagles deploy their safeties in man coverage quite a bit, so his NFL experience was not irrelevant.
Picked up off the Detroit Lions' practice squad and stashed on the 53-man roster last December, Couplin earned the No. 3 safety job with a strong preseason.
Maragos has never started a game as a pro and seldom lines up at defensive back, so things could get interesting if there's an injury.
Specialists
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Cody Parkey, Donnie Jones, Jon Dorenbos
Parkey had a shaky training camp and preseason with regards to field goals (5-for-7) and extra points (6-for-7). However, he was rested in the past couple of weeks with an injury, so perhaps that explains his performance. We'll find out, as the Eagles are sticking with their Pro Bowl kicker.
Jones remains one of the better and more underrated punters in the game.
Dorenbos is the longest-tenured player on the Eagles' roster, believe it or not, although it does make sense because the two-time Pro Bowl long snapper rarely—if ever—makes things interesting.
All observations from Eagles training camp are the author's.
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