Philadelphia Eagles: Evaluating Each Starter's Odds of Making the Pro Bowl

It’s time for the annual Pro Bowl voting in the NFL, and despite a 5-8 record from the Philadelphia Eagles, a handful of players deserve inclusion on the Pro Bowl squad.

Some are the usual candidates, but others have enjoyed more unlikely success. I’ll go through all 22 starters on offense and defense, plus the players on special teams, to see whether they deserve to make the NFC Pro Bowl team.

Quarterback: Michael Vick

Michael Vick is still a top-10 quarterback in the NFL, but he won’t make the Pro Bowl this year for several reasons.

He's the man behind center for a 5-8 team that was expected to contend for a Super Bowl title, and he will get much of the blame for that. He has also missed each of the past three games due to injury, and his passing stats when he has played just aren’t that good (2,401 yards, 12 TD, 12 INT, 78.9 rating).

There are just a plethora of better options—Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, and Matthew Stafford. It would take several major injuries, a lights-out performance down the stretch and a division title for Vick to make the team.

Pro Bowl Odds: 10 percent

Running Back: LeSean McCoy

LeSean McCoy has emerged as arguably the best running back in the NFL. His 1,134 rushing yards put him just seven behind Maurice Jones-Drew for the league high, and he has 137 more than the next best NFC back.

McCoy is averaging 4.8 yards per carry with 14 rushing touchdowns, and he hasn’t fumbled the football once.

McCoy’s main competition lies in Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner and Frank Gore. Forte is out for the remainder of the regular season, and McCoy has the edge in yards and touchdowns over the other three players.

Barring injury, he should get the start.

Pro Bowl Odds: 90 percent

Fullback: Owen Schmitt

There are weeks that go by without Owen Schmitt’s name being mentioned. As it is, he only plays about one-seventh of the Philadelphia Eagles’ snaps.

He isn’t much of a runner (just four carries for six yards), although he’s a good enough pass blocker. There really is no standout fullback from the NFC, so Schmitt could conceivably make it as the lead blocker for the conference’s best running back.

Pro Bowl Odds: 20 percent

Wide Receiver: DeSean Jackson

DeSean Jackson still ranks as high as tied for 12th among NFC wide receivers in yards (757), despite missing one game due to a benching and checking out of numerous others.

He has the potential for a 1,000-yard season if he averages just over 80 yards per game for the remainder of the year, and if he adds three or four more touchdowns to his totals, he has an outside chance to make it.

Pro Bowl Odds: 20 percent

Wide Receiver: Jeremy Maclin

Jeremy Maclin actually has better numbers than DeSean Jackson, even though he has been having a down season as well.

Maclin’s 47 receptions for 625 yards and four touchdowns rank him at about the 15th-best wide receiver in the NFC in 2011. If he catches fire late and adds 500 yards and a bunch more touchdowns to his totals, he has a chance.

Pro Bowl Odds: 10 percent

Tight End: Brent Celek

There are so many good tight ends in the league right now that Brent Celek realistically has no chance of making the Pro Bowl despite a solid campaign (49 catches, 517 yards, 2 TD).

Jimmy Graham is enjoying a record-breaking season, Fred Davis has put together a phenomenal year despite starting 2011 as the backup to Chris Cooley, and both Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez are perennial candidates.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Left Tackle: Jason Peters

If Jason Peters doesn’t make the Pro Bowl, it’s a crime. He’s been voted four straight years, which should make him a virtual lock.

Pro Football Focus rates Peters as the best offensive tackle in the game this season by far. His 22.8 rating is over 50 percent better than that of Bryan Bulaga, the second-best tackle in the game. Tyron Smith of the Dallas Cowboys should take home the third tackle spot.

Pro Bowl Odds: 90 percent

Left Guard: Evan Mathis

Not many people realize just how good Evan Mathis has been this season. According to ProFootballFocus, he's the best guard in the NFC and the second-best in the game.

Whether people acknowledge Mathis’s success is the question. Carl Nicks of the New Orleans Saints will likely make it, as he has been a top-three guard and earned an invitation last year.

Other top candidates include Steve Hutchinson (seven selections), Jahri Evans (two-time All-Pro) and Josh Sitton of the Green Bay Packers.

Pro Bowl Odds: 50 percent

Center: Jason Kelce

The Philadelphia Eagles unexpectedly went with Jason Kelce over Jamaal Jackson in training camp—a move that still doesn’t seem to make sense.

Jackson had been one of the top centers in the NFL in 2009 before missing virtually all of 2010 with an injury.

Kelce has been vastly below average production in 2011, rating as the second-worst center in the NFC.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Right Guard: Danny Watkins

One day, Danny Watkins may be a Pro Bowler for the Philadelphia Eagles. He emerged late in his collegiate career as a standout offensive line, going in the first round to the Eagles.

Watkins wasn’t named the starter initially but earned his way into the starting spot (or you could say Mike DeVan worked his way out). Watkins hasn’t played well this year, but he should be a viable option for Pro Bowl teams in the near future.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Right Tackle: Todd Herremans

It’s about time that Todd Herremans gets his recognition as one of the premier linemen in the NFL.

He can play at both tackle and both guard positions. After playing left guard for so many years, he made the transition to right tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 and has been a rock.

Herremans likely won’t make the Pro Bowl, simply due to the fact that not enough people know how good he is, but he has played at a Pro Bowl level this season.

Pro Bowl Odds: 35 percent

Defensive End: Trent Cole

Defensive ends are judged (fairly or not) on sacks, and Trent Cole’s total of just nine won’t get him the recognition he deserves for having yet another strong season.

Cole is tied for sixth-best in the NFL with 29 quarterback pressures, a much more telling statistic, and he has played well against the run.

Jared Allen and Jason Pierre-Paul are all but locks for the NFC defensive end position, but Cole may make it because of his overall year and his name.

Pro Bowl Odds: 60 percent

Defensive End: Jason Babin

Looking at his sack total (15 through 13 games), Jason Babin appears to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL.

In reality, he’s a tremendous pass-rusher but very one-dimensional as a player in that he is almost a liability against the run. He will probably make the Pro Bowl on the basis of his inflated sack total.

Pro Bowl Odds: 75 percent

Defensive Tackle: Cullen Jenkins

This is an offseason acquisition that really paid off for the Philadelphia Eagles. Cullen Jenkins was brought over from the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, and he’s had a very underrated campaign for the Eagles in 2011.

Jenkins ranks second among NFC defensive tackles in sacks (5.5) and his 22 quarterback pressures are more than any tackle in the game except Ndamukong Suh (24).

Pro Bowl Odds: 75 percent

Defensive Tackle: Mike Patterson

Mike Patterson has been extremely consistent during his seven years with the Philadelphia Eagles. Most games, the announcers don’t even mention him, but he’s a solid run stuffer and an underrated pass-rusher.

Patterson has 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and he's actually one of just five defensive tackles in the NFL with 20 quarterback pressures. He likely won’t make the Pro Bowl, considering he’s never made it, but the NFC defensive tackle position is relatively weak.

Pro Bowl Odds: 25 percent

Outside Linebacker: Moise Fokou

He gets the nod over Akeem Jordan, even though Moise Fokou has broken his ankle and been placed on IR.

Devoting a slide to Fokou is almost a joke, as he’s been a major liability to the Philadelphia Eagles all year.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Middle Linebacker: Jamar Chaney

A lot of football people thought Jamar Chaney would have a great season in 2011 for the Philadelphia Eagles. After all, NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger had said Chaney was already one of the best middle linebackers in the game following the Eagles’ 38-31 win.

Chaney’s success in limited games last year just hasn’t translated. He’s currently ranked as the 44th-best inside linebacker among 51 qualifiers. He’s been exposed against the pass, and he hasn’t played well against the run.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Outside Linebacker: Brian Rolle

There's no chance Brian Rolle makes the Pro Bowl this season, but he's a having a fine season for a rookie. Rolle is undersized but plays hard, especially against the run.

To be a long-term starter for the Philadelphia Eagles, Rolle will need to improve on his pass coverage.

Quarterbacks have three touchdown passes, no interceptions and a 111.6 passer rating against Rolle in 2011.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Cornerback: Nnamdi Asmougha

For the past five years, Nnamdi Asomugha had been arguably the best cornerback in the game. His signing in the offseason was enough to make the Philadelphia Eagles possible Super Bowl favorites.

The Eagles, notably defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, have used Asmougha in a way that doesn’t fit his skill set. As a result, Asomugha has been a liability all season for the team.

ProFootballFocus rates him as the seventh-worst out of over 100 cornerbacks.

He's the only one who rates worse than a -3.0 in pass coverage, against the run and on penalties. What's most shocking about Asomugha is that he's actually doing well in the Pro Bowl voting: He's third among NFC cornerbacks, although he doesn’t even close deserve it.

Pro Bowl Odds: 50 percent

Cornerback: Asante Samuel

Asante Samuel started the year having a miserable stretch of games, but he’s really turned his play around as of late.

In Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins, he was at his best, allowing just three receptions for a grand total of one yard.

Samuel rates as the sixth-best cornerback in the NFL, and he’s allowing just a 58.5 passer rating on passes thrown his direction.

Pro Bowl Odds: 40 percent

Free Safety: Nate Allen

One day, Nate Allen might be a Pro Bowler. He’s an excellent defender in pass coverage, but he has recovered slowly from the torn patellar tendon he suffered late in 2010.

Jarrad Page actually got the bulk of the playing time earlier this season, but he was awful enough that the Philadelphia Eagles released him to make room for Chad Hall on the active roster. Allen has had growing pains, and he won’t be in the Pro Bowl.

The only reason his odds aren’t completely zero is that the NFC free safeties just aren’t very good in 2011.

Pro Bowl Odds: 5 percent

Strong Safety: Kurt Coleman

I really like the way Kurt Coleman plays football, although he’s a borderline starter. Coleman has four interceptions, but he’s also given up four touchdown passes and a 104.8 passer rating.

He isn’t good enough for the Philadelphia Eagles to comfortably go with as a starter in 2012, and he won’t be a part of the Pro Bowl team in 2011.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Kicker: Alex Henery

The NFC Pro Bowl kicker this year will probably be the man who spent the previous 11 seasons as the primary kicker in Philadelphia.

David Akers is enjoying a phenomenal season in San Francisco, as he has nailed all six of his field goal attempts over 50 yards.

Alex Henery is actually having a quietly consistent season, as he’s nailed 19-of-22 field goals, including the last 11. Given that it's still just his rookie season, he has a lot of upside.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Punter: Chas Henry

If there was a team for the worst players in the league, Chas Henry might make it.

He's 30th in the NFL in yards per punt (43.0) and 32nd in net yards per punt (36.9).

In addition to his awful punting, Henry has the worst throw of the year.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Kick Returner: Dion Lewis

Another extremely mediocre player, Dion Lewis is averaging 22.3 yards per kick return as a rookie. His long of 33 yards certainly isn’t too exciting, and nothing about him is Pro Bowl worthy.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Punt Returner: DeSean Jackson

Remember DeSean Jackson’s magical season returning punts in 2010?

He’s had none of that this year, as he’s at just 6.8 yards per return.

If you take away his 51-yard punt return, Jackson is at just a pedestrian four yards per return.

Pro Bowl Odds: 0 percent

Long Snapper: Jon Dorenbos

It’s tough to tell with long snappers. All I know is that I can’t ever remember any Philadelphia Eagles long snapper under Andy Reid letting go a bad snap.

Jon Dorenbos actually made the Pro Bowl two years ago. How exactly the NFL determines which long snapper to send to the Pro Bowl is a mystery to me, but considering he has made it before, he has to be in the discussion.

Pro Bowl Odds: 25 percent

Special Teams Player: Colt Anderson

It’s a shame Colt Anderson tore his ACL when he did, because he was well on his way to the first Pro Bowl selection of his career. Anderson was a huge part of the Philadelphia Eagles punt and kick coverage teams, units that currently rank fifth and fourth-best in the league.

Anderson rates as the NFL’s best man on kickoffs (4.0), according to ProFootballFocus. The fact that he's on IR now will likely take away from his votes.

Pro Bowl Odds: 30 percent