SB Nation - Trevor Laws

Philadelphia Eagles 53 man roster by the numbers

JasonB — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:35:19 -0000

The Eagles have made their cuts and whittled their roster down to 53 men. However, just because those guys survived cut day, doesn't mean they'll actually be on the team come September 13th. Let's look at some positions where changes are still likely to be made.

Wide Receiver - The Eagles currently have 7 WRs on their roster and are only likely to start the season with 6. Desean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, & Jeremy Maclin are all locks. The guys not guaranteed a spot are rookie Brandon Gibson, Reggie Brown, and Hank Baskett. Since Gibson wasn't cut with the first round and wouldn't be valuable trade bait, it may actually be safe to assume that he made the team. It's likely that the Eagles held onto Reggie and Hank(esp the former) since those guys may have some trade value to fill another spot.

Tight End - The Eagles currently have just two TEs on the roster. That will not be the case for very long as the Eagles will carry a 3rd TE on their roster. Whether it's through trade or free agency, I'm guessing we'll find out who that guy is before the weekend is out. Considering that Tony Curtis was signed just before the preseason game against Jacksonville, the Eagles will go into this season with just one TE(Celek) that was on the roster at least 3 weeks before the season.

Defensive Tackle - After cutting loose Dan Klecko, the Eagles DTs are Broderick Bunkley, Mike Patterson, & Trevor Laws. Two starters and one backup. That said, there's a decent chance that they may not add another DT. The Eagles love rotate DEs inside to DTs on passing downs. Darren Howard, Victor Abiamiri, & Juqua Parker have all done it in the past. Those guys, especially Howard and Abiamiri, could be defacto backup DTs. Last year, it seemed that Darren Howard played more inside than he did outside... I'd look for the Eagles to add a couple DTs to their practice squad just in case.

Quarterback - The Eagles currently have 4 QBs on their roster, but due to an exemption Michael Vick does not count against the 53 man roster. While Vick is on the exempt list he can't practice with the team, so obviously the Eagles will be looking to take him off as soon as possible. I'm sure that over the next day or so they'll be trying to trade A.J. Feeley to make room for Vick. If they can't swing a deal, they'll probably just outright release him.

Injuries mount at Eagles camp

JasonB — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:01:11 -0000

More photos » by Matt Rourke - AP

4 months ago: Philadelphia Eagles' Brian Westbrook pauses during the NFL football team's training camp at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., Thursday, July 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Browse more photos »

Several notable players got nicked up yesterday and missed practice.

Left tackle Jason Peters, the Eagles' prize acquisition of the off-season, spent practice working with trainer Rick Burkholder and a contingent of other injured teammates. That group included cornerback Asante Samuel, who had a hamstring spasm during yesterday morning's conditioning test, and defensive tackle Trevor Laws, who arrived at camp with a sore hamstring.

Right tackle Shawn Andrews, meanwhile, didn't even make it to the practice field after his surgically repaired back tightened up on him during a team meeting following the conditioning run.

It seemed like mostly spasms and sore hamstrings after conditioning drills, not contact drills. Pretty common stuff for a team getting back to serious workouts, still... everyone wants to see the big guys on the field. Plus, hamstring injuries always weird. It could nag a guy for weeks, or he could be 100% by later that afternoon.

Good fanshot on the subject from jaws 1385.

Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Preview - Defensive Tackle

JasonB — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:36:27 -0000

View full size photo »

This is the next installment in our series of 12 positions in 12 days previewing the upcoming Eagles training camp. Rookie and selected vets report to Lehigh July 26th and each day leading up to that date we will bring you a preview of a different position battle.

With the offense behind us it's time to move onto the defense. We start today with the defensive tackles.

The Bodies

Brodrick Bunkley, Jervonte Jackson, Dan Klecko, Trevor Laws, Mike Patterson

I'll also add Darren Howard and Victor Abiamiri to the list. Neither are DTs, but both will spend some time playing inside in certain packages.

Presumed Starters

There's not too many starting jobs up for grab on this Eagles team and DT isn't one. Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley will start after a very solid 2008 that saw the Eagles defense finish 3rd overall and 4th against the run. While Bunkley and Patterson didn't provide much of a pass rush combining for just 2.5 sacks, but they did prove to be immovable objects in the run game and freed up the linebackers to make plays. There's little doubt that the development of a guy like Stewart Bradley last year was partly due to the fact that the two DTs kept blockers off him.

As a pair, Bunkley and Patterson trailed only the Williamses in Minnesota in total tackles.

New additions

Jervonte Jackson, brother of center Jamaal Jackson, was signed as an undrafted free agent.

Dan Klecko isn't a new addition, but he's back to being a DT after finishing last year as a fullback.

What to watch for

This camp is going to be about what guys can fill different roles on the interior of the defensive line. Last year when he started the year at DT, Dan Klecko did a nice job as a situational pass rusher. Can he provide that spark again?

Darren Howard actually led the Eagles in sacks last year, many of which came when he lined up at DT in pass situations. It will be interesting to see how much of that success he can replicate this year and if anyone else can fit into that role. The prime candidate would be Victor Abiamiri, who did have some success in the second half last year lining up both inside and out. However, Abiamiri should be fighting for a starting job at DE, so the focus will be on guys like Klecko and second year man Trevor Laws to spell the starters.

Previous position previews

Interior Offensive Line

Offensive Tackles

Hold On a Second

Jim Vance — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:03:06 -0000

What do Anthony Fasano, Dwayne Goodrich, Quincy Carter, Tony Dixon, Antonio Bryant, Al Johnson, Julius Jones and Jacob Rogers have in common? All were second round draft picks of the Cowboys this decade and none are still with the club. Since the Cowboys first selection in this draft is in the second round I wanted to see how successful the team has been at choosing players in that round.

Martellus Bennett, Andre Gurode and Kevin Burnett are the only second rounders still wearing the star, and that may change this week if Burnett decides to leave. A second round pick should be a contributing player after a couple of years - 3 out of 11 (27%) in nine drafts is a poor average when you consider one of the 3 was selected last year and another may be gone soon, dropping the Cowboys to (18%). This doesn't bode well for the Boys in this draft.

The Giants second rounders for this decade are - Cornelius Griffin, Tim Carter, Osi Umenyiora, Chris Snee, Corey Webster, Sinorice Moss, Steve Smith and Terrell Thomas. All but Griffin and Carter are still listed on the team roster giving the Giants 6 out of 8 second rounders for a (75%) success rate in the that round.

The Redskins Taylor Jacobs and Fred Davis are the only second round selections not still on their roster out of the following - Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Rocky McIntosh, LaDell Betts and Fred Smoot. Having 5 out of 7 second round picks still playing for the ‘Skins makes their draft success for that round at (71% ).

Listed on the current Eagles roster from this decades second round draft selections are - Trevor Laws, Desean Jackson, Kevin Kolb, Victor Abiamiri, Winston Justice, Reggie Brown , L.J. Smith and Sheldon Brown. The following were drafted by the Redskins in the second but are no longer with the club - Matt McCoy, Michael Lewis, Quinton Caver, Todd Pinkston, Bobbie Williams. 8 out of 13 second round keepers gives the Eagles a (62%) success rate.

I understand this is not exactly apples to apples and is far from scientific but take a look at the keeper rate. A high percentage of second round players who stay on the roster would indicate better draft research and a better selection process. This should translate into fewer needs at future drafts and an opportunity for the team to draft players for development and not be in a do or die scenario when your QB injures his throwing hand.

Could ranking dead last in your division in this category have anything to do with failing in the playoffs? You bet it does. Is the Cowboys poor history of drafting second round players a cause for concern this year? It is for me. Our top pick is currently in the second round at #51.

Final Injury Report: Eagles @ Bengals

Kirkendall — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:09:43 -0000

Cedric Benson showed up on Thursday's injury report with a back issue. Lewis said that "he had a tight back yesterday" and that he should be ready to go Sunday. Chinedum Ndukwe missed Wednesday's and Thursday's practices with a foot injury but should be fine.

However, super-free agency acquisition Antwan Odom is likely out with a shoulder problem that's still yet to be known -- at least publicly. The shoulder problem could range from a "slight sprain to a tear that would require season-ending surgery." I'm anticipating good things from Frostee Rucker, preparing for his third NFL start.

On the Eagles side of the ball, it appears several players got healthier throughout the week; though the Andrews brothers won't get a chance to play in the same game together with Shawn sitting out.

STATUS

OUT - QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)
DOUBTFUL - WR Andre Caldwell (foot), DE Eric Henderson (neck), DE Antwan Odom (shoulder), WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)
PROBABLE - T Stacy Andrews (illness), RB Cedric Benson (back), LB Rashad Jeanty (foot), S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot), DT Pat Sims (knee)

OUT - G Shawn Andrews (back)
PROBABLE - S Sean Considine (rib), S Brian Dawkins (elbow), LS Jon Dorenbos (shoulder), CB Joselio Hanson (hamstring), WR DeSean Jackson (groin), DT Trevor Laws (shoulder), CB Asante Samuel (hip), RB Brian Westbrook (knee)

Practices

BENGALS	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
QB Carson Palmer (right elbow)	OUT	OUT	OUT
WR Andre Caldwell (foot)	DNP	DNP	DNP
DE Eric Henderson (neck)	DNP	DNP	DNP
S Chinedum Ndukwe (foot)	DNP	DNP	FP
WR Jerome Simpson (ankle)	DNP	DNP	DNP
DT Pat Sims (knee)	DNP	LP	FP
LB Rashad Jeanty (foot)	LP	LP	FP
DE Antwan Odom (shoulder)	LP	DNP	DNP
RB Cedric Benson (back)	--	DNP	FP
T Stacy Andrews (illness)	--	LP	FP


EAGLES
G Shawn Andrews (back)	OUT	OUT	OUT
LS Jon Dorenbos (shoulder)	DNP	FP	FP
QB Donovan McNabb (not injury related)	DNP	--	--
S Sean Considine (rib)	FP	FP	FP
S Brian Dawkins (elbow)	FP	FP	FP
CB Joselio Hanson (hamstring)	FP	FP	FP
WR DeSean Jackson (groin)	FP	FP	FP
DT Trevor Laws (shoulder)	FP	FP	FP
RB Brian Westbrook (knee)	FP	FP	LP
CB Asante Samuel (hip)	--	DNP	FP

DNP - Did Not Practice
LP - Limited Participation in Practice
FP - Full Participation in Practice