Training Camp and the NFL Preseason is over, and the Philadelphia Eagles 2015 53 man roster is now complete. As I do on a yearly basis, I will preview this year’s football team, give you their strengths, weaknesses, and how I believe they will fair in 2015. Eagles head coach and czar of everything football, Chip Kelly has 16 new football players on this year’s roster, as he continues to bring his type of football players into the program.
Offense
Quarterbacks
Sam Bradford
Mark Sanchez
Stephen Morris
In Sam Bradford, Chip Kelly clearly has the most talented quarterback he’s had since taking the job. To be honest, Bradford is the best quarterback the Eagles have had since Donovan McNabb. He’s proven in seven games in 2013, and in this preseason what kind of talent he is when healthy. He reads the field, makes quick decisions, throws with touch, anticipation, and accuracy. The ONLY question about Bradford is his ability to stay healthy. We’ve seen Kelly make mediocre quarterbacks like Vick, Foles, and Sanchez look decent at times in his QB friendly offense, the offense could be in for an historic year if Sam Bradford can remain healthy for 16 games.
Mark Sanchez is a serviceable backup, and hopefully for the Eagles sake, he only sees time in blowout wins. Former Miami Hurricane Stephen Morris is the third QB on the roster, a developmental prospect with elite arm talent and inconsistent mechanics.
Running Backs
DeMarco Murray
Ryan Mathews
Darren Sproles
Kenjon Barner
Chip Kelly traded Shady McCoy and replaced him with two running backs more to his liking in 2014 NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews. Kelly likes for his running backs to make one cut, get downhill, and get positive yards, keeping the offense out of obvious passing situations. Some worry about Murray after a season with over 500 touches, but he has a medley of backs to share the touches with. Not only do Murray and Mathews fit the mold, but Darren Sproles does as well.
In watching the film from the preseason, I also have seen more of Sproles lining up as a wide receiver, and with Bradford at the helm this year, Sproles could be in for a 50-60 catch season. I expect the Eagles to be back in the top five to eight teams in rushing yards per game this year.
Kenyon Barner made this team because of the great preseason he had as a return man. Having a guy who can set up the Eagles offense deep in the other team’s territory is a huge plus.
Wide Receivers
Jordan Matthews
Nelson Agholor
Riley Cooper
Josh Huff
Miles Austin
Seyi Ajirotutu
Jordan Matthews had a very good rookie campaign, and he has added help in rookie wide receiver Nelson Agholor. These two should form a very good one-two punch for the Eagles for the next 4-5 years. Matthews at 6’3 220 pounds, is probably the NFL’s biggest slot wide receiver, and can win inside and outside. I expect an even bigger year from Matthews with the added weapons, especially quarterback Sam Bradford. Agholor is a polished wide receiver who played in a pro style offense in college, where he was taught how to read defenses and run the entire route tree. He can stretch the field, win in the middle of the field, and take a short pass the distance. I expect him to be the Eagles starting wide receiver very soon. He is simply that good.
Josh Huff is physically talented, but has yet to learn how to run routes and get open consistently as a pro. His development in year two as a pro is something I’ll be watching closely. Miles Austin is a veteran who has produced in this league, but has been injured more then healthy over the recent years. If he can stay healthy, I could see him catching 40-50 passes this year,while teaching these young guys how to be a pro. To be quite honest, I don’t know how and why Riley Cooper is still on this team. He stunk last year, and if he’s not going to be a core special teams guy, he serves no purpose on the team. He is who he is….he’s not very good. Seyi Ajirotutu made this roster because he’s an special teams ace on all four units.
Tight Ends
Zach Ertz
Brent Celek
Trey Burton
Brent Celek is a true throwback, he does whatever his coaches ask of him. He blocks, he runs good routes, catches the football well. He’s lost a step, he’s been beat up a lot over his tenure as an Eagles, but he is the tough guy the Eagles need on the roster, and a great mentor for the young tight ends on the roster.
Zach Ertz should be in for a huge breakout season with Sam Bradford playing quarterback. As I’ve said numerous times, Ertz is too fast for linebackers, to big for safeties, he’s a matchup nightmare. He’s recovering from sports hernia surgery and may be ready for week one versus the Atlanta Falcons.
Trey Burton is young, athletic, and a multifaceted talent. More of a Delanie Walker type H-Back on the move type tight end, with elite ability after the catch. He’s also one of the Eagles key special teams players as well.
Offensive Line
Jason Peters
Allen Barbre
Jason Kelce
Andrew Gardner
Lane Johnson
Backups: Matt Tobin, Dennis Kelly, David Molk, Josh Andrews
The Eagles return three of five starters on the offensive line in tackles Peters and Johnson, and center Jason Kelce. Peters is a future hall of fame inductee, while Kelce and Johnson have All Pro potential. The question I have is with the new starting guards, Allen Barbre and Andrew Gardner. Both are vets who have experience as spot starters, but they are now going to be counted on to protect Sam Bradford and open holes for the Eagles running backs. They played decently during the preseason, but I’m looking forward to seeing how they do through 16 games.
I love the versatility of the Eagles backups, they all can play multiple positions, which is essential. If injuries happen during a game, you need guys to be able to fill in up and down the line.
Defense
Defensive Line
Fletcher Cox
Bennie Logan
Cedric Thornton
Backups: Vinny Curry, Beau Allen, Brandon Bair, Taylor Hart
You can’t run a 3-4 defense successfully without have a strong front three, and the Eagles have arguably the best in the NFL. Fletcher Cox is a stud, a future All-Pro that impacts the game versus the run and the pass. Cedric Thornton, while not a great pass rusher, is one of the best run stopping five technique defensive ends in the league. And Bennie Logan, who was a three technique defensive tackle coming out of college, has developed into a very good nose tackle. The job these three do holding the point and two gapping versus the run is why this defense works.
Vinny Curry had nine sacks as a situational player last year, taking full advantage of his quickness over interior offensive lineman. Allen, Bair and Taylor Hart are serviceable backups who can do the job as part of the rotation.
Outside Linebackers
Connor Barwin
Brandon Graham
Marcus Smith
Brad Jones
Connor Barwin had a great season in 2014, and he is the heart of the defensive unit in my opinion. He plays the run, rushes the passer, and can drop into coverage. It’s nearly impossible to double team him because of Fletcher Cox’s presence inside, which allows him to whip right tackles one on one. Brandon Graham had the best season of his career in 2014, finally looking comfortable and confident as a football player. He’ll be asked to play more snaps this year, replacing Trent Cole who was cut and now plays for the Colts. Graham has to prove that last year wasn’t a sham and that he can do it on a full time basis.
Marcus Smith gave the Eagles nothing as a rookie, and was injured during the offseason some and missed all but one preseason game this year. It’s a make or break season for him and the Eagles need production out of him as their third OLB. The signing of vet Brad Jones is one of the more underrated moves of the Eagles offseason. His experience and ability to play any of the linebacker positions while contributing on special teams is epic.
The Eagles also plan to use Vinny Curry at times as a pass rushing outside linebacker at times which I think is a very good idea. The more snaps for Curry the better.
Inside Linebackers
Mychal Kendricks
Kiko Alonso
DeMeco Ryans
Jordan Hicks
With DeMeco Ryans coming off an Achilles injury that he suffered late in the 2014 season, and he being up there in age, Chip Kelly got Kiko Alonso in return for Shady McCoy. Alonso had a very good 2013 rookie season, but missed all of 2014 with a torn ACL. If healthy, he gives the Eagles another athletic, three down inside backer to pair with Mychal Kendricks. Those two guys would never have to leave the field because they can play the run, blitz, and cover. Rookie Jordan Hicks will contribute on special teams as a rookie.
Cornerbacks
Byron Maxwell
Nolan Carroll
Eric Rowe
E.J. Biggers
Denzel Rice
The Eagles starting cornerbacks where horrible last season. Chip Kelly upgraded the position by signing Maxwell, who was the best on the market, drafting Eric Rowe and JaCorey Shepherd(on IR), and signing veteran free agent E.J. Biggers. Nolan Carroll gets the chance to start, which he deserved last year, while Biggers and Rowe are the third and fourth corners. Chip likes his corners tall, long and athletic so the can play press man coverage across the board. During the preseason, the Eagles starters didn’t give up any big plays in the passing game. If that carries over to the regular season, the Eagles could possibly have a top ten defense. Biggers, Rowe, and Rice will all be huge parts of the Eagles cover units on special teams as well.
Safeties
Malcolm Jenkins
Walter Thurmond
Chris Maragos
Jerome Couplin
Walter Thurmond who is playing safety for the first time in his career, will start next to Malcolm Jenkins at safety. I really like the fact that he can come down and play man to man coverage as a nickel or dime cornerback if needed. Teams play plenty of three to four wide receiver sets and having safeties who have also played corner in this league is a good thing to have.
Chris Maragos is one of the best special teams guys in the league and Jerome Couplin is big, fast, and a heavy hitter that will do well on the kick and punt cover units.
Special Teams
Jon Dorenbos
Donnie Jones
Cody Parkey
The Eagles had one of the best special teams units in the NFL last year. Jon Dorenbos is a reliable long snapper and Donnie Jones is arguably the best punter in football. I am concerned with the health of kicker Cody Parkey. He missed the last preseason games with a sore groin and was a bit shaky in the two games he played. Parkey must be reliable in order for the Eagles to win in the playoffs.
My Prediction: I have the Eagles going 12-4 and winning the NFC East. I believe they are the most complete team in their division, and one of the best in the entire NFC. If Sam Bradford can stay healthy, to go along with the improvement of the secondary, the Eagles look to be a legit threat to make the NFC title game. This team is built offensively to run the ball, and stop the run defensively, which is key during the cold weather games late in the season and in the playoffs. After winning the division in year 2013, the Eagles took a step back in 2014, but this year I expect them to take a major step forward and at least make it to the NFC title game.
Muslim Football Scout 