Ripper's Take on 53 man Roster

The road to the final 53 men:
Analyzing the roster and then some
By RipperEagle

The process is finalized: on Saturday September 1st, the Philadelphia Eagles as in hand with the other 31 teams started the initial process to cut from their bulk of 75 players down to the league mandated 53-players by the time 6:00 PM Eastern came around on Saturday September 1st. Now, you may be asking yourself yeah well other posters on this board are just posting these types of comments on the board threads why are you so special? Well, with my latest column I wanted to look above and well beyond the initial process and take a look back at our participants in the Eagles’ 2007 training camp when it was up to 86 players.

Quarterbacks:
Players going in: Donovan McNabb, AJ Feely, Kelly Holcomb, and Kevin Kolb
Players who made the team: McNabb, Feely, and Kolb
The storyline: On March 26th, the team executed a trade with the Buffalo Bills unloading disgruntled defensive tackle Darwin Walker for linebacker Takeo Spikes and Holcomb who was initially envisioned as the #3 man in town. That changed on April 28th when the team used their top pick in the 2007 draft (36th overall in the second round) on Kolb and Feely was given a 3-year extension on February 25th. The QB spot had not left anything unchanged: even star quarterback McNabb is coming back from season ending surgery on his ACL from last year’s Titans game. The mix of a superstar in his prime, an on-the-spot caddy that can play in a pinch and a rookie who will some time down the road be a potential replacement to the Eagles quarterback throne makes a great threesome for the team.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: McNabb, after going down injured in the 10th game the past two seasons, breaks that streak to start all 16 games and in the process makes the pro bowl, passes for 3,500 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while Feely coaches Kolb up in his experiences in the NFL.

Running backs:
Players going in: Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter, Tony Hunt, Nate Illoa, and Ryan Moats
Players who made the team: Westbrook, Buckhalter, and Hunt
The storyline: In 2006, Westbrook had a career year which was loosely based around the changing of the play calling and the fact that McNabb was injured: he ran for a career high 1,217 yards and added a team best 77 receptions. But while Westbrook has aspirations of getting the rock 20-25 times a game to RUN it, the backfield became more dynamic with the selection of Hunt, a 3rd round pick from local Penn State who will bring a power dimension as well as a high running motor, and Buckhalter, who signed a new 2-year deal on the opening day of free agency. The moves solidified the top three running back spots, while Illoa will find his way to the practice squad while Moats was put on the IR.
Ripper’s unworldly predication: Westbrook might not get those 20-25 carries EVERY GAME like he hopes to have, but I see no reason why he cannot eclipse 1,500 yards rushing and make the pro bowl behind our mammoth offensive line, while Hunt will record eight touchdowns and Buckhalter will run for 400 yards.

Fullbacks:
Players going in: Thomas Tapeh, Jason Davis, and Jeremy Cain
Player who made the team: Tapeh
The storyline: Tapeh walked away with the starting fullback job in 2006 after Davis got injured but this year Davis was fully healthy but yet still couldn’t pry the job away from the incumbent. Davis earned a spot on the practice squad and will look to challenge again in 2008 while Cain was cut in the 22-man purge.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: Uh…how can I predict this? I mean, did Tapeh even PLAY every game last year? My media guide says he did but he only started eight games so…he will start TEN this year! Mark it down!

Wide Receivers:
Players going in: Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis, Bill Sampy, Michael Gasperson, JJ Outlaw, Derrick Faulkner, Jeremy Bloom, Zac Collie, and Jermaine Jamison
Players who made the team: Brown, Curtis, Avant, Baskett, and Lewis
The storyline: Making steadfast improvement from 2005 to 2006, Brown led the WR rank with 46 catches and the team with 816 yards while Baskett had two touchdowns of 85 yards or longer: Lewis caught 20 of his 24 receptions on third down, and Avant had seven catches. The biggest difference is going to be the replacement of long time slot receiver Curtis for Donte Stallworth who fled in free agency to New England. All of the guys mention in the first row aside from Faulkner and Collie were also in camp in 2006 but for various reasons bowed out: in 2007, Faulkner and Jamison were amongst the 1st line of cuts while Gasperson, Collie, Outlaw, and Bloom were cut in the final purge. Gasperson is heading to the practice squad while Bloom will likely be picked up by someone looking for a return man.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: The addition of Curtis will allow Brown to became an integral factor on the team in his third year: look for him to grab around 75 receptions and 1,250 yards with 10 touchdowns while Curtis should add 60 receptions, Baskett and Avant 30-35 each, and Lewis 25.

Tight Ends:
Players going in: LJ Smith, Matt Schobel, Lee Vickers, and Brent Celek
Players who made the team: Smith, Schobel, and Celek
The storyline: Smith, who has always been a favorite target of McNabb’s (140 receptions makes him the 5th most passed to guy by McNabb during his career) caught 50 passes last year, but noticed a steady drop off from the time when McNabb got hurt and Garcia came in: that shouldn’t be affecting him this year, but his contract status could: Smith is entering the final year of his rookie deal and after missing training camp could be a step or two behind. Schobel was solid as the 2nd TE last year, but the big surprise in camp and pre-season has been Celek: the 5th round pick held off equally as surprising Vickers who will go to the practice squad.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: Smith, entering a contract season, will post numbers like this: 65 receptions, 850 yards, 12 touchdowns, a pro bowl bid, and HOPEFULLY a new contract before the end of the season: Schobel will add 25 receptions and Celek should add about 15.

Offensive line:
Players going in: William Thomas, Jon Runyan, Winston Justice, Pat McCoy, and Jonathan Palmer (at tackle) Shawn Andrews, Todd Herremans, Max Jean-Gilles, Scott Young, Chris White, Stefan Rodgers, and Jacob Hobbs (at guard) and Jamaal Jackson, Jasper Harvey, and Nick Cole (at center)
Players who made the team: Thomas, Runyan, Justice, and McCoy (at tackle) Andrews, Herremans, Jean-Gilles, and Young (at guard) and Jackson and Cole (at center)
The storyline: Nothing changed…period! The same unit that allowed 28 sacks last year (2nd lowest total in team history since 22 in 1981) and paved the way for 6,103 yards of total offense (a franchise best) is back together again with Thomas and Runyan the grizzled veterans who have started a combined 103 games together while Runyan has started 160 straight himself at tackles, pro bowler Andrews and converted tackle-to-guard Herremans as the guards, and Jackson at center. The backups are here as well albeit changed: in camp, Jean-Gilles was auditioned behind Andrews when he got injured, and even Cole saw action at right guard. Hobbs, Palmer, and Harvey were all cut in the 22-man purge while all the others were cut back in the 1st wave of cuts.
Ripper’s unworldly predictions: The same five men who started all 16 games last year minus Andrews will do it again this year except Andrews, who should miss at least the opener on his ankle. In addition, Andrews and Jackson will go bowling while Herremans will be a 2nd alternate for the NFC squad.

Defensive line:
Players going in: Jevon Kearse, Darren Howard, Trent Cole, Juqua Thomas, Victor Abiamiri, Jerome McDougle, and Marques Murrell (at end) Mike Patterson, Broderick Bunkley, Ian Scott, Montae Reagor, LaJuan Ramsey, Mauricio Lopez, and Jeremy Clark (at tackle)
Players who made the team: Kearse, Howard, Cole, Thomas, and Abiamiri (at end) Patterson, Bunkley, Reagor, Ramsey, and Kimo Von Olfhoffen (at tackle)
The storyline: A lot has changed here in the matter of a year: to start, Kearse will be returning from his knee injury suffered in week two of the 2006 season, Bunkley has a new attitude and new number, Abiamiri was drafted in the 2nd round, and Scott, Reagor, and subsequently Von Olfhoffen are new faces at tackle. Add in the potential un-drafted free agents in Murrell and Clark, a cup of water, stir, and you had a pretty good competition. Cole, who grabbed the starting role at right end ahead of Howard, led the team with eight sacks last year but the two will likely end up taking a similar amount of snaps, Kearse the majority, and Thomas should see the rest. Meanwhile, McDougle was placed on the IR (yeah SHOCKER) and Murrell was put on the practice squad as was tackle Clark and Lopez, who had a valiant running having come from the NFL Europa and never played in the NFL before, was cut in the 22-man purge: Scott was placed on minor IR list and once his knee is better will be released while Ramsey should earn the 4th spot behind Reagor at number three.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: Kearse will start the year and post 12 sacks, Cole will post 10, Howard eight, Thomas seven, and Vic with three while Bunkley will led the unit in tackles with 85, Patterson will have 75 and four sacks, Reagor will add three sacks, Von Olfhoffen will add 40 tackles, and Ramsey 25.

Linebackers:
Players going in: Jeremiah Trotter, Omar Gaither, and Akeem Jordan (at MIKE) Takeo Spikes, Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley, Tank Daniels, Dedrick Roper, Matt McCoy, and Craig Kobel (between SAM and MIKE)
Players who made the team: Gaither and Tago Pogafau (at MIKE) Spikes and McCoy (at WILL) and Gocong and Bradley (at SAM)
The storyline: Changes came rapidly to the linebackers unit: players were cut (Dhani Jones, Greg Richmond, and eventually Trotter) players were added by trade (Spikes) and by the draft (Bradley in the 3rd round and Jordan as a left over) and the return of Gocong, who missed the 2006 season with a “stinger.” Gocong and Bradley had a battle for SAM during training camp but the converted defensive end won out, giving us three NEW starters at linebacker with Gaither at MIKE and Spikes at WILL: last year, we had Jones-Trotter-McCoy until Gaither took over WILL. The loss of Trotter will hurt in the run game, but Gaither is a pass oriented linebacker. On the day of the 22-man purge, Daniels and Roper were cut while Jordan, who originally made the team on Saturday, was released on Sunday when the team picked up Pogafau, who was with Arizona during training camp.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: While it would have been nice to see Trotter and Spikes rip it up together, I stand by what I said Spikes will end up as our defensive MVP as he becomes the play maker he was for the Bengals and Bills prior to his injury. He will also go to his first pro bowl in the NFC while Gaither and Gocong should start all 16 games and bring different elements to the team.

Cornerbacks:
Players going in: Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, William James, Joselio Hanson, Dustin Fox, Nick Graham, and Rashard Barksdale
Players who made the team: Sheppard, Brown, James, Hanson, and Graham
The storyline: pro bowl corner Sheppard anchors a unit that saw the loss of their dime back which was filled by Hanson and then former nickel Rod Hood bounced to starter along with Brown when Sheppard was injured. James was added later on in the year as was Fox, but the biggest shock, with James moving to nickel and Hanson remaining at dime, was un-drafted free agent Graham winning the last spot over converted safety Fox and 6th round pick Barksdale. Barksdale, after being cut on Saturday was signed by Kansas City on Sunday while Fox is on waivers.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: Sheppard AND Brown will make the pro bowl this year: Sheppard will post seven interceptions and two touchdowns, Brown will post five and lead ALL corners in tackles and forced fumbles, while James will had two picks, Hanson one, and Graham steady special team’s stats.

Safeties:
Players going in: Brian Dawkins, CJ Gaddis, and Erick Harris (at FS) Sean Considine, Marcus Paschal, Chris Smith, and Quintin Mikell (at SS)
Players who made the team: Dawkins and JR Reed (at FS) and Considine and Mikell (at SS)
The storyline: Dawkins had his best statistical year in 2006 which is scary considering he was 33 now going on 34, but Considine was getting used to strong safety a bit undersized when he took over for now 49ers pick-up Mike Lewis. Considine has added bulk and shored up his tackling skills, as they will be joined by special team’s ace Mikell and Reed, who returns after being cut in 2006 and joining the Rams as he cleared waivers. Harris and Gaddis were cut on Saturday while Paschal, who made the team on Saturday, was cut to make room for Reed: Gaddis and Paschal will be fighting for the final practice squad spot.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: While Dawkins won’t replicate his 2006 season as a whole again, look for him to add pro bowl trip #7 to his illustrious career while Considine will improve very much over 2006 and should be able to add five or so interceptions: however, he will not rest easy knowing that Mikell, who was re-signed for four years before free agency started, can and will take over if he falters.

Special teams:
Players going in: David Akers and EJ Cochrane (at kicker) Dirk Johnson and Sav Rocca (at punter) Jon Dorenbos and Mike Bartrum (at long snapper)
Players who made the team: Akers, Rocca, and Dorenbos
The storyline: Akers has been a consistent kicker for the Eagles, but his holder was changed up on him last year when Koy Detmer was cut before the season in favor of the returning Feely: Johnson became his holder until the playoffs when Detmer returned, but now Johnson isn’t even on the team. In arguably the 1-B fiercest roster battle on the team this off-season (with the 5th CB spot being the 1-A battle) Johnson and Rocca both had their opportunities to claim the job but the former Australian Rules player won the job with much improved accuracy (as opposed to when he first joined the team in May) and a HUGE booming leg. Dorenbos, who took over for Bartrum when he was injured last year, won the snapping job by default when Bartrum retired in July.
Ripper’s unworldly prediction: While Akers won’t make the pro bowl, he will have another 100 point season and will hit about 21 of 26 field goals this year, while Rocca will be in the running for the pro bowl due to his outstanding net average: Dorenbos will build upon his consistent half a season with a full season.

*These are the views of RipperEagle and no one else: not everyone will agree, but he had enough time to waste breaking this down and standing on the limb with prediction that the limb has become his new home.

-RipperEagle