Roster Breakdown - Offensive Line
Been thinking about how I'd like to see the team put together for next year, who stays who goes etc. I'm going to do some breakdowns by position, to help me sort out what I think as much as anything else. Hopefully they're interesting and would like to hear others thoughts.
Jason Peters - One of the top the linemen in the league pre-injury, even with the brain explosion penalties that sometimes happen with him. Some of the things the Eagles had him do by design on run plays and screens to the left were just extraordinary. Could routinely account for 2 defenders on the same play. There was talk he could have returned from his injuries in time if the Eagles had made the
. That kind of leads me to believe he'll be functional next year at least. Probably not realistic to expect he'll be back to pre-injury form but even if he's only 80% of what he was I still think he'd be a Top 10 LT. Will be 31 when the season starts, probably good for another 2-3 years at least if he wants to play that long.Evan Mathis - Arguably the team MVP this year. Not a flashy guy, pancaking people in the run game or anything like that but incredibly consistent and mistake free. Always gets his job done (Bradley would have liked that). At his best on the move, excellent 2nd level blocker. Will turn 32 during next season. Doesn't have a lot of mileage on him, but still getting up there.
Jason Kelce - Coming back from a torn MCL. Another guy who is at his best on the move, does great work at the 2nd level. Doesn't hold up as well as Mathis inline though, and can struggle to deal with better DTs. Not unusual to see Kelce on skates getting pushed into the backfield, happens at least a few times per game. At this point, IMO he's probably slightly overrated and for me, no guarantee a new staff doesn't look at him and think they can do better. If he can find a way through more weight / strength or better technique to hold up better with a DT over him he'd be very good. Seems to do a good job with the mental side of C, both pre snap and with his decisions on where he goes with chips and double teams. Will turn 26 during next season.
Danny Watkins - Ugh. Functional run blocker, and had some games where he looked pretty good in that area but he's a disaster in pass pro. Seems to have no football sense at all, doesn't pick up line stunts or see blitzers coming. There were 2 plays in the Steelers game early in the year where Watkins stood with his arms extended in space looking (the wrong way) for someone to block while free rushers broke through
right beside him. Always a chance a new staff turns an underachiever around, but hard to see a big future for Watkins. My bet is he sticks around for another year or so as a reserve and then is quietly released as a TC cut next year. Will turn 40 during next season (I think)
Todd Herremans - Has played RT the last two years, and was OK to good there in 2011, but was struggling last year. Got easily beaten in pass protection on some critical plays that really stood out. Will turn 31 early next season. Bottom line is I think he was very good as a G, and is only decent as a T. Particularly with the injury recovery I think relying on him to play T is probably a risky move. Not sure why, but for some reason I think he is the guy most likely to suffer/struggle with his recovery.
Dallas Reynolds - Started off pretty badly, but improved over the rest of the season, both due to his picking up experience in his first real playing time, and the team I think figuring out what he could and couldn't do. What he can't do is move laterally. Struggles to keep up with the quicker DTs and can't reach block or pull and make it to the corner. This in particular hurts the outside zone running plays. He actually does fairly well when he can just go straight ahead, as the season wore on you did see Reynolds really driving guys off the ball both inline and at the 2nd level, particularly in Brown's two big games. He's not a starter, but I think he's a decent backup. Has limitations but I think enough talent to work with in that capacity. Will turn 29 by next season, so not exactly a youngster.
Dennis Kelly - Started a couple of games at G and looked bad on the execution side, just wasn't comfortable there. It did stand out to me he had much better awareness of what was going on around him than Watkins though. Generally did a good job picking up stunts and blitzers even when it wasn't telegraphed where they were coming from. Execution was up and down though, didn't really look good there. Looked much better at RT after Herremans went down though. Kelly has good footwork and surprising agility for a guy his height. Is able to get to the second level effectively and does a good job mirroring rushers and staying between them and the QB. When he does get beaten in pass pro, doesn't get totally blown away, is usually able to stay with his guy and ride him upfield even if he doesn't have him under control. Guys do get off Kelly's blocks though, he seems to get into position and wall off rather than drive through and finish his blocks in the run game. Seems reluctant to use his hands in pass pro as well. Right now I think Kelly is a solid backup but if he can improve his strength or technique (or get angrier) so that he sustains and finishes his blocks, I think he has starting potential.
Jake Scott - Big indictment on Watkins that a guy can get off his couch on during the week and start for us on Sunday and play better than Watkins ever did. Was generally solid and seemed to help Kelly. Did a good job for us, but would be surprised if they brought him back.
King Dunlap - Doesn't belong on an NFL roster. Slow, heavy feet. Gets consistently beaten in pass pro, and doesn't have the athletic ability to get into position to make blocks in the run game. See ya.
Demetress Bell - Best thing about Demetress is we won't see him on the field again in Eagles gear.
I'm sure they'll add to this group before the season starts even if just for competition, but right now the line I would put on the field is: Peters, Mathis, Kelce, Herremans, Kelly. RT is the weak spot, but I like Herremans/Kelly better than Watkins/Herremans.