James Centifonti

The eagles will now be missing Curtis for a undetermined amount of time after being hurt in last week’s game against Carolina.  With Reggie Brown also nursing his own injuries it will me from what I can see Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis (still have no idea why he is on the team), & DeSean Jackson getting much of the time this week against New England.

What I don’t understand is Reid saying they won’t pursue anybody in a trade.  Maybe I need the same blinders that he has because I can not seeing them doing a whole of anything in this division with the current group left at wide receiver. 

For more on the story here is the link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/news/story?id=3544707

James Centifonti

Normally going in to training camps it should be about the team as it begins preperation towards the coming season and achieving it’s goals.  For the Eagles so far it’s been less about that then unhappy players in Brian Westbrook & Lito Shepard whom are not happy with their respective contracts.  Then there is will this be the last season Donovan McNabb will be with the team & why hasn’t Shawn Andrews shown up to camp ? 

So far at camp we have 2 players whom have come down with injuries in Asante Samuel (Strained Hamstring) and Victor Abiamiri broke his right hand in drills on sunday and will be out of action for a undisclosed amount of time.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are know in Lehigh at “Hell Days”.  Coach Reid puts his players in full contract drills is the morning and afternoon practices.  Reid is doing something different this year with the players he has on the team that are over 30 in giving them the morning practice off before having them take part in the afternoon session.

More to come as I try to see what battles are taking place as camp continues !!!

Update:  Eagles defensive end Chris Clemons has been taken to a Lehigh Valley hospital after leaving the field with heat-related dehydration this mornings practice.  

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Clemons_taken_to_hospital.html

James Centifonti

With camp set to begin tomorrow for rookies and selected vets, there are concerns with the defense.  Is the line good enough to help control games ?  Is there enough depth to give the starters breathers and still maintain the control ?  Is the young linebackers good enough to get the job done ?  What will happen with the secondary ?  Who start’s on the other side of samuel ?  Does Lito become a back up or does Sheldon and if whoever is the odd man out do they get traded, released, or suck it up for the season ?  Who starts at strong safety ?   Will the birds use more of 3-4 ?

Just a few questions i think could come up or need to be answered at camp.  Let’s look at the defensive starters and what’s behind them.

Defensive End

Trent Cole is the only starter I know of for sure outside of him it’s a race to see who really wants the other starting position and who will be the back up spots.  It’s a coin toss among Victor Abiamiri, Chris Clemons, Darren Howard, Jerome McDougal, Juqua Parker, & Bryan Parker.

Defensive Tackle

We know Mike Patterson & Broderick Bunkley are the starters with the following Trevor Laws, Dan Kleco, Monte Reagor, & Kimo von Oelhoffen fighting for positions.   I would say Laws will be here just because he was the teams 1st selection in the draft………So it really is a 3 man race for a spot on the 53 man roster……..If I had to guess now I say it goes to the man with the most experience in Oelhoffen.

Linebackers

This is a very very young group with really not much in the way of veteran experience.  It is very critical to me that this position steps up all year long and doesn’t let up.  Chris Gocong, Stewart Bradley, & Omar Gaither will be the starters at least heading into camp and most likely the season.  Rockey Boiman (the most experience among this position), Akeem Jordan, Joe Mays, Justin Roland, Andy Studebaker, & Pago Togafau round out the players at this position.

Sticking with my guessing I say Boiman, Jordan & Mays make the team and Studebaker goes on the taxi squad.

Cornerback

With Samuel being the only one knowing what the deal is going into the season it leaves at least me wondering who starts on the other side of him.  Sheppard who is unhappy with his contract or Brown who if he doesn’t land the spot will have no problem saying so causing a possible uproar and problems.  Once that battle is settled you have who will be the final 2 or 3 to make the roster.  Jack Ikegwuonu will most likely be on the injured list the entire season.    With what is remaning Juliso Hanson (to me is a favorite to land a spot), Kyle Arrington, Nick Graham, & Therrian Fontenot.

With not knowing the Shepard/Brown saga I will go with Hanson & Graham taking the other spots.

Safety

Only knowing Brian Dawkins starting leave another fight for a stating position on the defense.  It also leave the question to who is the back up for Dawkins.   J.R. Reed, Quintin Mikal, Quintin Demps, Marcus Paschal, & Sean Considine.

I will say Mikal will win the spot at strong safety.  Considine will backup Mikal & Reed or Demps will back up Dawkins.