This offseason has been hard to bear on the surface, but the end result will be a younger, faster, stronger Eagles team. I can't wait till the draft, where we all know the Birds FO will be moving around to get the players they want with all the ammunition they have. But after the draft, what I really can't wait for are the positional battles that will take place at Lehigh in August. There are several positions that will be facing change, and the effect they have will send everything in a new direction. Barring any trades for veterans, I foresee many great battles at several positions.
So here is how this works, I'll present the position (ex. WR #1), the player in the lead for the position in my opinion, then the biggest challenger for the position, and then the 3rd challenger, and then any others. All of this will mind any draft additions.
So without further ado...My Position Battles:
WR #1: DeSean Jackson vs. Kevin Curtis
WR #2: Kevin Curtis vs. Reggie Brown
WR #3: Kevin Curtis (if he doesn't win WR #2) vs. Jason Avant vs. Reggie Brown (if he doesn't win WR #2)
WR #4: Reggie Brown vs. Hank Baskett vs. Draft Pick
TE #1: Brent Celek vs. (?) Draft Pick (the only draft pick who could win the position would be Brandon Pettigrew)
FB: Dan Klecko vs. (?) Free Agent vs. (?) Draft Pick vs. Kyle Eckel
RB #2: (?) Draft Pick vs. Lorenzo Booker
LDE: Victor Abiamiri vs. Jaqua Thomas vs. Bryan Smith vs. (?) Draft Pick
WLB: Akeem Jordan vs. Omar Gaither vs. (?) Draft Pick
SS: Quintin Mikell vs. Sean Jones vs. Draft Pick
FS: Quintin Mikell (if not the starter at SS) vs. Quintin Demps vs. Sean Jones vs. (?) Draft Pick
S #3: Sean Jones vs. (?) Draft Pick
Offensive Line is an entirely different beast. This is because there will be so much turnover, and the possibility of players switching position due to the FO drafting such versatile players. We have to consider so many posibilities with the guys moving around, and considering the player(s) we draft. But realize, the only Offensive Tackles we can get (even with trading up) are, from least likely to most, Andre Smith, Micheal Oher, Eben Britton, and William Beatty. Of them, I can only imagine Oher and Beatty coming in here and starting. And if we don't go OT, the only Guard worth a starting job is Duke Robinson, and the only Center who would be a possible upgrade over Jamal Jackson would be Alex Mack. So with all of that in mind, lets ponder some of the possiblities up front and the starting roster battles that will ensue.
LT - LG - C - RG - RT
#1: Shawn Andrews - Todd Herremans - Jamal Jackson - (RG Battle) - Stacy Andrews
This seems like the most likely scenario, because the FO is very firm that Shawn is truly a LT. That and they will not start a rookie at LT unless they are increadible. I can imagine them drafting a tackle and putting him at guard to compete.
RG: OT or OG drafted in 1st or 2nd round vs. Nick Cole vs. (if healthy) Max Jene-Gillis vs. Mike McGlynn vs. Winston Justice
#2. Todd Herremans - (LG Battle) - Jamal Jackson - Shawn Andrews - Stacy Andrews
Same deal, kinda, but they swith Herremans instead. Herremans started at LT his rookie year and did pretty well, so it wouldn't shock me for him to go out there again.
LG: OT or OG drafted in 1st or 2nd round vs. Nick Cole vs. (if healthy) Max Jene-Gillis vs. Mike McGlynn vs. King Dunlap
#3: Draft Pick - Todd Herremans - Jamal Jackson - Shawn Andrews - Stacy Andrews
Highly unlikely, unless they get a hold of Oher or Andre Smith. But you never know.
There are other possibilities, with the possibility of Stacy Andrews playing guard, and Jamal Jackson being usurped from the lineup by Nick Cole, but lets leave it where it is.
So here is how this works, I'll present the position (ex. WR #1), the player in the lead for the position in my opinion, then the biggest challenger for the position, and then the 3rd challenger, and then any others. All of this will mind any draft additions.
So without further ado...My Position Battles:
WR #1: DeSean Jackson vs. Kevin Curtis
WR #2: Kevin Curtis vs. Reggie Brown
WR #3: Kevin Curtis (if he doesn't win WR #2) vs. Jason Avant vs. Reggie Brown (if he doesn't win WR #2)
WR #4: Reggie Brown vs. Hank Baskett vs. Draft Pick
TE #1: Brent Celek vs. (?) Draft Pick (the only draft pick who could win the position would be Brandon Pettigrew)
FB: Dan Klecko vs. (?) Free Agent vs. (?) Draft Pick vs. Kyle Eckel
RB #2: (?) Draft Pick vs. Lorenzo Booker
LDE: Victor Abiamiri vs. Jaqua Thomas vs. Bryan Smith vs. (?) Draft Pick
WLB: Akeem Jordan vs. Omar Gaither vs. (?) Draft Pick
SS: Quintin Mikell vs. Sean Jones vs. Draft Pick
FS: Quintin Mikell (if not the starter at SS) vs. Quintin Demps vs. Sean Jones vs. (?) Draft Pick
S #3: Sean Jones vs. (?) Draft Pick
Offensive Line is an entirely different beast. This is because there will be so much turnover, and the possibility of players switching position due to the FO drafting such versatile players. We have to consider so many posibilities with the guys moving around, and considering the player(s) we draft. But realize, the only Offensive Tackles we can get (even with trading up) are, from least likely to most, Andre Smith, Micheal Oher, Eben Britton, and William Beatty. Of them, I can only imagine Oher and Beatty coming in here and starting. And if we don't go OT, the only Guard worth a starting job is Duke Robinson, and the only Center who would be a possible upgrade over Jamal Jackson would be Alex Mack. So with all of that in mind, lets ponder some of the possiblities up front and the starting roster battles that will ensue.
LT - LG - C - RG - RT
#1: Shawn Andrews - Todd Herremans - Jamal Jackson - (RG Battle) - Stacy Andrews
This seems like the most likely scenario, because the FO is very firm that Shawn is truly a LT. That and they will not start a rookie at LT unless they are increadible. I can imagine them drafting a tackle and putting him at guard to compete.
RG: OT or OG drafted in 1st or 2nd round vs. Nick Cole vs. (if healthy) Max Jene-Gillis vs. Mike McGlynn vs. Winston Justice
#2. Todd Herremans - (LG Battle) - Jamal Jackson - Shawn Andrews - Stacy Andrews
Same deal, kinda, but they swith Herremans instead. Herremans started at LT his rookie year and did pretty well, so it wouldn't shock me for him to go out there again.
LG: OT or OG drafted in 1st or 2nd round vs. Nick Cole vs. (if healthy) Max Jene-Gillis vs. Mike McGlynn vs. King Dunlap
#3: Draft Pick - Todd Herremans - Jamal Jackson - Shawn Andrews - Stacy Andrews
Highly unlikely, unless they get a hold of Oher or Andre Smith. But you never know.
There are other possibilities, with the possibility of Stacy Andrews playing guard, and Jamal Jackson being usurped from the lineup by Nick Cole, but lets leave it where it is.
