Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp: What to watch on offense

The Philadelphia Eagles personnel will look quite different on offense come 2017. With more roster moves to come between now and Week 1, training camp is where players separate themselves for a chance to stick on the team.

The Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp will officially begin on Monday, July 24 at the NovaCare Complex. First to arrive will be the rookies, quarterbacks, and some select veterans and by the 27th the entire team will have arrived and checked in for the first official practice. Eagles Training Camp will have two open practices this year at Lincoln Financial Field. Practices will be Saturday, July 29th and Sunday, August 6th with both slated to start around 10am.

This years Training Camp and Pre-Season will determine what the Philadelphia Eagles roster will look come Week 1. Everyone knows Wentz is starting Week 1 baring injury but below is a break down of what to watch on offense during camp. There will be plenty of position battles that will determine the starters as well as the Eagles depth.

Quarterbacks

This will be year 2 for franchise quarterback Carson Wentz and as the weeks and months pass, fans, teammates, and coaches will expect Wentz to elevate not only his play but the players around him.

The question will be if the Philadelphia Eagles will roster 3 quarterbacks, with Nick Foles stamped as the back up quarterback it will be interesting to watch if Matt McGloin will make the roster as a 3rd quarterback. Greg Ward and Dane Evans round out the quarterbacks in camp that will compete with McGloin to vie for the 3rd QB, if Coach Pederson and Roseman decide to keep a 3rd QB on the roster.

Runningbacks

Ryan Mathews is currently on the roster but, per the Phillyvoice, “The Eagles can avoid paying Ryan Mathews (neck surgery) an injury settlement by waiting until he’s medically cleared to release him. It’s the only reason why Mathews hasn’t been released yet. Were Mathews cut today, the Eagles would be forced to pay him a $1.15 million Injury Protection Benefit. Beat writer Jimmy Kempski believes the Eagles would have already released Mathews if there were no NFL salary cap.” 

As it stands 2016 NFL rushing touchdown leader LeGarrette Blount will be the starting running back come week one. Darren Sproles will continue to have the same role he has had his entire career, a scat back who is a 3rd down weapon. It will be interesting to see if Sproles will be used on special teams this year as he gets older.

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Rookie Donnell Pumphrey and 2nd year running back Wendell Smallwood look to be the 3rd and 4th running back that will make the roster. Byron Marshall and Corey Clement round out the cast in the back field in camp, and although they are interesting running back prospects it would be shocking to see Smallwood or Pumphrey get cut to make room for either Marshall or Clement.

Wide Receivers

The top 3 wide receivers are set. Free agent prize Alshon Jeffery, speedster Torrey Smith and Jordan Matthews. Dorial Green-Beckem was waived a few weeks ago but it still leaves a bunch of wide receivers battling for roster spots. Depending on how the 53 man roster shakes out the Eagles will keep 5 or 6 receivers.

The Eagles will be bringing in 10 receivers into camp this season but that will have to be cut down. This leaves Nelson Agholor, Bryce Treggs, Paul Turner and rookies Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson fighting for 2 or 3 spots. Could this be the year the Eagles rid themselves of Agholor? Bryce Treggs looked good last season and it will be interesting if the Eagles cut one of their recent draft picks. T

he most likely scenario will be the Philadelphia Eagles keeping Jeffrey, Smith, Matthews, Agholor and either one or both of the rookies. It will be interesting to watch the depth receivers battle for reps come July and August.

Tight Ends

This group is set. Zach Ertz returns as one of the better young Tight Ends in the NFL right now and Swiss army knife Trey Burton will be back as the Eagles like to line him up everywhere. Brent Celek will be watched as a potential dark-horse veteran causality. Celek’s usage has declined over the years and he carries a 4 million dollar cap hit. If Celek is cut it will come down to a battle of Billy Brown and Anthony Denham to battle for the 3rd tight end roster spot.

Offensive Line

The Eagles come into camp with 17 offensive line players under contract. As Pro Football Focus has called them the best offensive line coming into 2017, all 5 starting positions have been set. From left to right, Peters, Barbre, Kelce, Brooks and Johnson are all entrenched in their starting spots. NFL teams will usually roster 9-11 offensive lineman so there will be a lot to watch trying to cut down from 17.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Isaac Seumalo, and Stefan Wisniewski will more than likely make the roster but the most intriguing lineman to watch will be former top-10 pick Chance Warmack. Warmack was regarded as one of the best guard prospects in years when he was selected by the Titans in 2013. After not living up to his expectations in Tennessee, Warmack signed a one year deal with the hopes of resurrecting his career. It will be interesting if Warmack can prove enough in camp to cement a roster spot.

Next: Philadelphia Eagles: Newest star Alshon Jeffery

The Eagles boast plenty of new faces on the offensive side of the ball and It will be interesting to see how the roster shakes out. The offensive line, Quarterback, and Tight Ends seem to be essentially set but it will be fun to watch how the running backs and receiver group will play out. With cuts, and signings inevitably coming its time to strap in because football season is right around the corner.