Cuts Aren't Official (Yet) but two are confirmed.

Well the Eagles are saying that the list of cuts that made its way onto the net was, in fact, just a default dummy list of guys the web-guys THOUGHT were on the way out. Well, I dunno about that - the list looks pretty logical to me and Les Bowen is reporting that sources have confirmed at least two of the cuts:

P - Dirk Johnson
WR - Jeremy Bloom

Deeper analysis when the cuts become official, but my take on the release of Dirk and Bloom is fairly simple: the Eagles couldn't pass-up the near unreal talent of Aussie kicker Sav Rocca. Moreover - Rocca must've gotten a thumbs-up from K David Akers despite the two trouble snaps in the final preseason game versus the NY Jets.

Now Dirk's grousing a bit - saying if the Eagles knew before Thursday's final game that they were going to keep Rocca that they should've let him go. I for one, ain't buying that shit.
ONE - there is no guarantee the Eagles had already made up their mind. They wanted a spirited competition after Dirk turned in a injured, sub-par (generously speaking) season in 2006. Dirk came back strong and kicked the heck out of the ball. But he clearly doesn't have the leg strength or talent of Rocca. Case closed.
TWO - Why exactly did we "owe you". Excuse me Dirk, but football is a CONTACT sport - as Sav found out in game 1. So what if we'd released Dirk (and watched him try out and latch on with say New England or Cleveland or Detroit or wherever) and then had Sav get submarined in the preseason game or otherwise taken out? No, the threat of injury is always there and no team keeps two punters, just-in-case, so the Birds made their choice. And they did it at the right time. After a complete evaluation at the END of the preseason.

As for Bloom - well, it was nice thinking we had found a guy with something special, but Bloom did not live-up to expectations. His punt returns were no better than the long and not-so dearly departed Reno Mahe. He had a little wiggle to him, but not the elusive nature or shotgun burst of a Dante Hall. I mean, if anyone from the coverage team so much as laid a hand on Bloom, he went DOWN. I was pulling for the guy too, but I'm not so blinded by my own hope for success that I can ignore the fact that he just didn't have "it". Oh well.

Eagles Cuts Leaked Early?

Evidently the person in charge of making sure the wireless news feed to Eagles subscribers got a little too pro-active and may have dished the dirt on some Eagles cut a day early. Besides the obvious black-eye the front office is going to get should a player get word via the net, instead of in-person, it seems someone is due for a pink-slip of their own.
Now Eagles.com and Spuds won't confirm any of these moves....so there COULD be some changes. Doubtful. But not altogether beyond the realm of possibility.

In case the .jpg doesn't show up clearly: there are a few notable names on the list:
Ian Scott, the big run-stuffing DT they signed from Chicago - he could get on the field with a knee injury, which was good news for rookie FA Jeremy Clarke who really took advantage of his opportunity with a strong camp. Clarke - you isn't on the list.

Jeremy Bloom, I noted this in my blog earlier. Too much shake, not enough bake. He has a little wiggle to him, but the Eagles prospective KR/PR just never seemed to want to run it straight up the field. Not every play can be bust to the outside - ESPECIALLY with our ST blocking.

Dirk Johnson, our incumbent punter apparently lost out to the booming leg of our new Aussie pick-up, Saverio Rocca. Rocca, who was an instant hit with the fans, can flat-out crush the ball. Hell, he "shanked" a kick and he got a 42-yarder out of it. Toss in the a great pooch-punt ability and the propensity to hang ball up in the sky long enough for the coverage guys to make the fair catch, and you have a true special teams weapon. Dirk may be steady, but our Special Teams have been anything but. Having Rocca back there at least gives the punting unit a chance to shine. Now he just need to get that holding thing down. FG do not need to be an adventure. If he and LS Jon Dorenbos don't practice FG snapping and holding for 60+ this week, something is wrong.

Nate Ilaoa, the big Samoan HB from UH couldn't crack the line-up. Well he's project, as evidenced by his 7th round status. I think he lands on the practice squad.

Bloom and the Eagles Run Game

Lots of stuff on Jeremy Bloom, who has basically been annointed the Eagles return man since Bethel Johnson (who signed a 1-year tender) was cut because he could never get on the field for mini-camps. And if what I've read it any indication, we've made the right choice. Little dribs and drabs from camp saw Bloom has been catching everything that has come his way, and it looks like he's ready to be a football player and not a skier. I tell you, having a guy with a bit of explosiveness back there will be a breath of fresh air after a few years of dependable, but god-awful-slow Reno Mahe....so long as he doesn't fumble....

Now here's a question: Bloom looks good now, but what if he doesn't pan out? I wouldn't go so far as put on him on any sort of "indispensable Eagles" list, but dang, it'll be awful nice if he can stay healthy...

Another thing I've noticed, local writers questioning whether or not the Eagles will remain committed to the run this season. As in, now that Donovan's back, will the coaches forget to run (or in some cases it comes off like, will Donovan be so selfish that he all but demands they go pass-happy again).

Here is how I see it: even with Jeff Garcia in there, the Eagles remained a predominately passing team, they just ran a bit more and found that a better balance really benefited both the run AND the pass by keeping teams honest. Let's not kid ourselves: the Eagles did not suddenly morph into a 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust K.C. or Pittsburgh team. (weird deja vu moment: I dreamt I typed this into my blog months ago, this exact paragraph, heck before Garcia had even left the team....eerie). I hope and expect the Birds to maintain that better balance because of two things: 1) It gets the ball in Westbrook's hands more often, and the Eagles have a really powerful O-line to pave the way and 2) A bit more running will keep defenses honest and not just let them throw caution to the wind and just rush McNabb (AND his knee) pell mell.

And another thing: I think the Eagles will remain a team that passes to get the lead and runs to keep it. In the past, they've passed to get the lead and then sorta gave the run a half-hearted attempt and then resorted to passing again. I think a good mixture early on, in which AR and MM use runs to step up certain passes, will go a long long way to keeping the offense unpredictable and McNabb out of harm's way.