Eagles Continue March Toward Final Cut Down Day
By Ed Benkin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- One of the toughest jobs for an NFL coach is to make his final cuts. Chip Kelly is getting closer to cut down day for his roster.
The Eagles will play their final preseason game on Thursday against the Jets. Two days later, NFL teams will be forced to trim their roster down to 53 players. It is never easy for a coach to inform a player his dream of playing in the NFL is over, but Kelly understands he has a job to do before the start of the regular season.
"You have to make them," said Kelly. "You've got to make a decision. You have to choose between Player A and Player B. It's based on the full body of work that they've done since they've been here. This is a critical week for a lot of those guys."
Thursday's preseason finale against the Jets will largely feature backup players on the field. Many will be fighting for a roster spot. One of those players is Matt Barkley, who is battling Tim Tebow for the third quarterback spot on the roster. Barkley is expected to start against the Jets, and said he is keeping the same mentality despite facing the challenge from Tebow.
"It's a little different scenario," Barkley said. "But my mindset hasn't changed. It's the same to compete as always. whether it's against myself or against someone else to be the best player I can be."
Some players who struggle at their positions have found roster spots on special teams. Others have excelled on offense or defense. Kelly says the complete body of work will be factored into their decisions when it is time to cut down the roster.
"Everything factors in," said Kelly. "It's not 'he's better on special teams, so he plays'. You've got to put it all together. It's got to all come into play."
The players that remain on the roster will be part of an Eagles' squad which has generated quite a buzz in the preseason. The Eagles are a perfect 3-0 in preseason play and have dominated all three of their games. However, Kelly isn't letting his team get carried away with the regular season still two weeks away.
"We're just trying to get better and improve as a group," Kelly said. "I don't think people have game planned for us, nor have we game planned for them. I think we're all trying to get our players to get opportunities on film that you can teach them off of and also make full evaluations of guys."
The Eagles will hold another workout on Tuesday before heading to North Jersey on Wednesday.