PHILADELPHIA -- While the Philadelphia Eagles will have drastically new offensive and defensive schemes this year, the team is planning to stay the course when it comes to special teams.
Doug Pederson will reimagine Chip Kelly’s offense. He hired Jim Schwartz to transform the defense into an aggressive, 4-3 attacking scheme. But Pederson retained special-teams coach Dave Fipp, whose units were consistently strong during Kelly’s three-year tenure.
So there weren’t any dramatic differences to note in the special-teams portions of the Eagles’ recent practices. What was notable was the level of competition that will be maintained during training camp, as players battle for roster spots.
Pederson made it clear several times. Special teams will have an impact on roster decisions. He said so when discussing the performance of some of the rookies on the roster.
“And my message, too, to these guys, to the young players, is that special teams becomes a big part of their success,” Pederson said, “especially early on in their careers and how they can make a roster on special teams.”
Pederson said he and Howie Roseman, the Eagles’ executive vice president of football operations, routinely discuss the way the roster will break down. The number of spots slotted for wide receivers, linebackers and defensive backs could be dictated partly by the players needed for special teams.
Specifically, Pederson talked about the possibility of keeping four tight ends. That’s an unusually high number, but Pederson showed offensive formations that included three tight ends during offseason practices.
Zach Ertz and Brent Celek are obviously going to be on the team. Third-team tight end Trey Burton is a core special-teams player. Chris Pantale, who was on the practice squad last year, looked good in offseason practices and is also getting an opportunity to fill the hole at fullback.
“I have to look at it from, how much are we going to use that position?” Pederson said. “The value of that position, and if you've got four tight ends active on game day, that's pretty good, because one of them can be a fullback, play special teams -- all of that comes into play.”
Burton, safety Chris Maragos, defensive end Bryan Braman and running back Darren Sproles all distinguished themselves on Fipp’s special-teams units last year. Their versatility will be a big part of their ability to make the team again this year.
Some of the most intense competition will take place at the specialist positions. In fact, it already began during organized team activities (OTAs), as kickers Cody Parkey and Caleb Sturgis took turns attempting field goals from various distances.
The kicker situation is unusual because both men are incumbents. The Eagles acquired Parkey before the 2015 season and he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Last year, he injured his groin and tried to play through it. He wound up aggravating the injury and going on season-ending injured reserve in September.
The Eagles signed Sturgis as Parkey’s replacement. He spent the rest of the season kicking for the Eagles. Both kickers will compete for one roster spot throughout the preseason.
Long-snapper Jon Dorenbos has been with the Eagles for 10 years. He will turn 36 in July. The math dictates that the Eagles have to start preparing for life after Dorenbos. That’s why they signed undrafted rookie John DePalma, a 6-foot-5, 251-pound player from West Virginia.
There wasn’t much noticeable difference between the two during OTAs and minicamp. This competition will come down to the preseason, when the players will be operating under game conditions.
The Eagles also brought in another punter, Ryan Quigley, early in OTAs. But they released him in late May. That appears to leave Donnie Jones, 35, on track to play his 13th NFL season.
The Eagles could bring another punter in before camp opens on July 25, or they could let Jones punt through the preseason. If he is kicking as well as he has for the past few years, there would be no need to use a roster spot on another punter. If Jones struggles, a bunch of punters will become available late in the preseason.
