Roster cuts complete makeover of Eagles' lines

The Eagles reshaped their offensive and defensive lines this offseason, bringing in new coaches to revitalize areas that Andy Reid believes are fundamental to NFL success.

The twin makeovers, though, left very different results when the team pared its roster to 53 Saturday.

On the defensive line, coach Jim Washburn has depth and experience: 10 men for four line positions. Six of them played in Philadelphia last season, and only two of them have less than two years' experience.

The offensive line, meanwhile, is a collection of youth and moving parts. Of the nine offensive linemen left on the roster Saturday, three are rookies, one is new to the Eagles, and one is in a new position. Two of those rookies are projected starters.

Which perhaps helps explain why the Eagles kept Jamaal Jackson even after demoting him to backup center.

Jackson is an experienced pro, with 72 career starts, and he looked solid in the middle of the offensive line this preseason. If Howard Mudd-style rookies such as guard Danny Watkins or center Jason Kelce falter, Jackson would be a strong fill-in.

"We're trying to keep the guys that we think are the best players for our football team, and Jamaal Jackson is certainly one of them," said general manager Howie Roseman.

Jackson could take Kelce's place at center, or step in at guard, where he began his career. (Kelce could also slide to guard, allowing Jackson back in at center.)

With three new offensive linemen - Kelce, Watkins, and newcomer Evan Mathis at left guard - and another lineman, right tackle Todd Herremans, at a new position, Jackson's experience might be needed before long.

Tackle Winston Justice is another veteran, and he was activated off the physically unable to perform list. But if the Eagles felt Justice was ready to return and play at a high level, it seems they would not have moved Herremans from left guard to Justice's right tackle spot.

"We wouldn't have activated him if he wasn't ready to practice," Roseman said, adding that Justice should be on the practice field this week.

The defensive line is a different story, where the Eagles have many options.

Mike Patterson, Antonio Dixon, and Trevor Laws are all familiar faces back at defensive tackle, along with newcomer, and likely starter, Cullen Jenkins, entering his eighth season after winning the Super Bowl in February.

At defensive end, Trent Cole, Darryl Tapp, and Juqua Parker are all back. The main addition is Jason Babin, who already knows Washburn, having played for him in Tennessee.

Brandon Graham remains on the PUP list and will miss at the least the first six weeks of the season.

All that experience allowed the Eagles to take a shot on two younger players: defensive tackle Cedric Thornton and defensive end Philip Hunt.

Thornton, an undrafted free agent from Southern Arkansas, is the surprise of the roster. He beat out veteran tackles Derek Landri and Anthony Hargrove.

Youth helped him. The Eagles believe they can develop Thornton over time. Landri and Hargrove were on one-year contracts and may have left quickly. As veterans, they would have had guaranteed salaries, but as the fifth tackle, would probably have seen little playing time.

Hunt, a pass-rushing star in the Canadian Football League, forced his way onto the team with an impressive training camp and preseason, including three sacks.

His play made the Eagles cut Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, a third-round pick in 2010, after just one season. Give the Eagles credit for admitting a mistake, though they can take some flak for making a bad early pick in the first place. Te'o-Nesheim could be added to the practice squad.

"We just want to be true to the process," Roseman said when asked about cutting such a high pick. "If you let ego get in the way and you make a decision based on that instead of what's best for the team, I don't think that really helps your football team."

It was a tacit admission that the Eagles missed on Te'o-Nesheim.

With the shape of this roster, Michael Vick and Reid have to hope the Eagles drafted better this year on the offensive line.