Philadelphia Eagles-Minnesota Vikings Pregame show: Cooper DeJean set for preseason finale | PHLY

[Music] he [Music] hello and welcome in to the phly Eagles pregame show podcast Jamie Lynch in with you uh bo wolf is going to be joining us from Lincoln Financial Field in about eight minutes to go over some of the actives inactives but to my left your right we welcome in Fran Duffy to his first PHL preseason pregame show thank you hopefully this is last round of applause we got for for the the next Fran Fran Fran uh but yes welcome in and honored to do the show with you Fran uh and to everybody out there it's the last preseason game the last game before meaningful football down in Brazil uh I think there's probably a little bit that could be determined today from the for the final roster here uh as you as we were talking pregame it's probably in some light pen maybe some hard pencil for most of the roster but there certainly going to be some guys uh to watch today and I think number one on the mind of Eagles fans is probably Cooper deine uh and how much we'll see of him what role he's in uh what are your thoughts today on Cooper yeah he would be one to watch for sure because you know as Vic fangio said earlier this week really when you look at Cooper deine he hasn't played a lot of football and so really what you're hoping to see is okay can he go outes are his sea legs under him is he in football shape from that standpoint uh there's going to be plenty of time here in the next week and a half for him to prove himself to fangio to the rest of the defensive staff to say this is the kind of role he can have for us in week one week two week three or does he come out and say all right maybe we need to slow play a little bit he's more of a reserve as we get the season started and now that's going to change what the rotation could look like in the secondary yeah it's it's quite uh remarkable to think about where the secondary ended last year yeah uh with Josh job you know being like number two on the depth chart at some points uh and now he's down at like five and you have this Cooper Dee who's kind of like a little bit of a cherry on the top right now with the way quinan and these starters and Eli Ricks and and Ringo and these guys have all stepped up so the secondary is transformed should be a lot of fun and I think a lot of people are curious I'm with Zach where it's kind of like you know it's not positionist but he does seem like a fun Cog to be able to deploy in different ways I don't know if you're going to get a ton of that today probably a little bit more vanilla uh but nonetheless the first time the Eagles fans get to see him so it should be fun it will be f to see what role he does play here today because in the spring pre-injury he was a nickel Corner essentially and so he he dabbled a little bit at safety but what how is he used today where does he line up does he play Only In sub package when they're out there in their base defense is he a safety uh or is he going to be with the corners it's going to be fascinating to watch that yeah and of course Vic fangio and Kell Moore Vic gets to deploy a lot of fun new toys uh you know we'll get into some of those roster spots but uh on the defensive side of the ball today linebackers are um one of those groups that looks like it's more or less probably in some light pen there in in terms of who's going to make the uh team and the final roster uh what are you looking for out of the linebacking core today yeah uh the two guys that are kind of on the bubble it would seem like it would be Jeremiah troter Jr and uh Ben van suumer and and both guys are dressed today we'll hear from Bo in a little bit to see who some of those other players are that are in uniform but trer JR this is a good opportunity for him I would assume he'll get the start and what will he look like in the first quarter he'd be one of those players Jamie where it's written in hard pencil you just want to make sure all right let's let's not erase anything come out of this healthy make sure you're good to go for the regular season yeah and it's going to be interesting to see how they deploy linebackers in the season because Trot Jr and noobe Dean both have some physical limitations where you could get picked on in the passing game so how they work in white uh and other guys and kind of alternate those guys and rotate the linebacking position this year should be pretty interesting to watch of course we're not really getting that it's going to be game three the preseason vanilla packages from both Moore and fangio but we're only basically a week away from seeing the real deal and it's pretty exciting um so uh defensive line as we go through the defense here starting from the back to the front um actually let me Circle back on my boy Tristan McCollum oh yeah uh he's probably going to get another big opportunity here today A lot of playing time on the line uh where does he kind of fall in earning a job for this roster well that's what if you are Tristan colum if you are let's say Lou Nichols if you're any of these guys that on the yeah right of course shout out to if you are any of these guys that are truly on the bubble the way you are approaching this game is all right not only am I trying to show out to earn a spot with the Eagles but potentially a spot with any of the other 31 football teams in the in the NFL and so Albert oonam last year for Denver he was outstanding he was extremely productive I want to say he had double digit catches for the Broncos in that final preseason game and that's what allowed the the Eagles to trade for him was like all right let we want to make sure we beat all the other teams to waivers for this player so if you're McCollum yeah you're fighting for a spot here but if he goes out and he has two picks if he has a force fumble if he has yeah now you say all right well either we're gonna keep him or we're gonna try and trade him because he's going to get poached off waivers we're not going to be able to sneak him through to the practice squad let's try and see if we can get a pick back for him and so McCollum yeah definitely going to be competing for one of those last roster spots does he do enough today to kind of force their hand or does he say all right let's try and wave him and see if we can sneak him through how's how is a guy like that impacted by the Special Teams effect is uh is that is that really the Difference Maker at the end of the day uh you know he flashed in game two had a solid game one if he goes out today and continues that is the Special Teams aspect of this really like the kind of the final straw it can be especially you know people are talking about the the new kickoff rules and what that can be that's just another handful of plays where those special teams players can find a way to make an impact and earn their keep on the roster and so trist McCollum not necessarily competing with say Andre Sam for that role but he might be competing with Ben vanan or with you know Joseph Nagata or any of these other guys that have special teams value now you want to make sure okay I hey this what do they say the more you can do if you can check that box on special teams and say this guy could be a developmental safety now you're it's almost like Marcus EPS when he first got here to Philly is all right he's gonna be a developmental player we hope he can become something on defense but early on he could be a nice player for us a special team yeah and moving back to front Patrick Johnson another one of those guys I think he the most snaps on special teams uh on the roster right now so he's another guy that has made some plays you know at the end of game one there uh had a decent game too he's made plays I would I would assume he's safe on the roster because of that special teams aspect uh but another guy that's going to get a big chance today to play a lot I haven't done a 53 yet but I would imagine if I were to do one Patrick Johnson would be one of the last guys on the roster just because of what he can do on special teams and then he's he's shown some juice as a pass rusher and to me schematically he fits really really well for what what Vic fangio wants from that position yeah uh and back to front linebackers now defensive line before we check in with Bo here momentarily from Lincoln Financial Field defensive line what are you going to be looking at today I think Booker is a guy that has really kind of emerged as a disruptor uh I'm going to be focused on him this is our first time watching a game together I'm going to be really curious to see what you're zoned in on and what you're looking at defensive line wise what are you going to be looking at yeah I love Thomas Booker I I love Mora ojimo as well we've seen a lot from him this Summer and he's been impact both against the run and the pass and so I would expect that we'll see both those guys get the start probably Marlon tuy palu inside at nose tackle uh and how long do those guys play you've got some other young guys a Gabe Hall there that can give you some uh some snaps in the second half but I would expect that we'll see a lot of Booker and a lot of ojimo here Booker to me ojimo is on the team yeah ojimo is a lot in mind I think ojimo is on the team and now Booker is a guy that is gonna be competing for one of those final roster spots to me he's done enough here this summer but look the the numbers can get can get weird especially because he's not a guy that's going to help you on special teams yeah and of course this is the Eagles pregame show here on PHL Eagles podcast and we are brought to you by our friends over at Miller Light 96 calories the original light beer since 1975 and to this day still the best one I will probably be cracking one during the game today on this glorious Saturday afternoon uh but let's head down just south of here to Lincoln Financial Field and welcome in BO wolf with I got to say Bo pretty good backdrop we were going to grade you on the backdrop right off the bat strong well you know the pregame show is difficult because you can't go steal you know radio Booth so but but you know this is the what Zach Zack likes to show you the uh the traffic pattern weather report is good we're feeling good here at the link I I you know big shoes to fill for me though yeah so bo uh you just texed us some of the guys that are going to be active versus inactive what jumped out to you today on who's playing who's not playing yeah I think the two big ones uh Cooper dein is is probably the the story of the game for for Eagles fans because he's going to get to play for the first time this preseason in warm-ups working as the first team nickel I I would imagine he's going to play most of the first half just because the Eagles have not seen him they want to see how he can move I would be uh surprised if we don't also see him get some reps on the outside at some point in this game so this will be a good test for him to show Vic vano that he can be part of this defense early on in the season and then from a like bit of a surprise that they are dressed I would say Nolan Smith uh which is a little bit interesting you know I would say the expectation for a second-year first round pick is that they wouldn't be dressing in the preseason finale now this is probably a numbers thing jayx Hunt is not dressed because he has been a little bit banged up so it might just be you know two series or something for Nolan Smith but I was a little bit surprised to to see him out there Bo one guy that we're going to see for the first time in an Eagles uniform certainly the fans will be linebacker Oren Burks uh do you have any expectations is there anything he can do to earn a roster spot over a Ben vaner in here in this game yeah it looked in in warm-ups like it was going to be Burks starting with Jeremiah Charter Jr in the middle for the defense I gotta say like Oren BRS I thought looked pretty good at practice the other day I mean he's only been on Team drills for like two practices and if he is fully healthy I would imagine that Vic fangio was judging him more off like what he saw from tape last year than than what he's seen this summer and he probably is a guy who if you release him he's a bested veteran other teams can claim him I wouldn't be surprised if another team signed him so I actually think that he is a player who might like be a a shock inclusion on the 53 man roster but right now I I do probably still have him off B one of the guys we were just talking about was Tristan McCollum and uh you know we've enjoyed both of his first two games he has an opportunity here um and James Bradberry might be a guy that he's kind of maybe a little bit competing with uh do you expect to see a a good amount of Bradberry here in the first half and do the Eagles you know view him as a sun cost or a guy that can actually contribute so I did not see James Bradberry in uniform I don't believe that he's playing today so I don't know if that injury thing or the Eagles have seen all that they need to see I I right now will not have Bradberry on my 53 uh I'm curious to see what they do if there's anybody around the league who wants to you know float them a seventh round pick in exchange for Bradberry services I don't know as for a colum I I do have to say that over the last week Andre and Sam has actually seemed to overtake Tristan McCollum in the the pecking order for Vic fangio we'll see I they're they're going to play together in this game so uh we we we'll see what happens but Andre Sam a player to to keep an eye on I know thanks to uh to Matt Quinn and Mount Joy Lou Nichols is not necessarily the camp Crush now at this point but what are your expectations for the running back today we still love Aloo there's no doubt about that I still believe in Lou the player um but it just it's just about the the stamp of official bwcc that EJ Jenkins has now earned uh I think you're going to see Tyran Davis price start L Nichols Rota in as well and Kendall Milton both will Shipley and Kenny G will not dress for this game so Tyrion Davis price has had a very good preseason I think he's got a roost shot as as well but uh we'll see how those guys look today obviously you know that yeah Bo somebody in the chat wants to know who your favorite little rasal is I think alala is the only one I can name oh I we they thought were going to go for Spanky I thought that was a layup for you Bo sorry um the wide receiver position today uh you know a guy like anas Smith uh probably hoping best case maybe practice squad uh but there's a lot of guys I mean cvy Johnny Wilson uh Paris Campbell andata Ross what do you expect to see from this group today and and who has a chance to actually you know maybe stamp their spot on this final roster today so no cvy and I didn't see Johnny Wilson uh in uniform either so it doesn't look like either of those guys are going to play I'm not sure if Johnny Wilson has a Nick he you know he had a concussion that he was going through I guess he potentially is not cleared from that yet um I will say I I don't know how you guys feel about this Fran tell me what you think I think the the Jan Dawson addition makes it a little bit more likely that they could carry an i Smith on the roster as like the 52 53rd guy because now that all of a sudden they don't need somebody else to contribute there like you have Johan doson set as your number three receiver cvy can can play in as well you can you can afford to carry you know one or two spots where it is purely Dev developmental it's really going to come down to like their evaluation of whether anas Smith's summer has been a result of the injury that kept him out of the spring practices whether that is affecting his movement ability or just put him behind the aall from learning the scheme stand Point yeah obviously with the way that they treat that this week will be a good indicator of how they View his long-term prospects because they've got a better view of him than than anybody else to to me I don't know that they can keep him on the 53 just with the summer that he's had from what we have seen obviously they they again they've seen him in the in the meeting room and in the wait room every single day but uh for me I don't know that that that that the uh the Dotson trade helps or hurts his cause I don't know that that the needle moved I I I didn't after the trade I didn't think anyone way oh you know what this probably helps or hurts his chances I think I was just kind of buried into the fact that he was probably not going to make this roster based off what we've seen the last few weeks I do want to ask you though Bo as an astute Observer of practice the offensive line is the one the one position uh that I feel like is is still a little murky for us because you've mentioned I mean look no cvy and Johnny Wilson today we feel good about wide receiver we feel good about what the running back picture is going to look like with the final 53 but when you look at offensive line no Trevor Keegan today he would be viewed as a bubble guy how do you think this is going to shake out here without tipping too much of your hand as we get closer to the the 53 competition yeah The rosters are due to a defending Champion Andrew Deo I believe at noon tomorrow that is the the deadline for the beat riter competition you know I feel better about my shot this year than I did last year but we we will see it's it's going to come down to like who are the surprise IR guys who maybe we weren't keeping an eye on I go back and forth on toast I think right now I'm not going to have him on um and I think I think Nick Gates is a guy who who could also make the team uh it looked to me from warm-ups like you're going to have a starting off of line today are from left to right Max sharping uh Nick Gates Dylan McMahon at Center Brett to at Red garden and Darren Canard at right tackle I'm with you that that it seems like there's one spot there where you know I would not be surprised if Howie makes a claim or an addition of some kind because they could use a little bit more Security in like a known quantity of of a guy who could be sort of a a potential game day emergency player but uh Curious howy Roseman uh among the most active GMS in the NFL during training camp and preseason who today playing on the field do you feel is like maybe the most likely to potentially be a trade candidate uh whereas you don't want to cut him and you try to get something for him yeah you know we we've said Eli Ricks for a long time um and the fact that it has come this far makes me lean towards maybe he's just going to make this roster and they will they will carry him and try to develop him in house uh and maybe maybe not get something return for him you know if somebody wants Josh job I think the Eagles would be would be happy to flip him I think the linebackers are another one to watch I mean we talked about Orin Burks I could I could be I could see a team trading for Orin Burks now that he is healthy or or even a a Brandon Smith or a Ben van sueran um and then I think I mean offensive line if if somebody wants one of those guys I think they would be willing to deal from that and then in terms of like additions I I do think that that tight end is still a possibility of something that they could look for I EJ Jenkins has song about him I mean they got to keep them we we talked with Julia about having the EJ Jenkins song be the intro to the show uh just to lead us in I love that I've also heard a lot I've heard some calls people want the lyrics so maybe maybe I will send jul and and she can uh she can update the video that is just the song and put it in the the comments there yeah so I could just comment on it myself uh bo it looks like we usually get the weather report from Zach now I was just outside about 15 minutes ago so I think I have a handle on this but what's the official boow wolf weather report down in South Philadelphia today it's this is too summer it's it's too much summer weather not enough fall weather it's a little bit too hot we don't like that we want a little crisp in the air for a football game I don't like this yeah I mean John said you know football season's doesn't start until the first Frost is on the pumpkin yeah this is It's too nice I don't like this at all but I will tell you what though if you think about this from a like a a the perspective of a camp that has been so much about testing these guys like physicality and Longevity and and like the emphasis on we need to be in better shape this season than we were last season like I maybe it's part of the reason that dick fer wants to see Nolan Smith go play 20 plays in in the hot sun and uh you know test Moro ojimo and uh and the Big Fellas inside like Thomas Booker see how they can hold up in in situations like this uh from one temperature check to another uh you mentioned the the beat riter 53 man contest are are they a little worried the the other beats with you being on the premises today Zach obviously not with us you usually would be here in studio are they sweating a little bit you getting your last set of eyes on these guys before the the deadline tomorrow I would imagine so yeah I think people are scared to talk to me um I also I also made sure that when I came out here I closed my laptop because I don't want anybody peeking in on my NS I know that you know you can't you cannot trust this beat core at all uh when is that due again officially did you say tomorrow due it's due uh officially tomorrow at noon I believe but uh most people will will'll publish theirs either tonight or first thing tomorrow morning and and what did you uh what did you hit on last year what are we trying to improve on well I mean what we're trying to do is you're talking to the only backto backto back champion in the history of this competition I mean and so I this is like you're asking uh hey Patrick Mahomes what are your goals for this I was unfamiliar with your game I'm sorry there's only one goal it's either it's either Championship or not and frankly you know the the the world will be smoldering before there is a a better track record than than mine uh so Bo I guess last thing from me quarterback wise today um anything you're looking for in particular is the quarterback two in your mind uh a real competition here or or does Kenny picket uh have some work to do today I think they want to see something from Kenny picket today you now I don't imagine he's going to play a ton in this game but he he is warming up to start I imagine you'll see a little bit more Tanner mcke I think unless unless it's another disaster like if if Kenny picket look goes out there and runs around with a with the chicken with his head cut off kind of look again and then Tanner mcke comes in behind a worse offensive line and again is moving things then I think they're going to be like okay we can't fool ourselves anymore but as long as things sort of stay status quo I think you'll you'll you'll keep both those guys and and at least in the start of the season it'll be pick it as number two all right FR anything else I'm good I'm ready ready for this game to start Bo go in there into that Press Box like Zack Burman wood like a silver back with your chest out and let people know you're there all right get those notes written down those questions on the notepad and do your best Zach Burman today I'm here to uh I came here to uh win a roster prediction contest and uh do this hit and I'm all out of this hit that's awesome stuff we will talk to you after the game Fresh Off The Locker Room in press conferences thank you Bo uh there he goes not a bad backdrop for Bo you know big shoes to fill for Zack Burman who is undoubtedly watching out in California right now uh because he is the sickest of sick uh but Z close your phone turn your phone off go enjoy your wife and your little vacation before the season starts Zach uh but nice job by Bo there uh look you know there there probably is in real I don't know somewhere between one and three actual roster spots up for grabs we've talked about some of these guys uh but of those like deep roster maybe practice squad guys Fran who else like in the second half let's say and we are going to be going live at halftime today who's like a real you know deep roster guy that you think could be saved for a practice squad somebody that doesn't jump off the you know the front of the brain at you yeah one guy that really has shine has shined throughout the course of the summer Sean Stevens uh who made the team after the rookie try out so it wasn't even oh the the draft's over sign him is an undrafted free agent they brought in dozens of players for a rookie try out he made the team an earned a roster spot after that try out then has been really disruptive on the ball over the course of the summer so Sean Stevens want to say number 41 uh I would keep an eye on Stevens today just because I would expect he'll get plenty of playing time on the outside uh is he able to show up can he once again get his hands on the football not a guy I expected on the 53 Jamie but a guy that could potentially earn a spot on the practice Squad that' be a great story for a guy who again made the team off of rookie Tri outs and of course you were correct he is number 41 uh so you can Circle that one today what did you think of Bo's answer about the Bradberry one this uh all of a sudden last minute is kind of like fascinating me a little bit because he is you know regardless of he's on the roster or off the roster it's $18 million it's kind of a sunk cost um do do you think he's worth keeping I mean he's a great teammate a great veteran uh he's kind of seen it all trying out something new you know eating a little bit of that Humble Pie to do so I would think um how do you view this situation this is kind of an interesting one to me a great guy to have in the locker room uh a guy that has positional versatility whether now we can say that you know obviously he has not been great uh he was not great at corner last year he played in the slot wasn't great at in the slot last year uh and safety it's been a little bit mixed results here this summer but this is a guy who's been in the NFL for a long time you have a really young secondary to have a guy like Bradberry I think can be helpful especially because you're paying him that money regardless I don't think he's taking again it's a matter of is Tristan McCollum so so good and so intriguing that you don't want to risk giving him up that would be or you know you want to say we'll just keep Bradberry if we're got to pay him anyway so I think that that is kind of the the question you have with the James Bradberry Bo said if he were to do his 53 right now that he would not have him on I think I would I mean him not playing today especially I would think because that's interesting yeah yeah like if he's not playing today that means all right his Summer's done all the tape is all the hay is in the barn for James Bradberry uh to me it's like okay we're going to keep him on the 53 that would be how I read the situation but uh that that's again if I were doing a 53 today I would have Bradberry on interesting yeah that's going to be you know one of the ones that's that's certainly up for grabs offensively anybody uh you think has a real shot today of maybe erasing that pencil and getting pen written in there whether it's offensive lineman or that fifth wide receiver uh maybe the Special Teams is a Difference Maker there uh anybody you're you're really going to kind of be honing in on here offensively Bo pegged the two offensive lineman to watch and it's the two guards if the starting lineup holds from what Bo laid out for us so a left guard he said Nick Gates Right Guard Brett to uh to me that's two interior swing guys that have position flexibility so Nick Gates has played center a starting center in the NFL he got paid a big contract by Washington a couple years ago was with the Giants previously you look at at Brett to he's bounced around but he's got theoretical five position flexibility along the offensive line he's he's snapped at Center he's played guard he's play came in as a tackle so I think you look at those two players they're probably gunning for one spot against a couple of other uh players there so to me I would look at those two guys uh if you want to look for a battle does toast's Equity with the organization maybe uh be a Difference Maker there for him because I've heard Ross stalker talk about him and that versatility that you just mentioned that they're they're really enamored with that does that being with the team you think maybe be a Difference Maker here he's been a pet project for a few years now and obviously he spent some time away from the organization multiple times he's been cut numerous times but this was certainly his best summer here in Philly I mean him the improvements he has made at Center in terms of just the QB Center exchange has been impressive so to me I would say look at Brett to look at Nick Gates I would give the edge right now to to to uh for honestly one of the reasons you just mentioned in terms of the relationships he's already has here in the building but I think when you look at those two guys that's a battle certainly to watch yeah so definitely some spots up for grabs today uh should be a good game hopefully nobody gets injured down there uh I am I know it's stupid the quarterback 2 uh position is kind of like a real fake controversy because both guys are on the team yeah like you hope you never see either of them Jaylen Herz in my opinion is going to be an MVP candidate at the end of the year because of the tools he has in front of him uh but as Boose said if if Tanner mcke goes out there with lesser players in front of him uh and and moves the ball well again you do have to wonder like what the discussion is internally there they did give up something for pick it I think it ended up being like what 22 spots essentially exactly so not you know end all Beall but Tanner R is impressed so far this preseason he he has looked good he throws a very catchable ball uh whereas Kenny picket is is scrambling he's got a little bit of the Happy Feet in the pocket there uh so definitely a little something light to watch today yeah that's certainly a thing to watch in a game where look the story lines in terms of what can impact the 53 are not plentiful uh yeah the the qb2 three battle something to watch yeah yeah uh so uh we are going to uh do a little quick halftime reaction to the first half a look ahead to the second half and then after the game we're going to be live here uh bo is going to be checking in after the press conferences and uh the locker room giving us his best Zack Burman postgame hit from Lincoln Financial Field uh but you know this is the last preseason game before it gets real in uh about two weeks so uh last time to scratch that Eagles itch even if it is deep deep roster stuff uh pleasure hanging out with everybody here thank you to all of you in the chat we appreciate all of you if you want to smash that Thumbs Up Button before you get out of here I'll send you some extra smooches uh but of course thank you to our friends at Miller Light for presenting all of this it's the original light beer and on a gorgeous day like this with Eagles football in the air ah just crack open a cold Miller Light nothing better uh Fran and I are going to go decide what we're getting for lunch Julia uh is in on this order as well so we got some real important stuff to get to here as we are kicking off momentarily down in South Philadelphia thank you to everybody and we will see you live at [Music] halftime we all Sly like the May