Philadelphia Eagles offensive position group grades through Week 8

The Philadelphia Eagles’ ever-changing O-line continues to improve despite change.

When the season began, this is what we expected the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line to look like. The winner of a preseason battle between Andre Dillard and Jordan Mailata would be this team’s starting left tackle. Isaac Seumalo, one of the game’s underrated players would be the left guard.

The legend, Jason Kelce, would again be the anchor at the center position. Brandon Brooks would be the right guard, and Lane Johnson would be the right tackle. Things haven’t worked out that way.

In Week 2, Brooks suffered a pectoral strain and was placed on the injured reserve. The Eagles would lose Seumalo a week later thanks to a Lisfranc injury and add him to the IR as well. Lane Johnson has missed three weeks, though his reason for doing so are both understandable and forgivable, and Dillard, the odd-man-out after the aforementioned battle for the left tackle position has had to fill in from time to time, particularly during a two-week absence by Mailata.

Instances like those have, at times, been the reason for sub-par play from the O-line. There are just too many bodies to juggle. Then again, some of what we saw in times that they’ve failed to protect Carson Wentz has to be blamed on awful decision-making by the former signal-caller.

In the end, here are a few thoughts. Philly’s reserves along the offensive line are better than they have been in years past, and they’re coached by one of the best in the business, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. He’s done what Aaron Moorehead hasn’t been able to do, get the most out of his players.

The Eagles’ offensive line is a strength now, and that’s been good to see. Three of the young guns, Landon Dickerson, Jack Driscoll, and Nate Herbig are three players this unit can hang its hat on moving forward. Grade: A-