Tra done for the season.

[DonovanTheMessiah]

FYI...

Fraley would only cost $200K in dead money if cut in 2006.

Goodbye Hank.

Hello LeCharles Bentley!

[PhillyPhreak54]

He'd be a nice pick-up. But I want Steve Hutchinson. Or maybe Clarke turns into a stud. I like him a lot.

LT - Thomas
LG - Hutchinson
C- Jackson
RG - Andrews
RT - Runyan

or

LT - Hicks
LG - Hutchinson
C- Jackson
RG - Andrews
RT - Runyan

or

LT - Hicks
LG- Clarke
C - Jackson
RG - Andrews
RT - Herremans (or Hicks here and Herremans at LT)

Also don't discount a LT in the draft either. A couple of studs out there this year.

[Larry]

Guard is one of those positions like linebacker and running back in which the FO won't spend more than is necessary.

[Feva]

Manneans and Andews at tackle next year. Who knows who we'll have at guard though.

Hicks and Clarke.  That would be a formidable road-grading line.

Even though option #2 is to shift Herremans to RT and find a LT somewhere else (or just keep Tra for one more season).

Heh heh... you said "Hicks" and "road-grading" in the same sentence.

[rjs246]

thomas just had a false start called on him

This was funny.

[PhillyFan]

He'd be a nice pick-up. But I want Steve Hutchinson. Or maybe Clarke turns into a stud. I like him a lot.

LT - Thomas
LG - Hutchinson
C- Jackson
RG - Andrews
RT - Runyan

or

LT - Hicks
LG - Hutchinson
C- Jackson
RG - Andrews
RT - Runyan

or

LT - Hicks
LG- Clarke
C - Jackson
RG - Andrews
RT - Herremans (or Hicks here and Herremans at LT)

Also don't discount a LT in the draft either. A couple of studs out there this year.

It seems that they think Herremans can be the LT.  I would not be surprised at all to see this line next year:

LT - Herremans
LG - Hicks
C - Jackson
RG - Clarke
RT - Andrews

Herremans, Clarke and Jackson have just been given the opportunity that all young players hope for.  I think the Eagles are really giving each of them a shot to earn the starting spot going into training camp next year.  I know Reid likes continuity and guys that have experience on the o-line, but the Runyan, Fraley, and Thomas spots could all realistically be up for grabs.  It looks like Jackson is more talented than Fraley, Runyan of course isn't signed beyond this year, and Thomas just had part of a disc in his back removed.   

Tra is the biggest question mark.  Back surgery tends to be one of those things that keeps you from ever being right again.  Of course players do come back from back problems all the time - see LJ Smith, and Tra is a professional athlete with all the resources to get him back playing again, but carrying around 350 pounds and having your back operated doesn't sound very good together. 

Runyan has played well enough and brings such an important attitude to the line that I think if you can keep him around for a couple years without having to pay big money, it makes sense.  Then you can keep Andrews at RG and move Clarke back over to LG and have Hicks as the guy who can fill in at any of the tackle or guard spots. 

I don't know how it works out for Fraley if Jackson continues to play well and really masters the o-line calls.  If Jackson can get to the point where Reid trusts him, I think Fraley will be a backup or possibly even cut if they think Darilek can play center and guard.

I think that as far as helping the Birds figure out their plans for next year, the final five games of the season are more critical for the o-line than any other position group.