First and foremost, the addition of Jim Washburn to the coaching staff excites me. No more will we have to watch Trent Cole dropping into pass coverage or see the defensive ends pause to read run before going after the quarterback.

This is going to allow Cole to do what he does best -- rush the quarterback. And it will allow whomever is playing the left side to do the same.

Not only that, but it doesn't appear as though the defensive tackles will be asked to play a two-gap technique under Washburn. Granted, I only saw a limited amount of Titans games, but it looked like the guys in the middle were able to shoot a gap and, like the ends, get after the quarterback and create havoc behind the line of scrimmage.

But the positives to that could also expose a glaring weakness -- at least for the time being -- on this defense and come with a whole new set of negatives.


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Could Dixon successfully transition into a noseguard?


With Sean McDermott out as the defensive coordinator and a 3-4 trend hitting the NFL once again, everyone is wondering whether or not the Eagles could, and should, consider a switch in defensive philosophy.

First things first, Andy Reid and the new defensive coordinator (whomever that may turn out to be) would have to decide if they have the talent on the roster to make it work.

When transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4, a team must first make sure they have a reliable noseguard. The Buffalo Bills made the switch and found Kyle Williams, the Green Bay Packers made the switch and drafted B.J. Raji, the Washington Redskins made the switch and had absolutely no one.

Williams is a Pro Bowler, the Packers are in the NFC Championship game, and the Redskins are in complete disarray -- so clearly a noseguard is very important.

For the Eagles, they might have one in Antonio Dixon. From what I've seen, I would be cautiously optimistic that he could handle playing the middle and covering both A-gaps. He has a great first step and clearly understands leverage and how to stop an offensive lineman's momentum.

He's also 6'3 and 325 pounds, so that certainly doesn't hurt.

For defensive ends, the only one I'm certain could pull it off is Brodrick Bunkley. He's got a good mix of speed and power to play the end position. If he's asked to control C-gap and squeeze down to B-gap, I believe he could do that.

His pass-rushing ability could be an issue, but that is something that could be worked on and taught over the offseason.

The other end would have to either be Mike Patterson or Trevor Laws, and I find myself leaning toward Laws because of his ability to rush the passer. Of the defensive tackles, he has the best feet but might lack in the running game.

There's a good chance that Laws could get washed out and create a huge hole up the B-gap or lose contain if he tries to take an inside step and gets caught. At 6'1 and 305 pounds, he has a low center of gravity but hasn't shown an ability to play the run consistently.

Patterson could be a guy used in a 4-3 set or as a backup to Dixon. He isn't even as big as Laws at only 300 pounds but has shown an ability to stand his ground and play the run. It would be a real shot in the dark as to whether he could hold up for an entire game, but should Dixon go down having Patterson would be a good safety net.

The linebackers are much easier to choose. In a 3-4, the outside linebackers obviously have to be able to rush the passer and have enough athleticism to drop back into coverage. The two clear-cut favorites on the roster are Trent Cole and Brandon Graham.

Cole spent a lot of the season dropping back into coverage because apparently McDermott thought it would be a good idea to send his best pass-rusher backwards. Even though it was a ridiculous thought to put him in coverage, he did a pretty decent job of it.

Cole would be asked to rush the passer more often than not, and we've seen him do that in a stand-up position before when he played the Joker role for both Jim Johnson and McDermott.

Coming out of college, Graham was considered a 'tweener. In fact, a lot of scouts and draftniks thought he would be better suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 and had him going to the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots -- two teams in need of 3-4 outside linebackers.

And the draftniks aren't the only ones who think Graham would be good in a 3-4.

"Woo, man, I would love that," Graham said Sunday in a conference call with reporters. "Being a stand-up [linebacker] with Trent [Cole] on the other side? That would be nasty. That would be nice. I would be excited about it, I can tell you that much."

I'm also of the thinking that Graham is probably more suited as a stand-up linebacker. That doesn't mean he can't play defensive end in the 4-3 or even that he won't be a very good 4-3 defensive end, but he reminds me a lot of Elvis Dumervil and could probably play just as well.

So far, we have Laws, Dixon, and Bunkley on the line with Cole and Graham playing outside linebacker. All that's left is finding two inside linebackers.

The obvious two choices for that would be Jamar Chaney and Stewart Bradley.

Chaney is tough enough to play MIKE in the 4-3, so he shouldn't have any issue being given half the responsibility as a 3-4 inside linebacker. Then Bradley, who is a natural SAM in the 4-3, should be more than capable of handling the calls and playing half the field in coverage when the outside linebacker next to him blitzes.

The secondary is obviously unchanged by the move and would remain the same.

If the team chose to switch to the 3-4, they would have an entire offseason to pick from free agency and the draft in order to fill their needs, but should they decide to make the 3-4 nothing more than a variation from their normal 4-3 set a handful of times during a game, they could probably run it with some success given the talent currently on the roster.
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Should the Eagles let Bradley leave via free agency?


With the 2010 season officially over for the Eagles, we can now start looking ahead to the 2011 season. We start by taking a look at who should stay around for next season and who should be shown the door. We'll look position-by-position and also include the coaching staff.

We started with the offense first, now on to the defense.

Defensive Tackles

Mike Patterson: Stay

Patterson is a guy who isn't spectacular at one thing, but is above-average at almost everything sans rushing the passer. He's got good instincts, recognizes the play quickly, and does a good job of creating a stalemate at the line of scrimmage before shedding the blocker and making a play.

Brodrick Bunkley: Stay

Jeff McLane wants him to go, so that alone is reason for him to stay. But in all seriousness, the guy is a brute and plays the run extremely well. He was banged up at the end of the season so he was seeing more time in the rotation but during that time he was starting to look like the Bunkley that stuffed Brandon Jacobs on 4th and 1.

Antonio Dixon: Stay

Easily the best defensive lineman on the team this year. In fact, he plays a two-gap scheme so well he might have what it takes to be a 3-4 noseguard.

Trevor Laws: Stay

Laws is starting to show why he was a second-round pick. He's slowly but surely starting to look like a guy who could start in this league and is the best pass-rushing tackle on the roster. With four sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception I look for Laws to have a much bigger presence next season.

Jeremy Clark: Go

Clark was a disaster in his only action against the Cowboys. Don't expect him to be an Eagle next year.

Jeff Owens: Go

Owens could wind up on the practice squad again, but that's probably the only way he stays on this team. It's impossible to judge him on two career snaps, but with Bunkley, Patterson, Laws, and Dixon already on the roster it would be hard finding room for the seventh-round pick.



Defensive Ends

Trent Cole: Stay

The way Cole disappears in the latter portion of the season is getting old, but that could be a result of increased attention from opposing offenses. Either way, Cole has shown he's capable of being one of the top five defensive ends in the league and isn't going anywhere any time soon.

Juqua Parker: Stay

But not as the starter. Parker's days as the starter are long gone. He is no longer quick or agile enough to handle that. He gets winded far too easily as well. Parker was much better in the rotation, but once Brandon Graham went down his production dropped significantly.

Darryl Tapp: Stay

Tapp played much better down the stretch, but trading for him must still be considered an enormous miss. I said at the time that Chris Clemons and a fourth-round pick was too much, and right now it's looking like only a fourth-round pick would have been too much let alone Clemons and his 11 sacks.

Daniel Te'o-Nesheim: Go

Why can't Andy Reid draft defensive ends in the third round? First Bryan Smith, now Te'o-Nesheim. The guy was a disaster every time he touched the field and I don't think he had a worthwhile play all season. He'll stick around because he was a third-round pick, but he looks like a lost cause to me.

Bobby McCray: Go

Personally, I didn't understand cutting Derrick Burgess for this guy. Neither was going to have a huge impact, but this seemed like a lateral move for a guy that had no chance of being on the roster next season.

Brandon Graham: Stay

This one is pretty obvious. Graham was the 13th overall pick last season, so his roster spot is guaranteed. His rookie season was disappointing, but most rookie defensive ends disappoint in their first season. The only real cause for concern with Graham is that the torn ACL might affect the rest of his career.

Ricky Sapp: Stay

Every year Reid finds a way to keep guys on the roster by sticking them on IR. This season, Sapp was the guy who came down with a knee injury at the most opportune time, so clearly Reid wants to see more of him.

Victor Abiamiri: Go

It's been a catastrophe since day one with Abiamiri. He can't stay healthy and even when he does play he underachieves. Abiamiri could have had a productive career as he slowly seemed to be getting better, but injuries have all but ensured his time in Philly is over.



Linebackers

Ernie Sims: Go

I want Sims to leave Philly and never come back. He was awful at WILL and not anywhere near worth the fifth-round pick given up to acquire him. I would have benched him halfway through the season for either Akeem Jordan or Omar Gaither. They couldn't have been worse.
Stewart Bradley: Stay

If Bradley re-signs, it better be to play SAM. He's not a middle linebacker. He's not nearly physical enough and seemed slow mentally. His athleticism and size, however, make him the perfect SAM, which is actually his natural position.

Moise Fokou: Stay

Fokou is a guy who probably shouldn't be starting, but as a backup and special teams guy he's definitely worth keeping around for another year or so.

Akeem Jordan: Stay

I'm a fan of Jordan and think he's getting a raw deal. He was clearly the better option at either WILL or SAM and for the first month of the season was the most consistent linebacker on the field. But Sean McDermott, in his infinite wisdom, decided to toss him on the bench. Jordan is also an excellent special teams player.

Jamar Chaney: Stay

Not only should he stay, but sans an incredible option in free agency, Chaney should be the starting middle linebacker next year. His worst game as a starter was better than Bradley's best all season long. Chaney has the physicality, the mentality, and the instincts to run this defense.

Keenan Clayton: Stay

I'm torn on Clayton. I really like his athleticism and think he could turn into a good WILL linebacker, but he plays so much like a safety it's tempting to toss him back there and see what he can do. Right now, if I'm the defensive coordinator (have the phone nearby), I have Clayton learning both spots and seeing which one clicks better.

Omar Gaither: Go

Gaither is versatile and good on special teams, but he's just not physical enough. Any team looking for depth at linebacker should pick him up right away, but that's really all he is at this point.



Safeties

Quintin Mikell: Stay

If there's an upgrade available, the team should go for it. Until then, Mikell played well enough to warrant another contract. He's never going to be an All-Pro, but he is an above-average player and a guy the defense looks to as a leader.

Kurt Coleman: Stay

Coleman's coverage needs work, but he's already a solid tackler and clearly a hard-nosed, hard-hitting type of guy. If he gets quicker in the mental aspect of the game, he's probably a guy who could be a backup at both safety spots.

Nate Allen: Stay

Allen looked like a superstar for the first month of the season, but really tailed off later when teams started attacking him. But that's not uncommon for a rookie. If the torn patella tendon doesn't have an adverse affect on his mobility moving forward, the Eagles could have a star in the making.

Colt Anderson: Stay

The most underrated player on the team is Anderson. He made some spectacular special teams plays on the coverage teams and made one of the greatest special teams plays I have ever seen when he pushed a Packer into the ball on a punt in the Wild Card round. It wound up being moot as David Akers missed the field goal, but it was a great play nonetheless.

Jamar Wall/Adams: Go

Nothing but special teams bodies. Good luck in the future.

Marlin Jackson: Go

It's a bit of a shame because I thought there was some potential for him at safety, but this recent injury gives me no faith in him at all. He's not a guy the team can count on, and he could very well get the boot in training camp.

Antoine Harris: Go

Hitting IR was the only way Harris was sticking around. Hopefully he didn't sign a lease for 2011 because he will not be back.



Cornerbacks

Asante Samuel: Stay

Last offseason I called for the Eagles to trade Samuel because of his attitude. He was freelancing on nearly every play and was often caught out of position because of it, leading to some big plays for opposing offenses. But this season it seemed like Samuel was doing more of what was asked of him and even tried to tackle a time or two.

Ellis Hobbs: Go

It's looking like Hobbs could retire but even if he does continue to play it's probably time to let him walk. He is a very up-and-down type of player and was just a stop-gap anyway. Giving him another contract right now wouldn't make much sense.

Joselio Hanson: Stay

The talk of getting rid of Hanson is ridiculous. No, he's not a good option on the outside, but he doesn't have to be. They signed him to play the nickel and it's a spot he plays very well. With Trevard Lindley coming on, they don't need him to play on the outside.

Dimitri Patterson: Stay

A bad stretch against the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings should not overshadow how well he played once Hobbs went down. In nine starts, Patterson finished with over 50 tackles, four interceptions, and one sack. He's a very good open field tackler and reminds me a lot of Sheldon Brown.

Trevard Lindley: Stay

The fourth-round pick showed in his rookie season that he can step in when called upon. He made some rookie mistakes, but overall he showed that he be physical and play bump-and-run, but is also agile enough to play off coverage. Lindley has a very bright future and could be a starter one day.

Jorrick Calvin: Go

Calvin was brought in to be the kick returner and that's it. He didn't see the field often as a corner, and Reid is unlikely to keep him around just to be a returner. A lot of people have been hard on Calvin and his effectiveness as a returner, but let's not forget that he rarely had blocking and did have a touchdown called back.

Brandon Hughes/Gerard Lawson: Go

Like the two Jamars at safety, these two were just some warm bodies for special teams and guys to use in an emergency situation. They'll be moving on next year.
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The Michael Vick show has exceeded expectations.


-- DeSean Jackson had his usual big plays, but it should be the three drops that everyone remembers. The first was on the very first drive -- on third down -- when he let the ball hit off his hands and end the Eagles' drive.

The second was when he curled up and dropped the ball because he was afraid of colliding with Brent Celek, and the third was a lazy attempt on the sideline.

I don't recall ever seeing this from Jackson, but he's playing scared right now. It cannot be allowed to continue even if it means benching him for a game the next time it happens. Not only will he wind up hurting the team, but he'll wind up hurting himself.

-- For the third consecutive week, Michael Vick looked great. He decision-making was sound and the passes, for the most part, were on point. He did have a couple balls that had everyone wondering what in the hell he was doing, but those were few and far between.

Four total touchdowns later (one rushing), Vick is showing that Andy Reid definitely made the right decision to stick with him. He now has the Eagles sitting atop the NFC East with a 2-1 record and the much-anticipated return of Donovan McNabb right around the corner.

-- Juqua Parker, Darryl Tapp, and Trent Cole were phenomenal. There isn't a whole lot more than can be asked of those guys. It's expected out of Cole, but Parker has been a terrific surprise and Tapp looks hellbent on never missing another game.

-- And what about Trevor Laws? Something clicked in this guy's head during the offseason because he is playing out of his mind right now. Even if he's not hitting the quarterback, he's taking double-teams and pushing them into the backfield. Right now, he's playing better than Mike Patterson and even notched his first career sack.

-- Is there any chance the Eagles' other second-round pick out of Notre Dame can have the same type of impact around Week 7 when he comes after the PUP? It's probably more likely he hits the streets.

-- Like it or not, Akeem Jordan has by far been the Eagles' best linebacker. Ernie Sims and Stewart Bradley have been non-existent and I actually notice them getting caught in the wash and taken out of the play more often than not. There's still time to turn things around, but neither of them is doing anything to breed confidence.

-- Outside of an injury, Nick Cole should not see the field again for the rest of the season. He is lazy, plays sloppy, has proven he's not a starter, and will get Vick killed if he's allowed to make one more start. Did anyone notice constant pressure up the middle once Reggie Wells made his way into the game? The answer is no, you didn't.

-- Nate Allen couldn't continue his interception streak, but he did notch his first career sack. Not a bad way to start your NFL career -- two interceptions and a sack in three games.

-- Ellis Hobbs played very well. He's even starting to undercut some routes and is clearly gaining confidence in his knowledge of the system.

-- The guy across from Hobbs, Asante something or other, came down with his first interception of the year after missing two or three in the first two weeks. Samuel has been impressive this season because he's playing more within the system and not gambling as much. His tackling has also been much better so far this season.

-- Sticking with the secondary, Quintin Mikell seems like he's really starting to hit his stride for the season. He's flying around and making plays, but still needs to buckle down more in coverage. He is peaking into the backfield too much and allowing guys to get behind him.

-- Jorrick Calvin should be the return man. Kicks or punts, he's the better option. He's shown a great burst and could be one of those guys that changes games with a big return or two throughout the course of a game. Jackson and Hobbs have been unimpressive overall, so why not give the rookie a shot?

-- Where has Jason Avant been all season?

-- Once again, LeSean McCoy averaged about five yards per carry, but only carried the ball 11 times all game long. With such a large lead, there is no excuse for McCoy not to have at least 15-20 carries or more.

-- Why is Mike Bell taking carries from McCoy? He's been a complete disappointment and that didn't end today. He had a long of nine yards, and finished with five carries for 14 yards. The math doesn't work in his favor.

-- Owen Schmitt is no Leonard Weaver, but he's done very well over the past two weeks. He's shown soft hands out of the backfield, and has been very good picking up the blitz. He's not going to be pushing Weaver for his job, but the Birds could have struck gold with Schmitt.
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Could the Tapp trade mean the end for Abiamiri?


One second-round disappointment seems to have surpassed another second-round disappointment before he even touches to field for his new team.

Darryl Tapp, for whom the Eagles traded Tuesday evening, is a second-round pick who has not lived up to his second-round billing. But the word around town is that he will immediately step in front of Victor Abiamiri, a guy who's been even more disappointing for the Eagles than Tapp was for the Seahawks.

The fact that Abiamiri isn't even in the discussion as a possible solution across from Trent Cole shows you what the fans think of him, but trading a fourth-round pick for a guy far from worth it shows what the organization thinks about him.

Clearly the Eagles have thrown out all expectations for Abiamiri and now view any progress he makes as a bonus. The last two seasons he's been expected to come in and push Parker for the starting job, but untimely injuries prevented that from happening.

He's now an afterthought around the city and on the team, and could find himself on the way out if he's unable to make a contribution in 2010.

I've already said 2010 is a make-or-break season for Abiamiri, but all this move does is make things worse for the young defensive end. And once the Eagles draft a defensive end, things will only get worse for Abiamiri, who could wind up being a surprise training camp cut if he were to once again injure himself.

The Eagles already have Cole, Parker, Tapp, Darren Howard, and will soon have a rookie on the roster as well. The Birds carried six defensive ends in '09, so they could do it again in 2010, but Abiamiri will still have to prove that he's worthy of that sixth spot.

Simply being a high pick won't help Abiamiri anymore. Bryan Smith was a third-round pick, but Reid had no trouble cutting him loose once it became clear he wasn't going to contribute.

Smith is now out of the league, and Abiamiri might be on his way out of Philly.
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Julius Peppers' next visit will be to Philadelphia.


Julius Peppers is in Chicago right now, but that apparently doesn't mean he won't be hopping the first flight to Philadelphia in a couple hours.

It was thought that the Bears would not allow Peppers to leave Chicago and would have him signed today, but with every passing hour it's looking less and less like that's the case. His agent is even going so far as to name-drop and say that if a deal isn't done, Philly is their next stop.

The Birds apparently placed their bid and are now just waiting for Peppers to either accept or decline. There's probably a little wiggle room in the offer, but not much. It's got to be a good one, however, if Peppers and his agent are willing to make the trip should things break down in Chicago.

Jason La Canfora is reporting that the Patriots also have an offer on the table for Peppers and are simply playing the same wait-and-see game as the Eagles.

Most of us are completely in the dark as far as what Peppers is looking to command. I've heard numbers that would put Albert Haynesworth to shame, and I've also heard that he's willing to take about $10-12 million per season in order to play for a contender.

It's going to be very interesting to see where he signs, and I hope it's with the Eagles, but I also hope that they don't break the bank on a 30-year old defensive end who has a reputation of not playing as hard as he should.

It's not really something we have to seriously worry about with the Birds, but something tells me his contract will be far from reasonable and could create some unhappy people in the Eagles' locker room.

How will Sheldon Brown react if he's sees big money tossed at a guy like Peppers? Brown constantly does and says the right things, but he's left in the dark while a guy known for taking plays off is getting paid?

Or what about Trent Cole? He's not making nearly the money Peppers would be, but he's certainly worth about as much and has proven so.

That's really my only concern. Players try to keep themselves apart from what other players are making, but in today's NFL is tough not to take it personally when you're playing next to the guy and get to see all his new toys first-hand.

He most likely won't become an Eagle if he's got an outrageous asking price, but if he doesn't like what Chicago has to offer and the Patriots -- the only franchise more frugal than Philly -- are the only other team with a bid in place, the Birds might just get him at a discount.
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Vanden Bosch could be the best value for the Birds.


The pickings are going to be slim in the free agent market this season, so there's not going to be that first-day splash like there's been in the past -- with the exception of maybe Julius Peppers.

While I'd love to see the Eagles go after a guy like Peppers, it probably won't happen. They will probably contact him, feel out what exactly he's looking for, but in the end will decide that he's simply asking too much and move in another direction.

So what else is out there? Outside of Aaron Kampman, who is coming off a torn ACL that ended his 2009 season, Kyle Vanden Bosch is the only other guy worthwhile.

Vanden Bosch doesn't have the impressive sack numbers that fans are looking for, but he's also been the right defensive end in Tennessee for the past three years -- the position Trent Cole plays here in Philadelphia.

Even when he was playing on the left side, he never had that marquee pass-rusher. In Philly, he will have Cole on the right side to take the pressure off him, leaving him in several one-on-one battles with right tackles -- guys Vanden Bosch should be able to beat every time.

And even without the great sack numbers over the past couple seasons, he has been consistently able to get to the quarterback and at least hit and knock him down. He's also good playing the run and will take pressure off the linebacker behind him.

I'm not trying to tout Vanden Bosch as the savior. I think he's a very good defensive end who can really help this team, but he's clearly not the talent of Peppers or the pass-rusher that Kampman is, but with Peppers' price tag and Kampman's injury, Vanden Bosch becomes the very best option.

He's got a high-motor and, unlike someone like Peppers, you don't ever have to worry about him taking plays off.

With a rotation of him and Juqua Parker (who actually had a career-high eight sacks), the left side might just be able to pull its weight and give Cole some help for once in his career.

But of course, I'm still rooting for the best option (regardless of the price tag and bad reputation), that the Birds go after Peppers. Trent Cole on one side, Julius Peppers on the other...

Incredible.
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Cole was one of five Eagles to make the All-Pro team.


The 2009 All-Pro team was announced today, and is really the only thing that matters when you come right down to it. The Pro Bowl is fine because it has the fan vote included, but in the end there's always at least a handful of guys who made it based on name-recognition, and at least just as many who get snubbed because they don't benefit from such recognition.

The All-Pro team, however, is usually different. Fans have no say, so immediately name-recognition becomes much less of a factor.

Only one Eagle, Leonard Weaver, made it onto the first team. Four others, David Akers, Trent Cole, DeSean Jackson, and Asante Samuel made it onto the second team. Jackson is not on the team as a receiver, but as a punt returner -- something sure to give him some motivation headed into 2010.

Realistically, the only other Eagle who deserved consideration was Brent Celek. However, the All-Pro team only selects one tight end per team, so two altogether, and those honors went to Dallas Clark (first team) and Antonio Gates (second team).

As much as we'd all like to see Celek get some love, it's tough to remove either of those guys in favor of Celek, who did have some down games and missed a couple easy catches.

Another interesting selection worth pointing out was the now former Eagle and current Denver Bronco Brian Dawkins.

Dawkins made it onto the second team along with Ed Reed and Nick Collins. Oddly enough, Quintin Demps, Macho Harris, and Sean Jones were nowhere to be found. In fact, I'm guessing they didn't receive any votes at all.

I don't mean to harp on the Eagles' front office too much because, outside of the emotional side of things, I wasn't sure that Dawk could do it anymore either. I thought it was probably worth bringing him back because I definitely didn't feel that Demps was ready to take over, but it was hard to argue with the logic of letting him walk.

Now I'm realizing that I could have very well been wrong about Dawk. I don't like to admit when I'm wrong and I don't feel like it happens too often (although probably more often than I realize), but I'm just about ready to say I was wrong about Dawk and that he should still be an Eagle.

The only thing holding me back is the thought that he still may have struggled severely in this defense. In Denver, Mike Nolan was willing to allow Dawk to play a role that was more like a fifth linebacker in his 3-4 scheme. Dawk was around the line of scrimmage a lot and was used to blitz fairly often.

It's something that, in Sean McDermott's this year, probably would not have happened. He probably would have been asked to play man up on tight ends and even receivers every once in a while. It could have very well exploited some major flaws that the future Hall of Famer now has in his game.

But in Denver, Nolan was okay with finding a way around those flaws and using him the way he should be used right now. So, should the Eagles have let him walk? I'm still not sure, but it definitely looks like Denver made the right move in picking him up and was still nice to see Dawk have the personal success that he deserves.

But I'm heading off track.

Having five Eagles selected to the All-Pro team is great, but having Weaver on the first team just jacked up his asking price by at least a couple hundred thousand. He's been recognized by the Pro Bowl voters as the best fullback in the NFC, and now by the All-Pro voters as the best fullback in the entire league.

He's certainly not a guy that the Eagles can afford to let walk. At least, not without some rioting down Broad Street.
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Cole can only do so much for the defense by himself.


Juqua Parker has been serviceable, and even better than that at certain points during his Eagles career, but he is not of a starting caliber and must be replaced. His presence on the field does not scare quarterbacks, offensive linemen, or defensive coordinators, and it's hurting the entire unit.

As a backup, I believe Parker can be a huge asset for this team, but he just doesn't make the cut as a starter any longer. If the Eagles want their defense to take the next step in 2010, it will have to start with finding a left defensive end that will scare offensive coordinators.

Right now, all of the attention is put on stopping Cole. There's always the left tackle to deal with, but more times than not teams are also chipping him with the tight end or a running back. Teams feel safe doing this because they know as well as we do that the Eagles have no pass-rush off their left side.

So here's the effect:

1. Teams shut Cole out of the game by virtue of the chipping tight end and running back
2. McDermott blitzes in an effort to regain the pass rush
3. Since the Eagles' linebackers aren't very good blitzers, it gets stuffed
4. The secondary is left hanging out to dry while teams dink and dunk their way down the field

However, with a left defensive end to take the pressure off of Cole and get to the quarterback on his own, blitzing is no longer a necessity; It instead becomes a luxury.

When blitzing becomes a luxury is when it becomes effective, not when it's part of your base package, as it were.

When it comes to getting that pass-rushing defensive end, count me as indifferent. I can't honestly say that I care if the Eagles spend big money on a free agent ala Julius Peppers, or draft a guy in the first round. I'd drop a name here, but I just don't follow college football well enough to make an informed request.

Juqua Parker, Jason Babin, Victor Abiamiri, and Chris Clemons are all very good backup defensive ends, but none of them are starters. One needs to be found or we will once again have a season of ineffective blitzing and watching Trent Cole hit a wall.
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Jackson's two touchdowns were the difference in NY.


Beating the Giants wasn't quite as easy this time around as it took six touchdowns to put away Eli Manning and company in the final Eagles-Giants bout to be played in Giants Stadium.

Donovan McNabb threw two scores (one to DeSean Jackson and one to Brent Celek), Leonard Weaver and Michael Vick each ran for a score, and the defense and special teams even chipped in with one score each via a Sheldon Brown fumble recovery and a Jackson punt return.

With a score sheet like that, you'd think this game would have been an absolute blowout. But, unfortunately, the Eagles' defense was absolutely atrocious and gave up a box score to the Giants nearly as impressive.

Over 500 yards of offense and five touchdowns simply will not get it done when the playoffs roll around. Giving up those kind of numbers to any team will result in an early exit. There isn't a playoff team with safeties as poor as the Giants', so McNabb and Jackson won't be able to play pitch-and-catch over the deep middle en route to a victory.

The front four was especially disappointing. Darren Howard had two sacks, one of them the strip-sack to officially end the game, and Juqua Parker had half a sack along with Joselio Hanson.

Three sacks isn't bad, but when you take into account that one sack only came as a result of a zero blitz, and the other was the result of Eli moving around and trying to make a play at the end of the game, you've got one legitimate sack on a great spin move by Howard.

Sacks aside, the amount of times Eli was hurried in the pocket was...well, it was nearly non-existent. Even blitzing didn't get the job done as the sixth, seventh, and even eighth man sent couldn't seem to penetrate a five-man line. It's a huge issue that will plague this team in January.

Outside of the fumble caused by Trent Cole and returned by Brown, the defense didn't do a whole lot to help this offense, but they did just enough. It's a good feeling to come out with a win like this, but the Eagles understand that the defense must be better if they want to capture that elusive Lombardi Trophy.
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Who's more valuable, Brent Celek, or Fraction Jackson?


After eight weeks of the season, the Eagles are sitting at 5-3 overall with a 2-1 record in the division. It's not a bad place to be at the half-way point, but the Eagles, as well as their fans, understand that 7-1 bounced off this team's fingertips.

A combined eight points between their two losses is the only thing keeping them from having complete control of the NFC East, but they're still in the mix and with a number of players getting healthy, are in good position to make a push in the back eight of the season.

There are a number of players who have stepped up in all three phases of the game, allowing this team be in the position they're in now. So, let's take a look at this team's MVP's at the half-way point of 2009.


Offense: DeSean Jackson, WR

Jackson has already doubled his number of receiving touchdowns from his rookie season with four, and two more touchdowns -- one on the ground and one on a punt return -- to bring him to six total.

26 receptions for 530 yards and four touchdowns has him on pace for 52 receptions for 1,060 yards and eight touchdowns -- not a bad season for a second-year receiver. However, those will be difficult numbers to reach if he doesn't increase that catch total. At the moment, he's averaging over 20 yards per reception which will be very difficult to keep up.

Add his receiving numbers to his versatility to the run the ball on the end-around or the wildcat, and you've got a special player.

Jackson figures to be a deep, big-play threat for the rest of the season, but will need the rookie Jeremy Maclin to step up and starting getting more separation to draw the double team away from Fraction Jackson.


Defense: Trent Cole, DE

With 7.5 sacks on the season, Cole is on his way to a 15-sack season -- a stat that should be plenty to get him to his second Pro Bowl, and would be a career high by 2.5 sacks. Cole has always started off fast but faded at the end, so it will be important for him to keep up this kind of production and finish with at least 14 sacks.

Not only has he been great against the pass, but he's been fantastic against the run. Whether teams run at him or away from him, he's doing a wonderful job of shadowing the runner and bringing him down immediately.

His entire game is coming together beautifully, and he now deserves to be mentioned among the top defensive ends in the league in the same breath as Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, John Abraham, and others.


Special Teams: Eldra Buckley, RB

Ellis Hobbs has been decent returning the ball, David Akers has done a good job of putting points on the board, and Rocca has been good but inconsistent. Eldra Buckley, however, has been by far the best performer on special teams.

He's consistently the first guy down the field for kickoff coverage, and if he's not making the tackle he's forcing the return man inside so that someone else, usually Akeem Jordan or Tracy White, to make the tackle.

Buckley is showing why he's on this team and his competition in training camp, Lorenzo Booker, is floating around the free agent wire.


Most Improved Player: Brent Celek, TE

Celek, only halfway through the season, is already looking at career bests for the season. With 40 receptions, 486 yards and four touchdowns, he should be on his way to his first Pro Bowl in only his third NFL season.

At this pace, Celek will finish with 80 receptions, 972 yards, and eight touchdowns. Those are unbelievable numbers for a tight end that, if he can pull it off, should put him in the conversation for one of the best young offensive talents in the league.

Just to show how much he's improved, let's look at his first two season.

Rookie season (2007): 16 receptions, 178 yards, one touchdown
Second season (2008): 27 receptions, 318 yards, one touchdown

This season, even if he disappears in the second half of the season, he's going to blow those numbers away. He is most definitely the most improved player on this team, if not of the entire league.
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This man could be the key to the 3-4 working in Philly.


With all of the problems the Eagles are having with their linebackers this year, it's going to take some creativity on the part of Sean McDermott to give the guys breathers and to create pressure from the second level.

One way to do that would be to use the team's best pass-rushers in some different ways. One way would be to stand them up as outside linebackers and allow them to rush from the outside in a 3-4 set on obvious passing downs.

Specifically I'm talking about guys like Juqua Parker, Trent Cole, Chris Clemons, and maybe even Jason Babin, who has experience as an outside linebacker.

Standing these guys up and allowing them to get a head of steam coming around the corner could really create a problem for the offensive tackles or tight ends attempting to block them. Pair this with two good middle linebackers in Will Witherspoon and Jeremiah Trotter in the middle, and you could have another wrinkle to help this defense.

Talking about Trotter specifically, having half the room to cover could really help him. He's obviously slowed down because of the several knee injuries he's suffered throughout his career, so just having one gap to fill and worry about could really play to his strengths and help him a lot.

Witherspoon hasn't played in the 3-4, but transitioning from and MIKE linebacker to an ILB for maybe six-eight snaps per game should not be a problem for him.

The biggest question here, as it usually is for a 4-3 team running the 3-4 is the defensive line. The Eagles are obviously built to play the 4-3, but look for athletic defensive tackles who, while they probably couldn't play the position full time, could do the job for a few snaps per game.

Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson are about the right weight for the job, but are a bit short at around 6-foot tall. Usually, a 3-4 defensive end should be anywhere from 6'3 and up. But like I said, they should be just fine for limited snaps each game.

That just leaves one more spot to fill -- the spot of nose tackle, which is by far the most difficult position to fill when running the 3-4 defense.

The Eagles have a guy who's just barely big enough to fill the void of nose tackle at 6'3 and 325 pounds, and that's backup defensive tackle Antonio Dixon, who joined the Eagles just before the 2009 season started after being waived by the Washington Redskins.

For those who'd say he's too small, consider that Jay Ratliff is only 300 pounds, and Casey Hampton is two inches shorter at the same weight, so he could absolutely fill the role.

It's not something they would use for even a quarter of the defensive snaps, but in certain situations the 3-4 could be effective against either the run or pass. Not only that, but it would confuse an offense to see a team like the Eagles who very rarely deviate from the 4-3 to come out in the 3-4 with their best pass-rushers standing up.

It's probably a long-shot that it actually happens, but it would be a welcome wrinkle to add to an already impressive Eagles defense.
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With a backup LT, Cole could be in for another big day.


Jamaal Brown, the Saints starting left tackle, has been ruled out for the game this Sunday. In his absence, Jermon Bushrod will assume the responsibility of, at least attempting, to block Trent Cole, one of the premier defensive ends in the NFL today.

With the Saints being the passing team that they are, the left tackle position becomes that much more important. Jamaal Brown is a very good left tackle, but Bushrod is a young guy who has been inactive for over half of his NFL career. This becomes an obvious weak spot along the line for New Orleans.

While the Saints will do their best to give Bushrod the help he will surely need against Cole, they will have few men to spare as their wide open passing attack limits the amount of blockers they can keep for any one play. They know that Bushrod is not ready to block someone like Cole one-on-one, so that matchup alone may cause them to get away from their gameplan.

In order for this to work to the Eagles advantage, they will have to get pressure from the other side of the line as well. Victor Abiamiri is questionable this week, and Juqua Parker, while a good defensive end, is not great at getting pressure on the quarterback. Enter Jason Babin and the Eagles just might have something rolling.

The other aspect to all of this working against the Saints is the fact that the Eagles know they are going to try and pass as much as possible. They may or may not have Pierre Thomas, which would be a huge help to their run game, but they know that their best player is the guy slinging the ball around.

This means that Cole and whomever will be starting opposite him at left end will be able to pin their ears back and come after Brees on nearly every play. Even if the Saints do try and run the ball at the ends because they know they're going to be flying around the corner, the Eagles have faith in their outside linebackers and safeties to step up and make a play.

So given the injury to Brown, and the Saints affinity for passing the ball, Cole should be able to have a big day against the Saints. It's certainly not out of the question for him to come up with a couple sacks. Given Brees quick release, it likely won't be anything record-breaking, but it could certainly be enough to ensure an Eagles victory.

Also, if Sean McDermott does his homework, the defense should continue their blitzing ways this week. Brees is good against the blitz, but hurrying him by even a half second could create some opportunites for interceptions for Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown. The Saints have those good receivers, but Brown and Samuel shouldn't have any trouble with them even one-on-one.

Or honestly, neither should Joselio Hanson and Ellis Hobbs.

So those of you in IDP fantasy leagues, or just an observer looking for a difference-maker in this game, keep your eye on Trent Cole.
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Babin's size and strength may just earn him a spot.


When Jason Babin was signed by the Eagles, it wasn't a move that got much publicity. A small blurb was placed here or there beneath a more important story or mentioned a passing sidenote. He was considered a camp body without much of a shot at making this team. Well, that may all be changing.

Babin impressed a lot of people last night when the Eagles went into Indianapolis to play Peyton Manning and the Colts. Babin was getting very good pressure, and looked extremely quick off the ball. A couple times he caused Manning to rush, which caused a bad throw.

This is exactly what the Eagles are looking for out of their defensive ends, and it's something that they have not been getting -- outside of Trent Cole. Darren Howard was able to get pressure last year, but a lot of his sacks came from playing the tackle position in the nickel on obvious passing situations.

Babin was a first-round pick back in 2004, so the potential is there and the talent has been showcased on some level, it just needs to translate onto a professional football field.

I was there for Babin's introductory press conference, which few members of the media actually stuck around for, and he said that he felt like the Eagles defense was a perfect fit for him. He said that he loves getting around the edge and getting after the quarterback, which is what the Eagles do. He may have been right, and in only a couple weeks with the team is moving up quickly.

He played right end on Thursday night in place of an injured Cole, and he's got a huge task in front of him if he's intent on playing right end. Left end, however, is more of an open position with Juqua Parker's arrest, and Abiamiri's injury. Not to mention that Abiamiri was less than impressive last night.

If Babin can show something while playing at the other end position, he may have overcome his difficult odds to make this team's final roster.
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Could Michael Vick be wearing midnight green in 2009-2010?


Today the Philadelphia Eagles officially signed on their coaching intern, former Arena League quarterback Matt Nagy, to give the Eagles a third quarterback with Kolb being ruled out for the preseason opener this Thursday.

The Eagles released wide receiver Brandon Robinson to make room for Nagy, who will probably be cut and go back to being a coaching intern after the game, and Robinson will most likely re-join the team at that point.

The rumor mill went crazy today, as everyone knew it would the first time a starting or backup quarterback went down with an injury.

The "Mike Vick to Philly" rumors started swirling and may not stop until Kolb is officially back from his knee injury.

Jeff Lurie said during his "State of the Team" address last weekend that Vick "deserves a second chance" but that it will not be with Philadelphia.

That, of course, won't end the rumors as it's coming out now that some teams who have publicly said no to Vick, are privately looking into the opportunity to bring in the former face of the entire National Football League.

I'm a personal believer that Vick deserves another shot, and I also believe that if the Eagles brought him in that he could be a weapon, however I do not believe for a second that Mike Vick will ever be a Philadelphia Eagle.

Barring the injury being more serious for Kolb than first thought, Vick's name won't even come up in meetings. The Eagles are all about high character guys who won't attract bad publicity to the team, and unfortunately Vick does not exactly fit that role. Reid doesn't like distractions at his camp or for his team, and he knows that No. 7 would do just that.

Don't expect Vick in midnight green any time soon.

The Eagles like the 31-year old Nagy, and in fact have had him in training camp in years past. They will give him some reps Thursday night, but more than likely it will be very short-lived.

Also, Trent Cole has been ruled out for Thursday as well. No word on whether the Eagles plan to bring in Simeon Rice or perhaps coax Mike Mamula out of retirement.
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Mario Williams is the new "Freak."


Defensive ends are quickly becoming the highest-paid players in the NFL, especially on defense. In fact, up until Haynesworth's recent monster deal, Dwight Freeney was the highest paid defensive player in the league at nearly $12 million per year.

The position has seen a transition over the years. No longer are the ends big and fast like a Reggie White or a Bruce Smith. Today, those guys would probably be playing defensive end in the 3-4.

Guys like Julius Peppers, Osi Umenyiora, and Freeney have become the prototypes.

Why is this? Perhaps because there's a direct correlation between sacks and dollars. Sacks, interceptions, and touchdowns are what lead to extra zeros in the new contract.

Teams will overlook an end's poor performance in the running game if the speed and agility is there to get to the quarterback on third down.

That's the job description of these guys, and they do it best.

5c. Trent Cole (Philadelphia Eagles)

53 games started, 34.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD, 8 forced fumbles, 189 tackles, *1-time Pro Bowler
Trent Cole is still a young guy, so the stats may not look as great as they will for most of these guys, but he has certainly shown that he is just as dominating as any defensive end in the league.

He seems to suffer from the lack of respect that the Eagles' left ends receive as far as blockers, but he still manages to get those tough sacks and tackles when they matter most.

He also plays the run better than most defensive ends. He's good at holding the point of attack when he must and making that stop, or forcing the running back to the inside for the big guys in the middle to do their work.

He's got a whole lot of unrealized potential still and once the Eagles find an end that offenses will respect, Cole will be a perennial Pro Bowler.

5b. Dwight Freeney (Indianapolis Colts)
89 games started, 70.5 sacks, 34 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 203 tackles, 1 safety, *4-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro

Dwight Freeney could very well be the best pure pass-rusher in the NFL.

His patented spin move has made him a sensation in Indianapolis and all around the NFL. He's still a guy who must always be accounted for, or he will make you pay when it counts most.

So for all the stats and the praise, why so low?

Putting aside the fact that he is weak against the run, Freeney seems to have lost a step over the past few seasons. Following season of 16 and 11 sacks, he followed that up with seasons of 5.5 and 3.5 sacks. This past year he did reach double-digits again with 10.5, but he doesn't seem to be the same player.

The problem with speed rushers is that once the speed is gone, so is their game. Freeney, like other speed guys, have relied on one move throughout their entire career, but have had success because of their speed.

Jevon Kearse is a good example. Now that the speed is gone, he's not even thought of when a list like this comes up. A one-trick pony will become exposed at some point in the NFL, and Freeney may be reaching that point.
5a. Osi Umenyiora (New York Giants)
51 games started, 41.5 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, 2 TD, 167 tackles, *2-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

Umenyiora's speed and agility is a reminder of Dwight Freeney, but unlike Freeney, Umenyiora is willing to play the run.

His injury last year may have a substantial affect on his game because he relies so heavily on his speed, but he may be able to push through it because he is such a craftsman.

Umenyiora will benefit from having a great defensive line around him, and some pretty decent linebackers behind him, so he should be just fine.

The fact is that the Giants are a completely different defense with him in the game. Mathias Kiwanuka filled in admirably last season but Umenyiora will put a scare into offenses that no one else on that team can bring.

He said he could have been able to come back last year, his spot in the league will be determined by whether or not he can come back this year and perform the way he has.

4. John Abraham (Atlanta Falcons)

103 games started, 84 sacks, 31 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 302 tackles, *3-time Pro Bowler and 1-time All-Pro

Last season, Abraham got the biggest Pro Bowl snub of either conference. His 16.5 sacks should have been plenty to get him into the Pro Bowl, but somehow he was overlooked and left sitting at home.

At the age of 30, Abraham had the best season of his career with the rejuvenated Falcons, and doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

He's great rushing the passer, but can also secure the outside against the run. He's a smart player and obviously understands the game of football. He uses his intelligence to make up for perhaps a small loss in physical ability due to age.

Again, if there is a loss, it's minute.

Look for Abraham to make the Pro Bowl this coming year.
3. Julius Peppers (Carolina Panthers)

106 games started, 70.5 sacks, 4 INT, 25 forced fumbles, 2 TDs, 279 tackles, *4-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro

Peppers is one of the most, if not the most, gifted athlete to ever play in the NFL.

When it comes to pure football ability, he's really not that great. His technique and the way he plays the game is not quite textbook, but he's so much more athletic than anyone he faces that it doesn't matter.

He's said recently that he would like to play outside linebacker in a 3-4, but with all the success he has had and will have in the 4-3, why in the world would he want to change?

If Peppers is smart, he'll sign a contract long enough that it ensures he'll retire a Panther and give up on playing a new position eight years into his career.

2. Mario Williams (Houston Texans)

48 games started, 30.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 1 TD, 122 tackles, *1-time Pro Bowler

The debate of "Mario Williams or Reggie Bush" seems to have been settled.

Charley Casserly was all but ran out of Houston after failing to draft the flavor of the month in Reggie Bush, but over the past three years, it would appear that he's been proven right and Texans fans are quietly praising his name.

Let's also not forget that in the round after Williams, Casserly drafted DeMeco Ryans, who has also turned out to be one of the better linebackers in the game.

Williams is a rare combination of size and speed at 6'6 and 290 pounds. His first step off the ball is one of the quickest in the league, then he has the power to manhandle guys 30 and 40 pounds heavier than him.

Only three years in the league has him near the top, give him time and he may show that he's not only top five in the league now, but perhaps ever.

He has that kind of talent.

1. Jared Allen (Minnesota Vikings)

71 games started, 57.5 sacks, 1 INT, 17 forced fumbles, 240 tackles, 2 safeties, *2-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro

While I believe that Williams will eventually overtake Allen for this spot, their is no debating that over the past two years Jared Allen has been by far the very best in the league.

In his past two seasons (his last with the Chiefs and his first with the Vikings), Allen has 30 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 2 safeties, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team over those two years.

If he can control his off the field drinking problems he may be able to fend off Mario Williams and keep his top spot for a little while longer, because as it stands now he is the hands down choice for best defensive end in the league.
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Last season the defensive line was good. Not great, but good. They helped lead the way for the third ranked defense in the NFL, and the best overall defense in the NFC. However, there is room for improvement.

Trent Cole is a Pro Bowl guy, and has been year in and year out. He’s been phenomenal during his career with the Eagles and is recognized throughout the league by offensive coordinators as a guy for whom they must gameplan.

He commands the double team, which should allow for other players to make plays. Unfortunately that has not happened as much as it should from the guys on the other side, specifically Juqua Parker.

Parker accounted for only five sacks last season, being overshadowed by Darren Howard who doubled that amount with 10. Chris Clemons, the third end, finished with one less than Parker with four.

In the Eagles’ Jim Johnson-led defense, no one player will have more than between 13-15 sacks because of all the rotation and various blitz packages for various players. But with that said, five is just simply not enough out of a guy who is supposed to be our starter opposite Cole.

Howard has had a resurgence and could, or rather should, overtake Parker for the starting role while limiting him to a backup status (which for this defense of rotation simply means Howard should start getting some of Parker’s snaps).

Clemons, Victor Abiamiri, and second-year man Bryan Smith should all push for more playing time at defensive end next year. A healthy Abiamiri and Smith will mean more fresh legs and more speed on the edge, allowing for more sacks in ‘09 than in ‘08.

No one should be shocked if the Eagles also decide to take a defensive end in the middle rounds, somewhere between the third and fifth.

Brodrick Bunkley was originally drafted to be an inside pass-rushing presence more than a run-stuffer, but it would appear as though the opposite has happened. Bunkley was only able to muster up two sacks last year (to put that into perspective Dan Klecko had two in the first three games he played defense - more on him later), but came on big in the running game.

Bunkley’s most memorable plays from last season would have to be his stuffs of Eli Manning and Brandon Jacobs on fourth-down plays in the playoffs.

Mike Patterson also suffered in the area of rushing the passer, coming up with zero sacks last season. That’s struggling at its best. However Patterson seems to be in the same boat as Bunkley in that he has come on very strong in stopping the run and being a huge presence in the middle.

In their defense, these guys do come off the field on third downs to make way for Johnson’s pass-rushing line consisting of Howard and Abiamiri in the middle.

However with that said, they still need to step up on first and second down to get pressure on the quarterback. If they show they can get to the passer, perhaps they can be left in on third down.

Trevor Laws was the Eagles’ first pick in the draft last year, going 47th overall in the second round. Laws seems to have a lot of potential and should find his way into some healthy playing time in the coming years if he can turn that potential into production when he gets the limited time he’ll likely be receiving for at least another year.

Dan Klecko will likely be coming back to his natural position, and that’s right where he belongs. Weaver is a significant upgrade at fullback, and I’m sure Klecko will be happy to bulk back up and play defense.

He played admirably, but what we saw was the best we were getting out of Klecko on offense. He showed promise last year as a defensive tackle, registering two sacks in the first three games before being switched to fullback.

Now Klecko can go back to defense while making the occasional appearance on offense inside the 20’s.

Overall this is a group filled with immense talent. Some of that talent when untapped last year and must be taken advantage of in 2009. The line is what makes this defense go, and without a good year from the line we Philly fans could go through a rather agonizing season.
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