Two Major Questions, Only One Answered in Game 1
Going into the Eagles first preseason game, there was two thing that were of great concern to me. It had nothing to do with Kevin Kolb, or the overly talented skill players that the Eagles have on offense. My major concern was the way our defense would respond after last year’s poor performance. During the offseason, the Eagles were able to upgrade their defense with the additions of Ernie Sims, Ellis Hobbs, Brandon Graham, and Nate Allen. Sims, and Hobbs are established veteran players in the NFL, while Graham and Allen were the Eagles first two draft picks last April. With the return of Stewart Bradley from last year’s season-ending injury, the Eagles seem to have answered most of the personnel questions that have plagued their defense last season, but the Eagles’s defensive woes from last year weren’t solely personnel issues. The Eagles had a horrible time tackling and pressuring the quarterback last year. You could place most of the blame on the Eagles four defensive linemen, but it went well beyond them. The Eagles looked much better on defense against the Jaguars in their first preseason game. The Eagles’s first team defense did not allow a single first down during their time in the game. I understand that the Jaguars offense isn’t a top tier offense, but last year, the Eagles’s defense would have given up a big play somewhere during the first few drives. You can credit this newfound defensive prowess to many different things from the pressure the defensive line got on the quarterback(especially Brandon Graham), to the return of Stewart Bradley at the helm of the defense. Whichever one you choose, you would be correct because the changes made to the Eagles’s defense this offseason have seem to created a more balanced team.
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The only other concern I had going into the first preseason game was along the offensive line. Without Todd Herremans and Jamaal Jackson in the lineup, the Eagles’s offensive line is quite raw, besides Jason Peters. This Eagles team will rely heavily on its offensive line to give Kolb time to throw the ball. The Eagles’s offense will rely heavily on timing, so if teams are able to put pressure on Kolb that timing will be thrown off which will to incompletions or interceptions. The offensive line didn’t seem to bother Kolb much, but we will see this friday against the Bengals if their has been an improvement or regression. The one major spot on the offensive line that has me concerned is center. With Jamaal Jackson out for what looks like a few games to start the season, the Eagles will have to rely on either Nick Cole or it maybe Mike McGlynn. Cole was a guard last year for the Eagles, while McGlynn, also a true guard, hasn’t seen much playing time since being drafted by the Eagles three years ago. This is too much uncertainty for a position that has so much responsibility. Unless Cole or McGlynn are able to cement their position as starter at center, Kolb may have some protection difficulties throughout the preseason, and may be in the earlier parts of the season. Cole has been around the Eagles for a few years so it may be easier for him to pick up the protection calls and, to be honest, Cole did play well when he saw playing time during his earlier career.
The Eagles seem to be putting it all together as the preseason rolls on, but with a few major questions still unanswered are they a playoff team? The next step to finding out happens Friday night against T.O. and the Bengals.
By: Louis Greco
Pro Football Fans Philadelphia Eagles Correspondent