Trent Cole and Brodrick Bunkley have stepped forward on the Eagles defensive line with their play and they're developing reputations around the league. While they're stepping forward, veteran Jevon Kearse is stepping back.
The play of Brodrick Bunkley has been nothing short of outstanding all season. Bunkely has put away his joy stick, he’s one of the best Madden players on the team. Last year some of the guys thought he was more interested in the Madden game than the real one he was supposed to be playing.
Brodrick with the help of fellow defensive tackle, Mike Patterson who is mature beyond his years, has been focused on football and doing his job. There’s very little kidding around for Bunkley this year. He has beeen able to get consistent penetration against the run and pressure in the face of quarterbacks versus the pass. The key has been his focus. Now Bunkley is showing the quickness, power and explosiveness, which everybody saw at Florida State when he came out of school.
This big meat head is going to be a major help to the Eagles defensive backs and linebackers all year long. The importance of pressure in the face of the quarterback can’t be overemphasized. As I have written many times, penetration in the middle of an offensive line, makes both passing and running impossible.
More than most of the other Eagles players, Trent Cole has a mean streak on the field. Cole has always been cocky and self-confident. Trent battles his teammates hard in practice, and always seems to be on the edge of starting a fight. You do remember him kicking the Giants offensive lineman in the balls at the end of last year’s New York game here at Lincoln Financial Field. He’s doing a better job of keeping that under control.
I call Trent “The Hunter” because he hunts quarterbacks in much the same way uses a bow and arrow to hunt deer during the off season and on his days off during the season. He’s got a collection of deer and other big game, which he has killed with a bow and arrow. Trent has developed into a pass rushing monster and does a great job with his hands when pass battling offensive tackles. and coming off the right side. Trent has a great combination of speed, quickness and strength.
Was I the only guy who saw Andy Reid take Jevon Kearse out of the game? Reid seemed to be fired up by Jevon jumping off sides time after time. Kearse jumped off sides on the Detroit pass play which went for 90 yards for a touchdown. It seemed like his jumping off sides and the flag, caused some of the Eagles defenders to freeze a bit. All Jevon seems to do nowadays is jump offsides and limp off the field after every other play. It’s time for Jim Johnson to sit him down and let rookie Victor Abiamiri alternate with Juqua Thomas at that left defensive end spot. It’s not even close, Juqua is a better football player.
So far, Jevon has failed to register a sack or a tackle after three games. His name isn't even on the Eagles defensive stats. This is a guy who is making millions but plays like the invisible man. In comparison, Cole is leading the league with 4.5 sacks and Bunkley has two so far.
