If this theory seems like the rantings of a lunatic, then we’ll just attribute it to a slow news day for the Eagles. As we all know, the Eagles need to add another defensive end to that line.
We saw in the Super Bowl what a dominant defensive line can do, and the Eagles are pretty much 75% of the way there.
The free agent market isn’t going to offer much. I would be absolutely shocked if the Chiefs made Jared Allen available for anything less than someone’s first-born child. He’ll get tagged. Other than that, there really isn’t much out there that will make an impact.
So I got to thinking (I know….that’s dangerous) and wondered if the solution wasn’t already on the roster. We know what Darren Howard and Jevon Kearse are. Not much. So, I must be talking about Victor Abiamiri because I sure as hell am not talking about Juqua Thomas.
Nope, I’m thinking Chris Gocong. I know they dedicated a lot of time converting him into a linebacker, but I don’t love him there. He got better throughout the year for sure, but he is still big and lumbering. I would love to know what he can do at defensive end at the pro level. Don’t forget, he was not only a defensive end in college, he led the nation in sacks in 2005 with 23.5. For his career he had 42 sacks in 41 games.
I understand he was at Cal Poly and hardly going against studs like Winston Justice (did that get a laugh?), but those numbers are what they are. You saw at times the Eagles would have him put his hand down and I’d love to see more of it. The Eagles were dead last in turnovers this year, so he couldn’t have been going bonkers with the big plays from the linebacker position.
I’m not saying this would actually work, but I would love to see them try it out. People can say that I’m an idiot and that’s fine. But the way the defense failed to get the ball back all year, I can at least say I’m being creative.
micahw@feverpitchmedia.com
