I'll admit it…I might have been a little "over-influenced" by some of the reports I read on the Eagles' website.
I admit that maybe the Eagles #3 Defensive ranking and 48 sacks had me a bit blinded to some defense deficiencies. Mainly, the ability of the DEs to generate consistent pressure and get sacks.
For the most part all of the Eagles' draft talk has centered on the offensive side of the ball…RB, TE, OL. I just hope there is also a DE in the Eagles' draft plans.
Sure there is some current talent at DE for the Eagles. But I worry about depth at the position and also the ability of the current defensive ends to remain effective for an entire season.
In the Eagles' last 11 games (includes 3 post season games) Abiamiri, Clemons, Howard, and Parker had a combined 10 sacks. Most worrisome of the bunch is Parker's 0 sacks over that time frame. This was the 2nd season in a row that Parker's production has been nonexistent in the seasons' 2nd half.
Trent Cole had 7 sacks over those final 11 games, so my worries about RDE are minimal.
It's LDE that I begin to have some concerns. What we have seen to date of Abiamiri still leaves us with a big question mark (16 career games, 2 sacks). Like his time with the Raiders, Clemons was only effective for a 1/2 season last year. Can the Eagles count on Clemons from Week 1 to deliver? Howard was able to turn back the clock and deliver 10 sacks last season, but he remains most effective bringing pressure from the DT position on 3rd down.
Bryan Smith remains a mystery. His size doesn't instill much confidence, but Cole has showed us the size isn't always the ultimate factor.
The Eagles need to be able to consistently generate pressure without relying on the blitz. I see the current make-up of the DE position, I see only 3 total sacks on the post season and this fan is worried…a little bit.
