You know that the NFL is a copy cat league, therefore the New York Giants march to the NFL Championship on the back of a "Pass Rush Crazed" defensive line has reinforced the fact that the best way to stop a passing game is crushing the quarterback.
The Eagles got the message and addressed their pass rush with Oakland's Chris Clemons Clemons is a smallish situational pass rusher, who stands about 6'3" and weighs about 240. He's got big-time speed to come around the corner. He'll be doing it from the Birds left side and Trent Cole will be coming from the Birds right side.
Clemons will part of the Eagles 4-man rotation, which includes Cole, Juqua Thomas, sophomore Victor Abiamiri and disappointing free agent
Darren Howard.
The key to the rotation will be Abiamiri. The Birds want him to be their starter. They want him to be able to give them some solid play against the run on first and second downs. Whatever pass rush help they get from him will be a bonus.
The shame of this situation is that the Birds didn't give this kid more playing time a year ago. At the end of the season they didn't let him play, so now they really aren't sure that he can get the job done. They hope he can but they can't really take it to the bank.
Howard might be kept around because they like him as a pass rusher from the defensive tackle spot on pass downs and he could take some snaps at defensive end to spell the starters.
