Eagles' Training Camp Battles: Defensive Line

In the last article of this series, we will take a look at arguably the most important part of the roster for our 2008 Eagles. These are the young group of starters who can step up and get the game going and anchor the mood of the offense and the rest of the defensive unit for the rest of the game.

These are the underrated players who make all the pivotal plays and bring pressure on the opposing team's offense from all sides.

No, not the linebackers.

It's those defensive linemen. When the Eagles are sacking the other team's QB, their offense steps up (Eagles vs. Patriots, Week 12) and has a good shot to win the game. This factor has been consistent throughout those years of the Eagles' defensive dominance.

So, who stays and who goes on this young and talented group? Says Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com:

I've got Trent Cole, Chris Clemons, Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, Trevor Laws, Juqua Parker, Victor Abiamiri and Bryan Smith in as locks. That makes eight players along the line, without a fourth tackle and minus a swing veteran (namely Howard) to play in situations.

Do the Eagles carry nine or 10 linemen? Certainly, if they can find a fourth tackle—veterans Kimo von Oelhoffen and Montae Reagor appear to be the leading candidates—the line would be pretty solid all the way through.

With Patterson and Bunkley in as the starters, the Eagles can afford to give Laws a reasonable number of snaps each game and then work in a fourth tackle in situations.

Howard's value is that he can play both tackle and end. But can he be effective as a pass rusher, something he has not done consistently here? Or is a player like Abiamiri ready to expand his role?

In a perfect world, the Eagles get lights-out performances up and down the line and then have a hard time choosing. If that's the case, look for them to keep 10 linemen. Right now, it seems like the team has eight players lined up pretty nicely, with another one or two roster spots up for grabs.

Yeah, that's about it. It's good to note, though, that Chris Clemons should fit in nicely opposite Trent Cole. I mean, this guy posted eight sacks in limited action last year! Additionally, if either of them are sidelined for any reason, Juqua Parker should fit in as an excellent backup. All in all, I'm really excited about these defensive ends.

As for the defensive tackles, if Mike Patterson steps up this year, the Eagles should be pretty well off.

And I can't say I'm not impressed with Brodrick Bunkley after showing flashes of brilliance last year! He might just have a breakout year this season! However, when it comes to the backups at defensive tackle, well, I'm not really a fan of any of them.

The impact of a good defensive line on a team's overall defense has long been an intricate relationship. A defense starts, and often ends, with the defensive line. Likewise, the Eagles can only have a top-five defense if their line steps up, something that looks like it can be soon made into a reality.

www.eaglesfever.info