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Do you know who Trent Cole is? Well, you probably do. (If you don't, shame shame, you need to watch some more football.) But that's not the point of this article...

Trent Cole Is the Most Underrated Defensive End in the NFL

by Christian Karcole (Columnist)

33

602 reads

Opinion

September 02, 2008


Do you know who Trent Cole is? Well, you probably do. (If you don't, shame shame, you need to watch some more football.)

But that's not the point of this article.

I know almost everybody knows who he is, but do people think of him as an elite defensive end? Not to my knowledge.

So my mission is to inform the readers of how good Trent Cole actually is.

Cole was drafted out of the University of Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 2005 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

That season Cole recorded five sacks in his first four games. He ended up appearing in 11 more games and his total number of games played ended up at 15. He started seven of those games. But in those next 11 games, Cole didn't record a sack.

So after his stellar start, he didn't do a thing, sack-wise, for the rest of the year.

Then in 2006, the Eagles had signed left end Darren Howard, so Cole was not going to be able to play left end. But Jevon Kearse went down with a leg injury in Week Two, so Cole got his chance at right end.

He finished that year starting 14 games, appearing in all 16 games, while recording eight sacks and 62 total tackles and one interception that went for a touchdown, and the interception was against the Giants, which makes it so much more satisfying.

And then last season, Cole started all 16 games. He recorded 12.5 sacks (sixth in the league), 70 total tackles (fourth among all DEs), and four forced fumbles (seventh among all DEs, ninth overall). He also made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

No defensive end finished higher than Trent Cole in all three categories (sacks, tackles, and forced fumbles). So averaging the three categories together, Cole finished first last year ahead of every other defensive lineman in sacks, tackles, and forced fumbles all together.

(If you read this before, you might have seen me have DeMarcus Ware in here, but I took him out. Why? He's an outside linebacker...I noticed my mistake, went to NFL.com and made sure. Took him out.)

Am I saying Trent Cole is the best defensive end in football? Not at all.

My point is just that Trent Cole is one of the best up-and-coming defensive ends in the league (behind Mister Mario Williams), and he could be a top five defensive end in a few years. He's only 25 and is only going to get better.

This season, I'm expecting big things for Trent Cole.

I'm expecting 13 sacks, 80 total tackles, and three forced fumbles.

And if he can do this he should gain another Pro Bowl appearance.

And then if he can maintain this for the next few years, he will be in the conversation for the five best defensive ends in the league.

I know you all likely know who Trent Cole is, but I just wanted to show you that he is a better defensive end than people give him credit for.

Go Trent Cole!

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33 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Thomas 10 months ago

    I've heard of this guy. He's pretty good. I agree he doesnt get the credit he deserves. maybe he needs to go to a different team.

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  2. Tosten Burks 10 months ago

    "I know almost everybody knows who he is"
    actually no

    And I don't have a football watching problem...

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  3. Paul Boye 10 months ago

    80 total tackles from a DE is kinda crazy, but I agree that Cole is underrated. Same with Juqua Thomas/Parker. Good set of ends.

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  4. Christian Karcole 10 months ago

    Well, 80 was what the leader got last year. I know it's crazy, but I can see it happening.

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  5. L.J. Burgess 10 months ago

    The Eagles are loooaded on DL, always have been. That's what gets Philly through every season...the D.

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  6. Sean Crowe 10 months ago

    I'm a big fan of Cole. Nice job.

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  7. James Morrison 10 months ago

    80 tackles is waaay to many from a DE on a team with a D as good as philly

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      You have a good point, all five players ahead of him are on worse defenses. But don't think that the Eagles defense is all that great. On the defensive line, besides Cole, you don't have anyone else proven. Same at linebacker. Stewart Bradley, Omar Gaither, Chris Gocong....Their secondary may be great, but the rest is average at best.

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  8. Spenser T. Harrison 10 months ago

    you meant Mario Williams right?

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  9. Michoel Botwinick 10 months ago

    And all this from a fifth round draft pick... :)

    Maybe the Iggles are actually better at drafting than most people realize.

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      Oh definitely. Look at their core...Donovan, Westbrook, Shawn Andrews, Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Trent Cole, Brian Dawkins, Mike Patterson, all their linebackers, Broderick Bunkley, Reggie Brown, and a lot more of their depth chart fillers.

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    • Paul Boye 10 months ago

      Brian Westbrook in the 3rd round. Case closed.

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      Oh my God, I didn't put down Westbrook? No, I had too! I thought I did...

      Oh wait, I did. Phew!

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    • Spenser T. Harrison 10 months ago

      The eagles are amazing at drafting. Just not receivers.

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    • Spenser T. Harrison 10 months ago

      Fred Ex, Reggie Brown, Todd Pinkston, Freddie Milons Na Brown, Troy Smith, Gari Scott, Greg Lewis.......sorry i just threw up in my mouth and that's just since 1998.

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      Oh Spenser, why did you have to go there? Yuk

      ;)

      And DeSean Jackson is their newest experiment...at least he looks to be for real...

      And don't forget about Jason Avant...

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      Meaning Avant was not a good pick.

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    • Spenser T. Harrison 10 months ago

      Hah, i'm sorry. It had to be done. Besides a great #1 WR is probably the least important component for a Championship team outside of K, P.

      At least Desean is alot more promising then everyone on that list. And in all fairness, Reggie Brown can be a reliable #2 for quite some time. If they can find that solid #1 guy, with desean in the slot, and Brian "the most underrated RB in the NFL" Westbrook coming out of the backfield, they would be frightening to say the least. Not to mention they always be Dallas so pray for a Anquan Boldin pickup before week 6

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      Oh yes, I've been praying for Boldin for a month. And before that it was Fitzgerald.

      And yes, Brown can be a good #2, but he's way too inconsistent.

      And yes, Westbrook is underrated, and should be considered the second best back in the league right now, and the best at receiving the ball.

      But, I do think a number one receiver is a big key to a Super Bowl. Colts had Wayne and Harrison, Giants had Burress, the Patriots at least had Branch...sure, it isn't huge, but it really helps to have a great receiver to help your QB. You can also look how much better Donovan was with TO...

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  10. Alan Bass 10 months ago

    Idk if he is THE most underrated DE in the NFL, but he sure as heck is up there. Watching him 16 games a season as an Eagles' fan, he brings more than just stats to the game. He brings life to the defense when they are down (which is often, unfortunately)...He is such an integral part of this team.

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      Alan, I agree, he brings life to the defense all the time.

      And I looked around, and really couldn't find another defensive end who I thought was more underrated. Of course my homerism may have factored into it but...

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  11. The Phinisher 10 months ago

    Great article.

    I have a close friend who is an Eagles fan, and whenever I ask him why they haven't gone out and brought in a pass rusher, he reminds me that they have Trent Cole.

    Then I ask (everytime), "How many sacks did Trent Cole have last year?"

    He replies with the stats.

    Then I say, "Oh. Nevermind. He's pretty good."

    Note: We are always tanked when this conversation occurs.

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    • Christian Karcole 10 months ago

      Thanks a lot!

      And yes, when someone hears about his sacks and tackles and fumbles, and even his INT, they are impressed. It shows he's an all around lineman.

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