Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Preview - Defensive End
by JasonB on Jul 22, 2009 1:07 PM EDT
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This is the next installment in our series of 12 positions in 12 days previewing the upcoming Eagles training camp. Rookie and selected vets report to Lehigh July 26th and each day leading up to that date we will bring you a preview of a different position battle.
Here we are on our 9th position preview and we've finally got ourselves a starting job that is truly up for grabs. While the right defensive end spot is locked down, the left defensive end spot should be an entertaining battle at Lehigh.
The Bodies
Victor Abiamiri, Chris Clemons, Trent Cole, Darren Howard, Juqua Parker, Bryan Smith.
Presumed Starters
At this point, I think we can say that Cole is the only guy who can be safely assumed as a starter. While Juqua Parker has started at left end for a couple of years now, young guys like Victor Abiamiri and Bryan Smith will be making serious pushes for playing time. In fact, I think if you ask Eagles management who they'd like to see win the starting LDE job... they'd tell you it was Abiamiri.
Back to Trent Cole... The Hunter has been a model of consistency over the past 3 years averaging just about 10 sacks per season and playing nearly every defensive snap over that time. He's also developed into nearly as good a run stopper as he is as a pass rusher. That 2 way DE is becoming more and more of a rare breed in the NFL with so many teams playing the 3-4 or employing smaller/faster pass rush specialists. Cole is certainly one of a handful of guys in the NFL that excels at both.
New additions
None.
What to watch for
The big thing to watch at this camp will be the battle for the starting left defensive end job. While Chris Clemons & 2nd year man Bryan Smith will be in the mix, the battle should really come down to incumbent starter Juqua Parker and 3rd year man Victor Abiamiri. The start of VA's career was plauged by various injuries, most recently his wrist which kept him out of the first half of last season. When he did get the chance to play however, he was pretty impressive playing both inside and out and displaying power and a knack for getting into the backfield. At 6'4 and around 270 Abiamiri has the size to be a run stopper while still having the speed to get to the QB. Plus, with speedy pass rush specialists like Clemons and Smith backing him up, VA has the ability to move inside on passing downs and rush from the inside.
Parker has been a solid and relatively productive member of the Eagles for several years now. The concern with him is that he seems to wear down as the season goes on, which would lead us to believe he might be better served as a backup where he doesn't play as many snaps. Last year 4.5 of his 5 sacks came in the first half of the year. 2007 was the same story with all 5 of his sacks coming in the first 8 games he played.
The table is certainly set for Abiamiri to make that LDE spot his own, will he finally be healty enough to do it?
Some other quick things to watch. The development of second year man Bryan Smith, who finished last preseason with a very impressive game against the Jets but rarely made the active roster during the season. Also Chris Clemons, who after he got healthy last year actually became one of the team's best defensive playmakers down the stretch.
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I am praying that VA gets the starting job because I can’t take another season of Parker wearing down after having a pretty good first half.
fightlockdown.com
by The Legend on Jul 22, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought Smith, and Clemons to a lesser extent, were brought in to back-up Cole?
On another note, how much fun would it be to watch this team rush the passer with 5 DEs? AV and Howard at DT, Cole and Clemons/Smith at DE and Parker in that “Joker” spot where he was so good early last year.
by Tracer Bullet on Jul 22, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought Smith, and Clemons to a lesser extent, were brought in to back-up Cole?
Clemons signed a 5 year $18.5M deal… at almost 4M a year he better not have been brought in to just back up. I am extremely optimistic about his progression in the system at the end of last year and I would like to see him play 50% of the snaps at LDE, especially 3rd and 4 or longer. With the kind of money he’s making, he better damn well get himself on the field.
About 10 minutes ago, I was pondering my own existence. Then I decided that it didn't matter.
by IronHank on Jul 22, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That still leaves him a backup, or at least a situational player.
RDEs tend to be bigger as they usually play a more prominent role against the run and frequently get double teamed by the TE and OT. My thinking was that Clemons, at 6-foot-2 and 240 lbs, doesn’t really have the body for that.
by Tracer Bullet on Jul 22, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My thinking was that Clemons, at 6-foot-2 and 240 lbs, doesn’t really have the body for that.
I know that and I agree with you, he’s much better suited to LDE. However, 50% of the snaps is not a situational player on a modern DL. For example, John Abraham significantly reduced the amount of snaps he was on the field last year for the Falcons and his career has been reborn because of it. The less he was on the field the more effective he was. If you are considering him “situational” then I guess I see what you’re saying.
In any case, no, I’d never dream of putting him in Cole’s spot on the cold day in hell when Trent decides he’s too tired to play a down. Starting him at LE though, now that’s an idea I can get behind.
About 10 minutes ago, I was pondering my own existence. Then I decided that it didn't matter.
by IronHank on Jul 22, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Situational because I really can’t see where he plays except on passing downs. He’s not likely to be much of a run defender at that size as a DE. Maybe they’ll convert him to an OLB?
On that note, am I the only one who thinks the Eagles really want to run a 3-4 but they can’t find a NG? Undersized DTs who are well suited to be 3-4 ends, at least four undersized ends who can drop into coverage and an oversized SAM who, in theory, can put his hand down and rush the passer.
by Tracer Bullet on Jul 22, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nah, what we really want to run is the "Jim Johnson"
it’s mostly 4-3 but has a lot of 46 included in it and 3-4 just occasionally. In any case, it works, and we have the perfect personnel to fit that ridiculously complicated scheme.
About 10 minutes ago, I was pondering my own existence. Then I decided that it didn't matter.
by IronHank on Jul 22, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Clemons also played some Joker and in some sets he was even lined up as a middle linebacker. So he’ll see the field even if he isn’t getting snaps at DE.
by JasonB on Jul 22, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the Joker
In this year’s playoff run, it was my impression that Clemons was the “starting” Joker…
His speed really suits the position, since the Joker has so many potential responsibilities.
Tommy Lawlor wrote a quick note at Scout’s Notebook back in ‘06 about the “Okie Package” where he suggests that JJ’s Joker is actually when a speedy DE lines up as the Mike in a 335 nickel set. It’s something I’ll watch this year – do the eagles ever line up with a 3-4 look with one of their DE’s off the LOS. My sense is that they do, but I just haven’t really paid attention…
by cavortingEagle on Jul 22, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that could be. I remember Kearse lining up off the LOS standing up on the outside and that being referred to as the “joker.” HOwever, you’re right in that Clemons was in the middle.
by JasonB on Jul 22, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t think of a specific time when one of our DE’s has lines up off the LOS, but i can think of plenty of times that they were standing up rather than had a hand down. Trent Cole drops into coverage all the time, too.
About 10 minutes ago, I was pondering my own existence. Then I decided that it didn't matter.
by IronHank on Jul 22, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is becoming my favorite thing to post, and I apologize if you've read it 80 times already...
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 22, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oops...
OK, let’s try again. Anyway…
By the end of December… Cowboys O Line…
Adams – 34 years old
Kosier – 31
Gurode – 31
Davis – 31
Colombo – 31
Avg age – 31.6
By the end of December… Redskins O Line…
Samuels – 32
Dockery – 29
Raback – 32
Thomas – 33
Heyer – 25
Avg age – 30.2
Meanwhile, both the Eagles’ and Giants’ D Lines go 10 deep with a mix of impact guys and really quality NFL players. These are going to be enormous mismatches for Dallas and Washington.
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 22, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually didn’t realize Dallas’ line was all over 30.
by JasonB on Jul 22, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup...
And to compound that problem, they had 12 picks this year and took ONE offensive lineman, and didn’t draft any in 2008. That’s just unacceptable.
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 22, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the Redskins have drafted 2 offensive linemen the past 5 years (one of whom was a 7th rounder). Not good.
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 22, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Skills eventually decline and break downs might be more likely. but I’d expect only a small decline over last season’s numbers.
Long term, especially with the the positional neglect in the draft, could be a big deal.
Also, did you ever get you listed of old lineman who played at good or above level last year? The list that is suppose to make us believe they’ll be fine, even if we don’t get to see the proof? The lineman we all know about?
by FredEx on Jul 22, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haha, no..
I’ve been waiting for him to show up again so I could go right back into that debate, but I haven’t seen him. It was Chandus, right?
by Bye, Dawk :( on Jul 22, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think we all know who we’re talking about here.
(Yes, it was Chandus)
by FredEx on Jul 22, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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