outstanding season, but production from the LE position wasn't impressive.A big reason for this was the decision to test Juqua Thomas with increased reps. Thomas may have technically only started 7 games this season but well before then was getting more reps than incumbent Jevon Kearse.
The move made perfect sense. Kearse clearly had lost several steps and the team was intrigued by Thomas' potential as a full time starter. By week 3, Thomas had 3 sacks in his reserve roll and was coming off of a year in which he posted a solid 6 sacks. The Staff knew what they had with Kearse, they wanted to test Thomas, who had only started two games as
an Eagle but was always productive.As many would have predicted, Thomas' play slipped and was inconsistent down the stretch. I feel fairly confident in stating that he is not an NFL starting DE. But he is still a good pass rusher, which no NFL team can ever have enough of. Juqua at 6'2 250 just clearly wasn't big enough to be an every down guy.
But all is not lost, the answer may be on the roster already. Victor Abiamiri, a big DE at 6'4 267, drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame played in 6 games and proved to be very stout vs. the run. Unfortunately he has yet to show much ability as a pass rusher. Essentially he is the anti-Juqua.
Now I'll talk shortly about the RE spot on th Green Bay Packers. If you asked most people who the DE opposite Aaron Kampman in Green Bay was they'd say Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (if it was in fact a name that was actually pronounceable). That's actually wrong. Green Bay's starting RE is actually Cullen Jenkins. He moved there before this season from DT. He's a big DE, very good against the run. He essentially plays rushing downs while KGB rushes the passer. The Packers are a dominant team up front on defense and DE is a team strength. The reason I'm talking about the Green Bay Packers is following:
They have a stud DE at one spot (Kampman). We have a stud at one DE spot (Cole). At the other spot neither the Eagles nor the Packers have a definitive answer. The Packers mix Jenkins' great ability to play the run and KGB's pass rush ability to get pressure and it works on both accounts. It's the mix of both that makes it work. In fact, this mix may have reflourished KGB's career. KGB actually was declining badly, illustrated by his mere 6 total sacks in 2006. In his reduced role, he's tallied 9.5 sacks.
What I'm saying is that if Abiamiri should improve to the point where he can hold his own as a starter, we could use him in the Cullen Jenkins role, while Juqua plays the KGB pass rusher position. Using both players to their strengths and essentially building one very good DE out of two guys, just like the Packers.
To put it very simply:
Kampman --> Cole
Jenkins --> Abiamiri
KGB --> Juqua
we could use them accordingly
it all depends on how Abiamiri improves...
