Part 6 of my analysis on the Eagles roster, position by position, focuses on the defensive ends and the promise, the frustration and the overall anticipation of a position that is so crucial to this football team.

Let's begin with the good news. In Trent Cole, the Eagles have one of the best ends in the league. Period. No longer is Cole an "emerging" defensive ends or "one of the better young players" in the NFL. With 12 1/2 sacks and more than 100 total tackles, Cole earned every bit of his trip to Hawaii for Sunday's Pro Bowl. Voted as a first alternate, Cole was bumped up when Seattle's Patrick Kerney was scratched from the game.

It should be the first of many opportunities for Cole, who plays with as much energy and enthusiasm as any player on any team. He rarely comes out of games and he has built his endurance and core body strength to incredible levels. Cole is not just an off-the-edge speed rusher any longer. As he said he would after a promising rookie season, Cole has developed a nice repertoire of moves when he rushes the quarterback, and he plays the run well.

Cole is one of the players around whom this defense is built. With a long-term contract, financial security and an undeniable hunger to be the best end in the league. Cole is only beginning his prime. It isn't a reach to suggest he could be one of the special Eagles defensive ends ever before his career is over. Cole has to continue to improve, because teams are going to pay extra attention to him on every snap of the ball, but he has that innate drive that sets him apart.

DE Trent Cole leads the pass rush

Right end, then, is set. At left end, the Eagles saw Juqua Thomas emerge as a starter last year and Thomas continued to play with terrific effort and the kind of versatility the Eagles like. He moved inside in the nickel at times, he dropped back in coverage in zone blitz situations and Thomas held up well against the run.

However, Thomas' sack numbers dropped after a good start in 2007. He had just two sacks in the final 13 games of the season, and while Thomas did a lot of things well, he did not register enough of the all-important sack numbers. Still, the Eagles went with Thomas because he clearly was a better option than Jevon Kearse, and because the coaches felt Victor Abiamiri was not yet ready to step up.

Look for that to change this year. Or, at least, the Eagles hope it changes with Abiamiri. A second-round draft pick from Notre Dame last April, Abiamiri played sparingly until the finale against Buffalo when he registered two tackles and two quarterback hurries. The Eagles think Abiamiri will make a big improvement this year as he refines his pass-rushing technique and works on his use of hands and playing the run. Look for some real competition at defensive end in the spring and summer.

There could be a significant shakeup at end, though. Veterans Kearse and Darren Howard carry heavy price tags for players who were not able to step up and contribute much last year. Kearse, coming back from a knee injury that shelved him in '06, showed flashes of his trademark speed off the edge and of his ability to get to the quarterback, but he was just not strong enough in the legs to make a positive impact.

Howard played more at tackle than he did at end, and was not nearly as productive as the Eagles hoped he would be. Both players face are question marks in the offseason. Will they be back? Or will the Eagles look to upgrade their depth and challenge the left and right ends via free agency and the draft? We shall see.

There are three more ends who have a chance to crack the rotation this spring. Jerome McDougle, the injury-plagued former first-round draft pick, is healthy and still on the roster and is likely to get another look in the spring and summer. He has never reached the potential the Eagles saw in him when they made him a first-round pick in 2003. McDougle, who has faced just about every kind of injury imaginable, could get one more opportunity in the preseason.

A.J. Schable played in 2006 for the Cardinals and then was released by Arizona last August and did not play during the season. To open eyes, Schable must play with great energy and pick up the teachings of line coach Pete Jenkins, as well as shine on special teams.

Xzavie Jackson spent November and December on the Eagles' practice squad and is an end/tackle who is going to get his shot to make this team. The Eagles liked him enough based on his practice squad work to keep him around for another look.

Certainly, there are some players to work with at defensive end, but the Eagles could use some more firepower off the edge. They can use linebacker Chris Gocong in some pass-rushing situations for a different look, but they also need to be more consistent on a down-to-down basis with the pass rush. The ends played very well against the run last year, and the sack numbers weren't bad, either.

But for this group to be special, they need more help for Cole, either in the improvement from players on the roster or by acquiring some in the months ahead.

Next Position: Defensive Tackles