When is the last time the Eagles could be as legitimately excited as now about their short-term and long-term prospects at defensive tackle? In Part 7 of my analysis of the Eagles, position by position, the state of the interior of the defensive line is examined for what it is, what it could be, and what it needs to be in 2008 for the defense to take another step forward.

By using back-to-back first-round draft choices on defensive tackle, the Eagles addressed a few years ago a major deficiency within the defense. Oh, they were getting by with the likes of Darwin Walker and Sam Rayburn and that crew, but the Eagles basically funneled everything to middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter to make the plays. The run defense wasn't great, but the team was able to click so well offensively that Jim Johnson's crew had the ability to thrive despite giving up some yards on the ground. Opposing offenses had to throw to catch up, and that's where Johnson could unleash his pressure packages.

However, the Eagles had the opportunity to use No. 1 draft picks in 2005 (Mike Patterson) and in 2006 (Brodrick Bunkley) and when the two finally got on the field together in 2007, the pair worked beautifully together. Patterson, maligned at the end of 2006 after the Eagles were hurt so badly in the playoff loss in New Orleans, benefited from the effort, discipline and aggressiveness of Bunkley, who saw his first real NFL action in his second season. Bunkley played off the technical excellence and superior hustle of Patterson and, with the improvement from the linebackers and the defensive ends, the run defense turned into a strength last season.

The hope, of course, is that the best is yet to come.

Patterson, through hard work and dedication and a maturity the Eagles saw from his first day in Philadelphia, has become an outstanding tackle. He is always around the ball. He does exactly what the coaches need within the scheme. As good as Patterson is against the run, whether or not he makes the play, he is also the team's best inside pass rusher.

Bunkley wasn't nearly as consistent as Patterson last season, but he showed flashes that get the Eagles very excited. Johnson has already said that, while Bunkley made a huge jump from his washout rookie season to a good second campaign, the Florida State product could make a similar leap in 2008.

To make this a truly special tackle tandem, Patterson and Bunkley need to be more productive rushing the quarterback. That is probably their most important focus in the months ago, in addition to conditioning to play at a high level on every snap. The Eagles must take some sack pressure off of end Trent Cole, and while the left defensive end position needs to be more productive, so do the tackles.

The Eagles are pushing both players for greatness. They are first-round picks who have panned out, even though neither has made the Pro Bowl. That they could each make a trip to Hawaii is not a reach at all, but they both need to be in position and then execute more big plays.

Really, when is the last time the Eagles had such a promising picture at defensive tackle with a pair of youngsters who are signed for years to come? Even in the glory of the defense back in the Buddy Ryan and then Bud Carson days, the Eagles scrambled at defensive tackle. They had Jerome Brown for part of that run, and then filled in the blanks with average and above-average tackles otherwise.

These two, Patterson and Bunkley, have a chance to be tremendous. Time will tell.

In the immediate future, the Eagles are looking for more from both players, and they are looking for more from the depth chart, which is highly questionable right now. Third-year man LaJuan Ramsey gained weight, bulked up, and then took a step backward in 2007. He has to get his hunger back -- no pun intended -- and earn some playing time this year or face the roster bubble. Veteran Kim von Oelhoffen is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in two weeks, and while he performed admirably in 2007, it's hard to see him back in a significant role.

Montae Reagor had just one sack last year after the Eagles signed him in free agency, but he was coming off a terrible automobile accident and never got into the flow all season. Reagor could return and could, if he is right, provide the needed inside pass rush in the nickel the defense so desperately needs. Will Reagor return? He is signed and the Eagles could very well take a long look at him in the summer to see what he has left in the tank. But how much can the Eagles count on him?

Second-year man Jeremy Clark has some skills, but needs to put it all together to make it at this level. Having Clark mature and blossom in the offseason would be a great thing for this defense. He will get the chance to show what he can do now that he understands the scheme and has a good feel for what line coach Pete Jenkins teaches.

The Eagles seem absolutely fine as far as the starters go at defensive tackle. Patterson and Bunkley are two good players who have a chance to be even better than that. But what about the depth? Every defense needs numbers along the defensive line. Who can the Eagles count on should they need to go to a third and fourth tackle in 2008?

Those are the questions the team has to address in the weeks and months leading to training camp. The Eagles need to be as good as they can be at tackle. They're off to a good start. The foundation is promising. What else can the Eagles add to the mix to make this a great, great group?

Next Position: Linebackers