Next up in our position-by-position look at where the Eagles stand heading into the offseason is defensive end.
2011 In Review
Perhaps no position made more noise for the Eagles in 2011 than the defensive end spot. An attacking style of play began for the Eagles last offseason, when Andy Reid lured famed defensive line coach Jim Washburn to take over that role in Philadelphia. Much was made about Washburn's "wide-nine" technique, and in 2011, the results spoke for themselves; the Eagles tied for the league lead with 50 sacks and led the NFL with a sack on 9.7 percent of opponent passing plays. Of those 50 sacks, 35 came from the defensive end position, where a free-agent import led the way.
When Jason Babin chose to take a second tour of duty with the Eagles last August, he mentioned the opportunity to play alongside a high-powered offense that would allow him to rush the passer, the chance to prove he could thrive in Philadelphia after his one-year stint with the team in 2009 and a host of other reasons for his decision. But all that paled in comparison to his reunion with Washburn, who coached Babin in his breakout 2010 season with the Tennessee Titans. Knowing that many called that Pro Bowl year a "fluke," Babin was plenty motivated in 2011 and, in turn, he proved that not only was his emergence far from fluke, but that he's also become one of the most feared pass rushers in the league. Babin finished the season third in the league with 18.0 sacks on his own, highlighted by a back-to-back three-sack performance late in the season, and earned himself a return trip to the Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
Babin will tell you that a lot of the credit for his sack tally goes to his hunting mate, Trent Cole, who often bears the brunt of opposing double teams, allowing Babin the chance to make a fool of the right tackle en route to the quarterback (consider that Babin's first two games of the 2011 season in which he didn't record a sack were the two games Cole missed with a calf injury). Still, Cole finished among the league leaders in sacks, tying for 11th with 11. With 68.0 sacks in his Eagles career, Cole ranks third on the franchise list, and needs only nine sacks to surpass Clyde Simmons for second place (Reggie White is far atop the list with 124.0). And, for the second straight season, Cole finished the season as the very best 4-3 defensive end in the league according to ProFootballFocus.com. In fact, in their four years of charting games, ProFootballFocus has ranked Cole first, first, third and fourth over the last four seasons.
The Eagles also got plenty of contributions from their stable of defensive ends behind the starters. Under Washburn, the defensive line rotates throughout the game in order to keep everyone's legs relatively fresh. That resulted in opportunities for the likes of Juqua Parker and Darryl Tapp to contribute. Tapp, in particular, impressed with his constant effort and was a valuable piece of the defense in his second season with the Eagles. Parker, meanwhile, provided the two best highlights for the defensive ends, as he scored not one, but two touchdowns on fumble returns. In doing so, Parker became the second Eagle in team history to score on two fumble returns in the same season, joining Clyde Simmons, who accomplished the feat in 1991.
The Eagles also plucked a diamond in the rough in the form of Phillip Hunt, the 2010 Canadian Football League sack champion. After signing with the Eagles early last offseason, Hunt forced his way onto the roster after a strong preseason but toiled mostly on the sidelines during the regular season. But Hunt made an impact late in the year when he got his chance, notching two sacks (including one safety) in the season's final four games. With a full offseason to his credit, Hunt will be a player to watch moving forward -- as will 2010 first-round pick Brandon Graham.
Graham, the former Michigan Wolverine, spent the beginning of the 2011 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list because of a torn ACL he suffered at the tail end of his rookie season. Graham never seemed quite 100 percent and only ended up playing in three games during the year. The always positive Graham expects big things in 2012, when he'll be healthy and ready to put Washburn's tutelage to use.
Impressive Stat:
Jason Babin and Trent Cole were the only pair of teammates to rank among the top-15 leaders in sacks in 2011. Babin (18.0 sacks) finished third, while Cole (11.0) finished tied for 11th.
End Of Season Depth Chart:
RE: 1. Trent Cole 2. Darryl Tapp 3. Phillip Hunt
LE: 1. Jason Babin 2. Juqua Parker (UFA) 3. Brandon Graham 4. Maurice Fountain
To Be Answered:
As long as they stay healthy, Cole and Babin should remain as reliable as they were in 2010. But will Brandon Graham provide a spark as the third feared pass rusher when healthy? Graham will be one of the most interesting players to watch this offseason for Eagles fans.
Also of note will be whether the Eagles chose to bring back the 31-year-old Parker after his seven seasons with the team. If not, will the Eagles bring another veteran in, or rather rely on the presence of Tapp and an expected improvement from Hunt?
