By Pete Dougherty
[email protected]
The Philadelphia Eagles might have discovered another notable pass-rushing talent this season in defensive end Trent Cole.
The Eagles lost their best pass rusher, Jevon Kearse, to a season-ending knee and leg injury in the season's second week, but they still lead the NFL in sacks with 16 and have put up a strong pass rush in part because of Cole.
Cole (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) came into this season as a relative unknown outside coaching and scouting circles after the Eagles selected him in the fifth round out of Cincinnati in the 2005 draft. He played in 15 games as a rookie last season, including starting seven, and finished with five sacks, which suggests a promising start to fifth-rounder's career.
This year, he has five sacks in only three games and has shown both speed off the edge and a relentless rushing mentality that's helped make up for Kearse's absence.
"There won't be many people saying (who's he?) in a while," said Mark Tauscher, the Packers' right tackle. "He's a very quick and explosive athlete. You can just see the guy's coming off the ball. He's going to be a big challenge. Speed, but he's not just sprinting up the field, he's explosive, he comes underneath, he's not just a pass-rush guy."
The Eagles also made a move in free agency this past offseason that's paying off after Kearse's injury. They signed former New Orleans defensive end Darren Howard to a six-year contract that included $10.5 million in guarantees. Howard, who has only one sack, isn't in Kearse's class as a rusher but had 11½ sacks in 2004 before slipping to 3½ last year in 12 games with the Saints.
New Orleans also counts on defensive coordinator's multi-blitz package to get pressure and sacks. Johnson runs one of the most creative and unpredictable blitz packages in the NFL, and has unusual calls such as combining blitzes with stunts by defensive linemen.
Teams playing the Eagles spend much of their week working on the various blitz pickups.
"You have to drill it, give it muscle memory," said Scott Wells, the Packers' center.
Pickett better: The Packers just might have their best defensive tackle, Ryan Pickett, for Monday night's game against Philadelphia after all.
Pickett, who injured his ankle last week at Detroit, practiced on Friday for the first time this week, and coach Mike McCarthy upgraded him from doubtful (at least a 75 percent chance he won't play) to questionable (50-50 chance he won't play).
Defensive tackle Kenderick Allen (foot) remains listed as out.
Also, halfback Ahman Green (hamstring) didn't practice Friday but is listed as probable (virtual certainty the player will be available for normal duty).
On the line: Guard Jason Spitz has practiced all week after missing the last two games because of a bruised thigh, and even if he's not in the starting lineup, he expects to be activated as a backup guard and center.
Daryn Colledge has started the last two games at left guard in Spitz's place and appears to have played well enough that the Packers are seriously considering keeping him in the starting lineup even when Spitz is ready to play. When Spitz is ready to start, he more likely would replace Tony Moll at right guard, though if Colledge and Moll are playing well enough, there's always the chance the Packers will stay with what's working and keep Spitz in a backup role.
The Packers practiced in pads only one day this week, Thursday, but Spitz has done some extra hitting with James Campen, the assistant offensive line coach, to get more game ready.
"If everything works out, I'll be in a uniform (Monday), instead of sitting in a jump suit," Spitz said.
