Fansided

5 burning questions the Eagles must answer in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 11: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during mandatory minicamp at the NovaCare Complex on June 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 11: Head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during mandatory minicamp at the NovaCare Complex on June 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 03: Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles dances in front of Ty Nsekhe #79 of the Washington Redskins after sacking Mark Sanchez #6 (not pictured) in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 3, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Redskins 28-13. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 03: Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles dances in front of Ty Nsekhe #79 of the Washington Redskins after sacking Mark Sanchez #6 (not pictured) in the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 3, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Redskins 28-13. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

3. Is the defensive line the team’s deepest unit?

It was this aspect of the team that proved to be essential in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII. And it was obviously something that general manager Howie Roseman put a priority on these last few months. In 2017, the Philadelphia Eagles finished fourth in the league in total defense, allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL and finished the regular season with 38 sacks. The team’s top six performers in terms of QB traps were all defensive linemen, led by Brandon Graham (9.5), Fletcher Cox (5.5) and ends Derek Barnett (5) and Chris Long (5).

Last offseason, the Eagles parted ways with defensive and Vinny Curry – who latched on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team also watched valuable reserve defensive tackle Beau Allen sign with the Bucs during free agency. The club added Michael Bennett via a trade with the Seahawks and also inked veteran Haloti Ngata. The Birds finished with more sacks (44) – a combined 19.5 by Cox (10.5) and Bennett (9) – but wasn’t quite as effective against the run.

Over the last few months, the team dealt Bennett to the New England Patriots. Ngata and Chris Long announced their retirements. But the club from brought back defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, who missed the vast majority of 2018, and re-signed Curry after the Buccaneers cut him loose. They also added talented interior presence Malik Jackson, late of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and traded for Colts’ defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway.

The Eagles figure to be a lot tougher up the middle this season. And that will make life a lot easier for Graham, Barnett and the rest of a talented group of ends.

Next: No. 2

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