Cole and Eagles' defensive line flying high

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, September, 2007 | by Bob Brookover Inquirer Staff Writer

This is a great time to be a member of the Eagles' defensive line.

After three weeks, the team leads the NFL with 14 sacks and is ranked fourth against the run, allowing just 71.7 yards per game.

Third-year defensive end Trent Cole leads the NFL with five sacks, a higher total than eight teams in the league. The Eagles' nine sacks Sunday in their 56-21 romp over the Detroit Lions were more than 23 teams have this season.

Thanks to big plays by Cole, fellow defensive end Juqua Thomas, and second-year defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley, the Eagles prevented the Lions' talented, big-play receivers from doing too much damage against a depleted secondary.

In fact, if you go back and look at the damage done by the Lions, it was almost all on short passes that...