Philadelphia Eagles: Better On Defense Heading Into 2015?

Oct 12, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws a pass under pressure form Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Fletcher Cox (91) and defensive end Vinny Curry (75) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

It’s clear that after all of the turmoil of an offseason mired in change, that the Philadelphia Eagles‘ 2015 roster is vastly different than it was one year ago. Whether this new-look team built under the watch of head coach Chip Kelly will yield significantly better results than its predecessor remains to be seen, but an early look suggests that the needle may be pointing up. Here we take a look at the defense and how it has transformed over recent months, starting with the big boys upfront:

Defensive Line

Key Additions: Brian Mihalik

Key Losses: None

Verdict: Progressed

While there were no truly notable additions or subtractions along the defensive line, they are still one of the team’s most formidable and exciting units, and I would be surprised if they didn’t show marked improvement in 2015. The team did add a giant in defensive end Brian Mihalik in the seventh-round of the 2015 NFL Draft, but he likely won’t have a meaningful role in the upcoming season.

“The Nobodies” are a young group (24.3 years old on average when subtracting Brandon Bair), and have improved steadily over their first two years, despite having to make adjustments in Billy Davis‘ scheme. Fletcher Cox is a budding superstar on the verge of All-Pro status, while Bennie Logan and Cedric Thornton are a consistent presence. The growth potential of this group makes its ceiling very high.

Next: Inside Linebacker