Bills vs. Eagles: Trent Cole's Absence A Run-Stopping Issue

by Brian Galliford on Oct 5, 2011 2:31 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

There is a misconception amongst fans of the Buffalo Bills about this weekend's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philly's best defensive end, Trent Cole, will miss this game with a calf injury. Bills fans have been telling me all week that the injury will help Buffalo's pass protection without Demetrius Bell in the lineup at left tackle.

True, Cole is a great pass rusher. His loss hurts the team more defending the run, however.

"Obviously, Jason Babin is off to an insane start and leads the league in sacks right now," notes Jason Brewer of BleedingGreenNation.com. "They moved him over to the right last week when Cole went down, and I expect they'll have him on Ryan Fitzpatrick's blind side this week."

Babin has recorded seven sacks through four games, and lining up across from rookie Chris Hairston, the Eagles will have a very obvious pass-rushing advantage on Sunday.

"The difference is that while Babin has proven to be a terror in the pass rush, he doesn't provide a lot in terms of run stopping," continues Brewer. "Cole, on the other hand, is a fantastic two-way end. Given his size, you wouldn't expect him to be a great run stopper, but he is. For my money, he is absolutely their best defensive player - period. While it's true that the Eagles do have probably more depth at end than any other position on defense, losing Cole is really big."

The Eagles currently have the league's 30th-ranked run defense - six spots behind the Bills - surrendering 139.5 rushing yards per game this year. They're down Cole as well as their best run-stuffing defensive tackle, Antonio Dixon. Their linebackers have been filleted by Philadelphia media over the first month of the season. Worry less about pass protection, Bills fans, and more about the team's running game getting itself right after a down week in Cincinnati.

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Eagles best D player against Bills rookie – match-up of the game.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 5, 2011 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

Dareus against

their rookie RG in his first career start. Great match-up too. Or Merriman against King Dunlap. I like that too.

by Fernando brazil on Oct 5, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe Dunlap isn’t playing either…

This team is making me skeptical of my skepticism- putting the crow in the oven to slow roast.

by fansince60 on Oct 5, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

He is.

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by JasonB on Oct 5, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

ooops

my bad. Thanks

This team is making me skeptical of my skepticism- putting the crow in the oven to slow roast.

by fansince60 on Oct 5, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Dunlap is replacing Peters as the left tackle this week.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Oct 5, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

The Eagles’ best defensive player is not playing. That’s Cole. Their best pass rusher may very well spend most of his day lined up across from Hairston, though.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Oct 5, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay if I must spell out everything so no one else has to think for themselves and read between the lines.

Their best D-Line player against the pass, according to some people with knowledge of the Eagles, IN THE GAME SUNDAY against a rookie RT from Clemson with minimal regular season playing time should be a match-up to watch closely for those that like to watch the “game-within-the-game” instead of focusing on the QB.

Hopefully that clears it up. If not I will gladly add more.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 5, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Reading between the lines leads to confusion, and confusion leads to yelling. It’s the Internet. Sorry if I pissed you off.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Oct 5, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t apologize it’s your site man. And I agree with what you were saying 100 percent.

Violence: If its not solving all your problems you simply aren't using enough of it.

by Dana H on Oct 5, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Readers have to read between the lines often. If everyone had to write every little detail each time they post it would be counter-productive.

Perfect example is the article posted right after this one: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2011/10/5/2471245/bills-vs-eagles-lesean-mccoy-andy-reid. You ended it with this: “… don’t be surprised if the Bills get a heavy dose of Shady on Sunday.” I do not know what or who “Shady” is, and there is no other reference to that term in the article. But I filled in the blanks that this is apparently McCoy’s nickname. Went to Ask.com and verified my belief. I could have made a post asking about “Shady” or use my reading comprehension & interpretive abilities to get verification. Also posters often spell poorly or write using poor grammar. We can comment on those failings and be labeled a (fill in the blank) or interpret what the person was attempting to convey.

As a professional journalist you have learned that being as clear as possible in your writings is a very important aspect to get your meaning across. I should have remembered that nugget, but in my rebuttal the headline said “… Cole’s absence …”, and the body of the article mentioned Babin’s abilities and his likelihood of playing RDE opposite Hairston. I erroneously thought that my comment would be looked at keeping the articles content in mind.

I will be more explicit in my future posting to avoid this type of result.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 5, 2011 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Went to Ask.com and verified my belief.

do you still use compuserve? i kid, i kid

11 years of losing has taught me just a smidge of humility. - k8

by J2 on Oct 5, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t know what compuserve is but I’ll look it up. I like Ask.com style over many others. It seems to get the results I want.

Haha. I got the joke. Found this:

Jul 3, 2009 … After 30 years, Compuserve is finally, totally, mostly dead (the email addresses still work). I was always a local BBS and GEnie guy, but there’s …

I admit being on the low end of the technology food-chain. Got my adult kids and their friends to help out when I need it (happens frequently) with new-fangled gadgets. Or use my rotary phone. Kidding on that last one (maybe).

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 5, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

had to rec....

for this…

Or use my rotary phone

Ha!!! Most people on here don’t even know what your talking about!!!

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Oct 5, 2011 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

In your world Brother!
I finally got a 52 inch plasma for the family for Christmas last year and my 17 year old daughter finally made it happen.
I was up there in the bonus room for an hour, had all of the cables hooked up correctly. But could not make it work! I was pissed.
She came upstairs and pressed one button on the remote and all was good.

By the way, my in-laws still have a rotary phone too. As I did most of my life.

"There is not a loser in this room." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Oct 5, 2011 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

My mom is 83 years young and still has a rotary phone. She also has a push button one from the 80’s. Her view is they work fine, why get rid of it?

I may have inherited that trait.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 5, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Huh I think this is a blog

by wab2 on Oct 5, 2011 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

FTR I was not POed at all. Frustrated with myself would be the term to describe my inadequate comment. As a man past 50 YO I tend to be serene about most things. Things that PO me would be along the lines of not enough fiber in my diet or finding the Gov’t is reducing my retirement check.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 5, 2011 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

We have to get Freddy going early.

2014 Superbowl Champs

by HardBeingABillsFan on Oct 5, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

This

Early and often.

Fitzpatrick should have just walked around the stadium yelling "Are you not entertained!!!" ~ Dana H

by maestro110584 on Oct 5, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Freddie for 175 + Spiller for 80 = Winning

Trample the weak, hurdle the dead!

by fansince83 on Oct 5, 2011 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Run-blocking easier for a Rook

than pass-blocking? I would assume so.

Run the ball Gailey!!

by dgrid on Oct 5, 2011 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

i’m all in for that, not to mention one of the best ways to neutralize a pass-rushing specialist (Babin) is to run right at them continuously. it’ll tire him out and give Hairston some confidence in himself as well.

Run the ball Gailey!! (echo in here?)

by Aden'sDaddy on Oct 5, 2011 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

translation

If you have freddy in fantasy start him start him start him

. Nobody and I mean Nobody circles the Wagon Blasters like our Buffalo Bills. The Wagon is coming to collect your soul.-abayarde

by Gpluehri on Oct 5, 2011 2:51 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

So, if Babin struggles against the run...

….and his having great success getting to the QB, the antidote is to run the ball right at him, correct?

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Oct 5, 2011 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

u cant run the ball

if you keep giving away big plays to jackson, mccoy and maclin…

if gailey moves away from running the ball that’s most likely because of mckelvin

by statcruncher on Oct 5, 2011 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

People need to ease up on McKelvin. Yeah, he’s had some glaringly bad plays, but he’s been more consistent than in other years, and he’s had some fantastic downs, as well. Let him be and see if he can’t keep improving.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Oct 5, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

And...

….A.J. Green is going to give lots of NFL corner backs headaches.

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Oct 5, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup.

Green is going to be in the the upper tier WR talk his entire career.

Fitz = M(C)²
"Lets Go Buff! a! lo!"

by bflo on Oct 5, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

this

elite receivers make elite plays, even under consistent good coverage. hell even rookies make elite plays. I haven’t seen all that many plays I could outright blame on leo, much as I’d like there to be even fewer, he has been “good” (not elite)

Defense wins championships. 3-0 is a win, pretty or not

"WE COME TO COLECT AND IS PAY DAY IN OUR HOUSE...
I AM A JEDI LIKE THE FATHER BEFORE ME ++++ IN BATTLE WE WILL SETTLE THIS"

by Chronicbillzfan on Oct 5, 2011 3:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm sorry, but I totally disagree.

he’s had some glaringly bad plays, but he’s been more consistent than in other years, and he’s had some fantastic downs, as well.

He’s consistent in that he is consistently giving the WR too much space and not turning back on the ball being thrown to his WR. I can’t handle his incompetency much longer, this is his fourth year, we’ve given him time to improve, I don’t see it happening. He singlehandedly gives up the most big plays for this team which have directly affected the outcome of games. As the Colts say, “Next man up!” Get well soon A Williams.

by Sluss88 on Oct 5, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

II have to agree with Sluss

"We've got to find a way to win. I'm willing to start cheating."
--Marv Cook

by thrills&bills on Oct 5, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I have to agree with Brian here...

McKelvin has easily been our best CB at times, shutting down the likes of Moss, Ocho, and Marshall at times in the past. Yes, he screws up sometimes too, but when McGee is out, he;s easily better than Dre….

This game could be interesting though, because size and speed wise, he matches up well with the Smurfs of Philly. If T Mac is back too, he and McKelvin on Maclin and Jackson is a match up in our favor if we get pressure on Vick. His throws are very erratic if he’s scrambling so I expect our int total to increase somewhat in this game…

Optimistic??? Of course I am!! I'm a Bills fan, and as of right now, we are undefeated on the regular season!!!
Things are truly looking up!!!

by Cinga on Oct 5, 2011 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

How is Philly deep at DE?

With Cole out and Parker and Tapp missing last week’s game, along with Graham for the year, how are they deep at DE right now? Its going to be Babin and who this week?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Oct 5, 2011 4:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Tapp will play this week. Parker might. Cullen Jenkins will slide out to DE sometimes. They’ve got Phillip Hunt, who led the CFL in sacks last year and played really well in preseason. Again, not Cole by any means, but they’ve got more capable guys there than at LB for instance.

Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook. Did you get your copy of the 2011 Eagles Annual yet?

by JasonB on Oct 5, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Our O Line

Can’t have pocket pushed back into Fitz’s grill and expect any offense. If you think screens are the cure for that, Philly will be waiting in the weeds. They’re not Cinci either – 458 yards and we better get real in a hurry with Vick & Co.

by chuxter5 on Oct 5, 2011 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

As Brian said around the NE game...

Although we have a few injuries of our own (as EVERY team does) we are still catching most teams, most notably the Pats, the Raiders w/out their big receivers and now the Iggles w/out some very key people. Cole and Peters both being out is HUGE for us. As fast as they are, DeSean Jackson and Maclin are prone to getting lit up and knocked out of a game. They both have been knocked out before. We need to catch Philly while they are down and light up their defense. IMO we’ll need to score at least 33-35 to win this game, but we can certainly do it against their D. Their LB situation is a mess too.

by AlwaysaBillinPhilly on Oct 5, 2011 5:25 PM EDT reply actions

Quote from ProFootballFocus.com, Giants@Eagles

Trent Cole is a monster.
.
We’ve been saying that for so long it almost seems redundant, but there can be few things more terrifying for a left tackle, especially a suspect one, than seeing Trent Cole crouched in that Jim Washburn four-point stance, ready to come after you. Cole was too much for the Giants all day, getting a sack and two more pressures, and also making some big plays against the run. He remains one of the most complete defensive ends in the game and with a performance like this really deserved to be on the winning side of the score.

End Quote

So I am not sure if this really is a misconception. While Babin may be a really good pass rusher, Cole is more complete, which certainly makes it harder to block him.

"What in the hell have I gotten myself into?" - Bruce Smith HOF

by Chriz on Oct 6, 2011 9:53 AM EDT reply actions

Cole is the more complete player and it’s not even close. But this year I’ve become fairly convinced that Babin is the better pure pass rusher. At least in this Washburn system that is.

Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook. Did you get your copy of the 2011 Eagles Annual yet?

by JasonB on Oct 6, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions