In the going-on-10 years since Andy Reid has been the Eagles head coach and Jim Johnson has been the defensive coordinator, more time and effort has been spent on the defensive line than any other position on the team.

From trading up in the draft for Jerome McDougle, to spending two more first-rounds picks on Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley, to the high-priced free agent sign ings of Jevon Kearse and Darren Howard, the Eagles have taken a lot of swings. They just didn't al ways make contact.