Les Bowen: 20 Questions to ponder as the Eagles begin training camp

Twenty questions as the Eagles enter training camp, and a new era. The bigger question, of course, is one we can't answer now: Where is this all headed? A decade or two hence, will the verdict be that trading Donovan McNabb and going with Kevin Kolb was the decision that finally launched the Eagles past "good" to "great," or will it be viewed the other way: the beginning of the end of the most extended era of consistent winning in the long history of the Eagles franchise? We might not even know that for sure when 2010 is over.

We do know that it's kind of refreshing, having some new strengths and weaknesses to discuss, some new protagonists to examine, as the Birds build toward that Sept. 12 season-opening visit from Green Bay, and the perhaps bittersweet celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the last time the Eagles won an NFL title.

1. Whither Kevin Kolb?

The new quarterback has to be listed first, even if a lot of people around the team wouldn't rank him as the biggest question on this Eagles squad. The change in QBs, after 11 years of Donovan McNabb, is the story of the season, period. But nobody in the locker room seems worried or disappointed by the change, and after 3 years of preparing, Kolb seems poised to be solid, if not spectacular. His success will hinge on the offensive line, which might be harder to assess than Kolb right now.

2. Can this be a dominant offensive line?

Kinda saw that coming toward the end of No. 1, didn't ya? How long will Nick Cole have to hold down the fort before ACL recoveree Jamaal Jackson can return and play effectively at center? Can Cole give a better accounting of himself than he did at the end of last season against Dallas? Will we see a training-camp battle between Cole and Mike McGlynn? And what about Stacy Andrews at right guard? Is counting on him to step up going to be any less disastrous than counting on his brother last year? Slightly lower than that red-alert level rank questions such as whether Winston Justice can improve on last season's surprisingly capable but not dominant performance at right tackle, and whether Jason Peters can be more consistent with a year in the offense under his belt. (Also, will that belt be less strained - can Peters report in better shape this time?) That leaves only left guard Todd Herremans, the most consistent member of the OL, without a question mark. So here goes: Is Todd's repaired foot really OK, or is it a long-term concern?

3. Is Sean McDermott overmatched?