Defensive Line

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Cullen Jenkins left Wednesday afternoon's practice early with a hamstring injury, the Eagles said. The defensive tackle was scheduled to undergo a magnetic resonance image Wednesday evening. Jenkins pulled up lame early in practice during a team drill. He then headed to the trainer's tent to have his leg examined. After testing out the hamstring, he rejoined the defensive line but did not practice and eventually rode a cart into the locker room. The Eagles' entire projected starting defensive line is currently sidelined.

'ENORMOUS Changes at the Last Minute" is the title of a very fine short story collection by the late author Grace Paley. The guess here would be that none of the Eagles' defensive linemen has read it, but they probably can relate. A d-line that already has seen coordinator Juan Castillo dispatched in favor of Todd Bowles and 2011 sack leader Jason Babin exiled to the waiver wire (then to an even less desirable locale, Jacksonville), now has a new position coach, Tommy Brasher, who is replacing the fired Jim Washburn.

CLEVELAND - The Eagles have five defensive ends who could start on any number of NFL teams - six if promising rookie Vinny Curry develops as expected. The depth at the position, while a luxury, will present Andy Reid with a few difficult decisions when rosters are to be trimmed to 53 by Friday. And yet, when faced with replacing the injured Jason Babin during the preseason, the Eagles coach did not promote one of his backup ends but rather shifted a defensive tackle - most notably Cullen Jenkins - outside.

THEY NEED a name. Fans of the New York Giants brag about their defensive-end-laden "NASCAR" package. And many NFL anchors, analysts and media members have appropriately defined the personality of the Super Bowl champs through their defensive front. But in a head-to-head comparison Sunday, with a national-television audience watching, it was the Eagles' defensive front that proved more disruptive, the Eagles' defensive front that is quickly defining the personality of this 3-1 team.

Here is the lowdown on the staff of new Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. Notice how many of them have ties to Oregon, where Kelly coached last season: Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator: In his second tour with the Eagles, he returns after originally spending 10 seasons as the tight ends coach (1999-2001) and quarterbacks coach (2002-08). He most recently served as the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2011 to '12. Bill Davis, defensive coordinator: He has 21 years of NFL coaching experience and most recently worked as the Cleveland Browns linebackers coach from 2011 to '12. Dave Fipp, special teams coordinator: Fipp was the assistant special teams coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2011 to '12. Jerry Azzinaro, defensive line/assistant head coach: He served in the same roles on Kelly's staff at Oregon from 2009 to '12. Jeff Stoutland, offensive line: He was Alabama's offensive line coach the last two seasons after spending 14 years as an assistant coach at Miami (2007-10)

MOST GRADUATES of now-closed high schools such as North Catholic, William Penn and Cardinal Dougherty would not know Vito Goggins from a veto of a bill passed by the house or senate, but they've certainly experienced his upcoming pain. Edward Bok Tech is in its final weeks and Goggins still can't come to grips. "We'll want to come back to Bok, but . . . can't do it. It's gonna disappear," he said. "We won't even be able to go to a football game and sit up in the stands and yell, 'Let's go Bok!

Vinny Curry agonized while inactive for 10 games last season, watching from the sideline in street clothes even though the Eagles defense struggled to accumulate sacks. That's what Curry was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft to do. His rookie season never materialized the way he or the team hoped, and Curry was limited to six games and did not record a single sack. The offseason coaching changes meant that the staff that sat Curry was gone. But the new staff was not responsible for taking him in the second round and switched to a scheme that does not appear an ideal fit. "I know how I felt last year to be inactive for 10 games, and I told myself there will be no excuse, no room for no error," Curry said.

A comment made by Eagles defensive line coach Jim Washburn was incorrectly reported in Tuesday's Sports section. About his defensive line, Washburn said: "I'd be crushed. Hell, I'd quit if we're not a whole lot better. They need to fire [me] if we're not better. "  

Temple's new football coach, Matt Rhule, has hired former Penn State defensive lineman Brandon Noble and Tennessee-Chattanooga offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield for his staff. The 38-year-old Noble, who was a college teammate of Rhule's, will be the defensive line coach. Satterfield will serve as an offensive assistant. Rhule reportedly is interested in hiring Nevada offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich as his offensive coordinator. A five-year NFL veteran who played with Dallas and Washington, Noble spent this season as defensive line/special teams coach at Coastal Carolina.

Temple football coach Steve Addazio announced on Monday that Sean Cronin is coming on board as defensive line coach. Cronin, who served in the same position at Marshall last fall, worked as a graduate assistant at Florida from 2005-2008. Addazio came to Temple after being on the Gators' staff in various positions for six years. "He worked with two of our national championship teams," Addazio said. "He did a great job of mentoring our defensive linemen there. He's very knowledgeable on defensive line play, and understands what we want to accomplish here at Temple.