Trent Cole

It happens with every coaching change. Long-standing players from the previous regime don't match up well with the new system and are phased out. Former defensive ends Trent Cole and Brandon Graham are doing and saying everything to fit in and stick around - and they are likely here for the season - but it's difficult to see either as a long-term solution once the Eagles move to a new defensive scheme. Chip Kelly and Bill Davis aren't exactly there yet. The new Eagles coach and his defensive coordinator still are evaluating and constructing a system that will emphasize the skill set of their players, especially on the front seven.

1. Stewart Bradley          2. Brent Celek 3. Trent Cole                4. DeSean Jackson 5. Kevin Kolb                6. Quintin Mikell 7. Asante Samuel

THE OFFENSIVE line arrayed in front of Michael Vick this week at Chip Kelly's first minicamp might look pretty different from the group that takes the field next month, when the team again assembles. The Eagles hold the fourth overall pick in the April 25-27 NFL draft, and with three offensive tackles expected to go in the top 10, plus a couple of guards, the veterans on the line could soon be welcoming to their group the highest-drafted Eagle since Donovan McNabb arrived (accompanied by boos, local legend holds)

SOME INTREPID folks were trying to work the gee-despite-the-win-you-were-eliminated-from-playoff-contention angle in the locker room Monday. Of the handful of Eagles available after a brief practice, nobody seemed shocked they weren't going to the postseason. "It felt great to win, especially under the circumstances, with a lot of young guys in, a lot of key players out in key positions," tight end Clay Harbor said. Despite how the question was phrased, Harbor didn't even mention the playoffs.

VINNY CURRY is a now a 3-4 end. Trent Cole is a linebacker. Curry is trying to gain weight, Cole is trying to shed it. Both need to prove they can fit into a defense they were not drafted to play, for which their body types might not be ideally suited. Cole is 30, coming off the least productive of his eight NFL seasons, with 32 solo tackles and three sacks. Asked Wednesday about postseason hand surgery, Cole acknowledged he "snapped in half" a bone in the hand, playing with a hand injury originally suffered during the 2011 season.

WHOEVER ENDS UP as the Eagles' defensive coordinator will inherit an excellent player (Asante Samuel), a very good player (Trent Cole), and a bunch of guys who either are pretty good, very young, largely inconsistent or some combination of the above. And good luck with that. This will be his main issue: Does he dare to turn over the defensive personnel again, or were the problems in 2010 more schematic? Whenever this new person arrives, he will look at the way teams attacked the Eagles.

Jason Babin officially is no longer an Eagle. Tennessee acquired the defensive end after the Eagles declined to match the Titans' offer. Under a right-of-first refusal clause the Eagles put into Babin's contract, they had 1 week to match the offer sheet signed Wednesday. Without the clause, Babin would be an unrestricted free agent because of his 6 years of NFL service. The Titans announced that the Eagles notified the NFL yesterday they would not match the offer. Babin, a first-round draft pick in 2004 out of Western Michigan, has played for Houston, Seattle, Kansas City and, last season, the Eagles.

UP NEXT: Who: Eagles at Buffalo When: Sunday, 1 p.m. Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y. TV: Fox Radio: WIP (610-AM, 94.1-FM) Series history: Eagles lead, 6-5 and are 3-3 in Western New York. Last meeting: Eagles won, 17-9, at the Linc in 2007. INJURY REPORT -- Trent Cole. Calf strain. MRI today. -- Antonio Dixon. Triceps strain. MRI today. -- Jason Peters. Hamstring strain. MRI today. -- Michael Vick. Finger on his left hand popped out, but it was popped back in and he stayed in the game.

THE DEPLETED DEFENSIVE LINE: Defensive tackle Antonio Dixon suffered a triceps injury that could keep him out for a while. Trent Cole was on crutches after the game with a calf strain. Ends Juqua Parker and Darryl Tapp still are out. Not a good situation. THOSE FOURTH-QUARTER BLUES: For the third straight week, the Eagles blew a fourth-quarter lead. They have been outscored 36-0 in the fourth quarter the last three games. DEFENDING THE BACKS AND TIGHT ENDS: A seasonlong problem continued as the Niners' running backs and tight ends accounted for 154 of 291 receiving yards.