Connor Barwin News

The biggest question the Philadelphia Eagles face this season is undoubtedly on the defensive side of the football.

ON MONDAY, when reporters first watched the Eagles practice under Chip Kelly, among the stranger sights was a rep that featured Trent Cole crouching, his hands held at hip level, as he lined up across from slot receiver Jason Avant.

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.

The doors to Chip Kelly's operation opened Monday for the world to see. It was wild.

Butler spent the past six seasons with the Texans. He was on injured reserve all of 2012 with a triceps injury, and he played in just two games in 2011 because of an elbow injury.

It almost goes without saying that safety has been a position of need for the Philadelphia Eagles since Brian Dawkins was allowed to waltz his way to Denver via free agency in 2009.

Well here we are pre training camp and all excited by Chip "Chess" Kelly and the explosive, uptempo offense that is on the way.

If you're Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan and his offensive staff preparing for the season opener is there a player on the Eagles' defense who worries you, a player you have to game plan to stop? Back in the Reggie White Era there were plenty, more recently an opposing offense had to know where Brian Dawkins was at all times.

Every year at this time, NFL Network fills the post-draft void with a countdown of the top 100 players in the NFL, as determined by the players.

The Eagles are moving to a 3-4 defense and they visited with a player Thursday who could be an option at outside linebacker if he winds up signing in Philadelphia.

Whether it was Russell Wilson against Robert Griffin III, or Andrew Luck against Ryan Tannehill, 2012 provided plenty of great one-on-one matchups all season long.

Andy Reid became synonymous with Philadelphia, brilliantly leading the Eagles for 14 seasons.

The Eagles had no trouble defending their approach to the 2013 draft: It was consistent, and it was according to plan.

It's not as if the Eagles stood pat in free agency, and they got high marks for adding players such as Lane Johnson and Zach Ertz in the draft.

As the first active male athlete in any professional sport came out as gay, the NFL took measures to make sure its teams created a tolerant environment.

It's his first NFL draft, and one that could set the tone for his tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, as it did for his predecessor.

A positional look at the Texans' roster on defense and potential need level at each spot heading into the 2013 NFL Draft.

As they head to the start of this year's NFL Draft on Thursday, that remains their biggest question mark.

The Philadelphia Eagles have options with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft .