By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
As the Eagles 2017 season is about to begin, we are all eagerly waiting to see what extended playing time for the starting group has to offer.
Let’s face it, the Eagles preseason didn’t feature many surprises and lacked excitement beyond a few big players by the starters, who never played more than a quarter in any game. That’s not much time to get a rhythm.
One group that you’d like to see some rhythm and chemistry from is the offensive line. Regarded as one of the Eagles strengths and positions of greater depth, the Eagles made some moves that have left the starting five without much support behind them should someone get hurt. And in their limited playing time in the preseason, they didn’t fare particularly well.
The Eagles enter the season as a team with a lot of question marks. The answers could make them a division champion or a playoff team or give them another early offseason. As in seasons past, a lot of the Eagles success will depend on the offensive line.
Even with limited exposure in the preseason, the Eagles allowed way too much pressure to get through the line to Carson Wentz. In the preseason, it’s easy. If your quarterback looks like he’s getting pressured too much in the preseason, you pull him after a couple of series and ensure his health. In the regular season, not so much.
So if the offensive line cannot hold things down and protect Wentz, prepare for something to go wrong.
A lot of the Eagles success this season depends on what Wentz can do. He’s not coming in as raw as he did as a rookie, with one preseason game and eight days to prepare as the starter. He’s had the offseason to work out. He’s got weapons around him to make the offensive drive down the field. He has to show something.
And in the preseason, Wentz did show something on a limited level. But only when he had protection.
The Eagles offense was running at its best in the preseason when they moved quickly and stopped the pressure at the line of scrimmage. That allowed Wentz time to settle into the pocket, let the play develop and deliver a quality pass. It also allowed the running game to have a chance to make something happen.
The running game is still very much a work in progress, but the formula is still the same. Good blocking and protection will result in bigger plays that move the ball down the field effectively.
That’s where success offensively lies, and it’s the Eagles most important position at this point. More than Wentz and his new toys on offense, more than the secondary and defensive grouping, the Eagles need to be able to move the ball on a consistent basis and the offensive line is the catalyst in all of that.
It’s an interesting combination of veterans and recent drafts picks on the line, but ultimately, it’s one of the few positions that didn’t undergo serious changes during the offseason. With all of that being said, it’s time for the offensive line to lead the charge by protecting the prized quarterback, now in his second season of Jeffrey Lurie’s “plan.”
