|
Cole feeds passion for hunting as well as football
By Eric G. Stark, Staff Writer estark@lnpnews.com
It's the competition and making memories that keeps Trent Cole going.
It's coming up with a game plan, executing it and hunting down his prey that feeds his passion.
Cole was talking about hunting, but Philadelphia Eagles fans are used to that same fervor from him on the football field.
When he is not chasing down quarterbacks -- he ranks third all-time on the Eagles' sack list -- Cole is outside hunting.
During an appearance Saturday at Lancaster Archery Supply in East Lampeter Township, Cole explained how hunting clears his mind from the pressures of his livelihood.
"I love every aspect that the outdoors offers," he said while selling his videos and promoting "Blitz TV," the hunting TV show he hosts on the Pursuit channel, which appears on both satellite providers. The fourth season begins in June.
Hunting is a family affair for him. His stepfather took him rabbit hunting when he was in fourth grade, and Cole and his mother got their first hunting licenses together. His uncle introduced him to bow hunting, which Cole prefers instead of a gun -- though he does both -- because there is more a strategy with using a bow.
During different holidays his family gets together and goes hunting.
"It is not about killing or harvesting, but just enjoying all the aspects of being outside," Cole said.
After the Eagles' disappointing 4-12 season, he says being outdoors helped him think about a lot of "stuff," while hunting on his farm in Ohio and while on a trip in Texas, where he got a 10-point buck.
After registering 11 sacks in 2011 and being part of defense that led the league in that department with 46 sacks, Cole only caught the QB three times in 2012 and the defense went games without a sack, ranking as one of the worse Ds in the game.
Cole called it a rough year for everyone, and he's ready to move on.
"The Eagles thought some changes were needed to be made and they made the changes, and there is nothing wrong with making changes," he said. "Now we have [head coach] Chip Kelly and now we are excited to have him.
"As players we got to step up. Last year, it was on us players. As players we have to turn it up. You have to win games. Coaches can only coach and players just have to play. We tried some things, but we just didn't come through."
Cole, a nine-year veteran, is used to winning, so the Eagles' 12-20 record the last two years does not sit well with him. It doesn't matter who was hired as the head coach, or, for that matter, who Kelly hires as defensive coordinator, he says.
There is speculation that Kelly prefers a 3-4 defensive alignment, instead of the 4-3 Cole has played his entire career, but the change doesn't appear to bother the two-time Pro Bowler. He seems to embrace the idea.
"If that is the move we make, I am very excited about it," said Cole, who since 2006 is fifth among active players in sacks with 71.
"[Playing a 3-4] will move us around and teams can't pinpoint where we are at and we won't be sitting ducks no more."
And no matter what defensive front the team presents, he said, players still have to make plays and get things corrected quickly.
"It has to come quick, because this is a business and we have got to get wins," Cole said. "We should have no problem adjusting to this, because I don't think the 3-4 or 4-3 defense, makes much of a difference. You are still going to be playing and when they turn you lose you still have to be an athlete and play your game."n
|
