Nakobe Dean Has Makings Of A Great Leader, If He Can Play
When the Eagles drafted Nakobe Dean, we heard nothing about great things about his leadership. He may not have been the most talented player on the field for that championship Georgia Defense, but he was the guy running the show. On a team with guys like Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, and Nolan Smith, it was Dean who took the role of the on-field leader.
Now the Eagles find themselves in need of a leader on defense. Fletcher Cox is gone. Darius Slay is a captain, but it is hard for an outside CB to be the one calling the shots on the field. CJ Gardner Johnson has the energy, but is perhaps a bit too volatile to be the on-field leader.
They need someone to step into that role. To be the Green Dot player, being Vic Fangio’s eyes and voice on the field. Nakobe Dean is a great candidate for that, provided he actually plays.
Nakobe Dean Has Shades Of DeMeco Ryans
In terms of being a leader, we have seen few LBs come through Philly as capable as DeMeco Ryans. There is a reason why he rose from being a player to a top coordinator to a head coach so quickly. The guy doesn’t just know football, he knows how to lead men.
When Tim McManus, who covered DeMeco Ryans when he was on the Eagles, joined The Best Show Ever this week, he drew comparisons between Nakobe Dean and DeMeco Ryans.
“I am always impressed when I walk away from talking with Dean. To me, he gives off DeMeco Ryans vibes. That is high praise. Ryans is as good of a leader as it gets. He continues to show that as a head coach. Every time I walk away from him, that is the type of feel I get.” – Tim McManus
That certainly is high praise, but it is backed up by everything we have heard about Dean before now. There is a reason they gave him the green dot last year before he ever stepped on the field.
But as McManus went on to point out, if he is going to live up to that high praise, he has to get on the field. You can’t be a team leader from the bench. no one is going to take a captain seriously, especially not a young one if he isn’t playing.
Ryans was not just a good leader, he was also a great player. An All-Pro caliber Linebacker. Something that is not a given yet with Dean.
Is Nakobe Dean Talented Enough
It has not worked out for Dean in his two years with the Eagles, yet. In his rookie season, he hardly saw the field. In year 2 he was anointed the starter at the start of camp, but injuries plagued him from week 1.
That brings us to year 3. He is no longer the anointed starter at linebacker. Zack Baun and Devin White are getting 1st team reps before him. Though the word is that he has looked very good in the reps he is getting.
Adam Caplan joined Kincade and Saclciunas and noted Dean looks great as a blitzer, and that he came into camp much bigger physically. Our Birds insider Andrew DiCecco has said the same thing on and off air. But it is just camp. He looked good in camp last year too.
RELATED: Jordan Davis Impressing Early in Camp, Praised By Fangio
We can’t blame Dean too much for his struggles last season. He got hurt in week 1, and even when he came back, he never looked right before going back on the IR. So maybe now that he is healthier and bigger, things will go better. He doesn’t need to even be as great of a player as Ryans was. He needs to be a good one though. Good enough to stay on the field.
Hopefully, he can emerge as a starting-caliber Linebacker. Because in terms of intangibles, he has everything you could ever want from a Middle linebacker. If he gets on the field, he could become a tremendous leader for this now very young defense.
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