The Overlooked Dawg

Posted: May 5th, 2023 | Author: Tommy Lawlor 

Some people are worried about the Eagles linebackers. How can they count on Nick Morrow to start for a team that wants to get to the Super Bowl? That is a fair question. The team didn’t keep either starter from last year and didn’t go after any notable free agents. They didn’t show much interest in LBs in the draft (admittedly a weak class).

I think we might be overlooking one guy that will be returning…Nakobe Dean.

Think about how good Nakobe was in his final year at Georgia.

• 168 tackles
• 13.5 TFLs
• 7.5 sacks
• 2 INTs
• 8 PDs
• 2 FF

Those are insane numbers for a guy playing in the SEC. That looks like something you’d see from a stud on a small conference team. He didn’t get on the field much as a rookie, but that was because the guys ahead of him were playing so well. When Nakobe did play, he looked good.

I’m not trying to put Nakobe in Canton just yet, but I do think he’s got the potential to be a good LB. Let’s talk about what we look for in a LB.

• Brains
• Instincts
• Physical
• Tackler
• Playmaker

Nakobe showed all of that in the videos. He’s not huge and he’s not an elite athlete. That stuff can be overrated in a LB. Quinton Caver was a big athlete who the Eagles spent a 2nd round pick on. He turned out to be a major bust.

I have to think one of the reasons the Eagles weren’t aggressive at LB is because they are high on Nakobe. They see him as the key player and Morrow (or whoever else is in the mix) as the other guy.

I know I’m excited to see what Nakobe does.

*****

D’Andre Swift.

Pretty cool.

*****

One player we never got to see last year is NT Noah Elliss. He’s 6-5 and about 350. Elliss wasn’t healthy last year, but is now. He could make a heck of a backup NT if he can stay healthy and play to his potential.

Interesting player.

http://igglesblitz.com/2023/05/the-overlooked-dawg/

I hope his "redshirt" rookie year has him ready to hit the ground running. 

I think the worry is Dean didn’t play a whole lot last year and there were concerns about his size coming out of college. At times White wasn’t playing particularly well so why wasn’t Dean getting any playing time then?

 But look I love the talent and the production in college was extremely impressive.