Philadelphia Eagles Linebacker Nakobe Dean Continues to Stun NFL's Top Blockers
The Philadelphia Eagles' linebacker, Nakobe Dean, has been on a roll lately, and it's not just because of his impressive tackling skills. The 4th-year pro has been nuking some of the best blockers in the league, leaving defenders with little trouble getting to the quarterback.
In Sunday night's game against the Detroit Lions, Dean made two tackles for loss, including one on running back David Montgomery, who is known for his pass-blocking prowess. Montgomery, weighing 230 pounds, was unable to stop Dean from trucking him into Jared Goff, resulting in a timely sack.
This isn't Dean's first rodeo, as he also rag-dolled Green Bay's Josh Jacobs, another strong running back, last Monday night before dropping Packers QB Jordan Love.
The Eagles' recent success on defense can be attributed to the trade for EDGE Jaelan Phillips, but it's clear that Nakobe Dean has been a game-changer. Coming off a major knee surgery that delayed his season debut, Dean has played about 67% of snaps in each of the past two games and has generated pressure on four out of nine pass-rush attempts.
Dean's strengths lie in his ability to get downhill quickly, channel speed to power, and either maneuver around or outright blow up blocks. He entered the NFL with a reputation for being better in the pass rush than in coverage, which has proven true this season.
The Eagles' new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, has been using Dean as an extra-man rusher in his blitzes and fourth rusher in four-man exchanges that drop edge defenders into coverage. This approach has allowed Dean to shine, with a win rate of nearly 45% over the past two games.
As the Eagles head into their next game against the Dallas Cowboys, it's clear that Nakobe Dean will be an important player in their pass-rush efforts. With another prolific offense up ahead, it's likely that Fangio will continue to use Dean in pressure situations.
The Philadelphia Eagles' linebacker, Nakobe Dean, has been on a roll lately, and it's not just because of his impressive tackling skills. The 4th-year pro has been nuking some of the best blockers in the league, leaving defenders with little trouble getting to the quarterback.
In Sunday night's game against the Detroit Lions, Dean made two tackles for loss, including one on running back David Montgomery, who is known for his pass-blocking prowess. Montgomery, weighing 230 pounds, was unable to stop Dean from trucking him into Jared Goff, resulting in a timely sack.
This isn't Dean's first rodeo, as he also rag-dolled Green Bay's Josh Jacobs, another strong running back, last Monday night before dropping Packers QB Jordan Love.
The Eagles' recent success on defense can be attributed to the trade for EDGE Jaelan Phillips, but it's clear that Nakobe Dean has been a game-changer. Coming off a major knee surgery that delayed his season debut, Dean has played about 67% of snaps in each of the past two games and has generated pressure on four out of nine pass-rush attempts.
Dean's strengths lie in his ability to get downhill quickly, channel speed to power, and either maneuver around or outright blow up blocks. He entered the NFL with a reputation for being better in the pass rush than in coverage, which has proven true this season.
The Eagles' new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, has been using Dean as an extra-man rusher in his blitzes and fourth rusher in four-man exchanges that drop edge defenders into coverage. This approach has allowed Dean to shine, with a win rate of nearly 45% over the past two games.
As the Eagles head into their next game against the Dallas Cowboys, it's clear that Nakobe Dean will be an important player in their pass-rush efforts. With another prolific offense up ahead, it's likely that Fangio will continue to use Dean in pressure situations.