Now that Mychal Kendricks, DeMeco Ryans and Kiko Alonso are signed through at least 2016, all that’s left to wonder is how the Eagles get three interior linebackers on the field.
It looked as though Kendricks might be the odd man out based on his contractual situation, but that’s unlikely after agreeing to a rich four-year extension on Monday (see story). Now it seems Ryans, at 31 years old and still recovering from an Achilles injury, could be the one to see his role reduced.
Regardless, Ryans not only was enthusiastic for Kendricks, but offered some very high praise for the fourth-year veteran.
“I’m happy for Mych, happy for him and his family,” Ryans told reporters. “I’m always happy to see guys getting a deal. Mych is a really exceptional player, one of the best inside linebackers in this league. It’s a credit to his work that he’s put out on the field.
“He still has a ways to go, he can still get much better. He knows that. The sky is the limit for Mychal, but I think before it’s said and done, he could be the best inside linebacker in this league.”
The best inside linebacker in the NFL? It might not be as crazy as it sounds.
Kendricks already is one of the top playmakers in the league. He’s one of just three players to record at least 8.0 sacks, three interceptions and five forced fumbles over the past two seasons. The other two: All-Pros Julius Peppers for the Green Bay Packers and Lavonte David for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
NFL
At the very least, Kendricks appears to be on the verge of making his first Pro Bowl.
Ryans, meanwhile, was thought to have his contract extended this offseason largely for his leadership and ability to mentor younger players. However, the 10th-year veteran believes Kendricks has already made tremendous advances.
“He’s come a long way as far as his communication on the field, as far as seeing the game, anticipating things much better,” Ryans said. “Sometimes he’s telling me what to do.
“You have to be willing to ask questions as a young guy coming in. You can’t be afraid to ask questions, and Mychal is definitely a guy who’s not afraid to ask those questions. If he doesn’t know something, he’ll stop a meeting and ask. That’s good.”
As for playing time, neither Ryans nor Kendricks was worried about it.
In addition to those two, the Eagles traded running back LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for Kiko Alonso in March. Alonso is another three-down linebacker and was named the 2013 PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Because Ryans, Kendricks and Alonso have all been banged up during training camp, we have to see much in terms of the rotation at interior linebacker. Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis suggested opponents could dictate which players are on the field.
“DeMeco could play three downs, too,” Davis said. “DeMeco has played a lot of downs for us. It means we have three good inside backers that we've got a lot of options with.
“It depends what's coming at us, too. Nowadays we've got so many 11-personnel groupings (three wide receivers) for 60, sometimes 70 percent of the game, the ability to have all those three guys in there, because some people are going with 11 to run the ball and some are going to pass, it's great.”
The big thing for Ryans in particular is getting healthy. The Achilles injury occurred against the Houston Texans in November, and he’s still working his way back from it.
Davis wouldn’t say if Ryans would be 100 percent in time for the regular season opener on Sept. 14.
“I don't know," he said. "Those are tough injuries to get 100 percent, but boy, is he ahead of schedule. He's ahead of where most guys would be with that.
“I think it's going to be close. I think hopefully we can get him out there a little bit this week for his sake and ours to see just kind of where he is.”
Good thing for the Eagles, they have two other quality linebackers in Alonso and Kendricks, the latter of whom — in the words of Ryans — could be the best inside linebacker in the NFL.