‘Commanding the defense’: Nakobe Dean is taking control for the Eagles

Nakobe Dean might only be 22, but the second-year linebacker is preparing himself for one of the most important roles on the Eagles.

Dean has been delegated by coach Nick Sirianni and new defensive coordinator Sean Desai as the main communicator in the defensive huddle. Throughout training camp and the upcoming regular season, Dean will sport the ‘green dot’ on his helmet as he relays the play call from the coaching staff to the rest of his teammates.

This marks a massive transition for Dean, who logged just 34 defensive snaps during his rookie season.

Asked if he feels extra pressure with his new responsibilities, Dean insists it has been business as usual.

“I feel like I attacked everything the same way last year,” he said after Sunday’s training camp practice. “But of course it’s more heightened because you have to be the guy that’s calling the plays, is communicating to the entire defense. Of course, there’s that component.”

When the Eagles selected Dean in the third round of the 2022 draft, they envisioned he’d one day step into this role. Last season, Dean played reserve to starters T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White, both of whom left in free agency.

While Dean may be stepping into uncharted territory as a pro, acting as the de facto defensive captain is nothing new for the Mississippi native. Dean was the recipient of the 2021 Butkus Award as college football’s best linebacker. That season, he played an important role on the nation’s top defense with the University of Georgia claiming its first of two consecutive national titles.

Jordan Davis, the team’s top pick last year and one of Dean’s former college teammates, explained Dean regaining his footing: “That’s the same ol’ Nakobe. That’s the Nakobe I know. Just seeing him take over the huddle and commanding the defense; he’s like the QB of the defense. Everything he says, we go by. It’s nothing new to me. But it’s good to see him back out there, getting a good feel for each other. This is really when the team starts to gel and connect together. The work we’re putting in now, it’s going to come into effect later.”

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Dean’s communication with Desai will be crucial for a defense dealing with personnel changes at all three levels. The Eagles also are in the process of determining Dean’s running mate at inside linebacker. Current leaders for the other starting spot include free-agent signee Nicholas Morrow and Christian Elliss.

“The biggest thing I see from him is just the ability and the willingness to keep growing,” Desai said of Dean. “That’s what we’re looking for, really out of all these guys, and him in particular because it’s a new role for him, and we’re excited about it because he’s got that mindset. He’s been really working hard obviously in the offseason and all summer, [he’s] in constant communication with his coaches and myself, and kind of just setting himself up. He’s got to keep taking that ... daily grind-type of mindset.”

Dean said he and his teammates are still dealing with natural growing pains that come with learning a new playbook and scheme. The new starting linebacker said he’s logged many hours at the NovaCare Complex, saying typically he is in the building for a minimum of 12 hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day.

“It takes a few practices to get that confidence, but I feel like we’re definitely getting there,” Dean said. “[Desai] won’t allow us to have death by inches. He won’t have something little that might not seem like it matters, that might not seem like it’s pertinent — he won’t let it slide. He holds us accountable and expects everybody else to hold each other accountable.”

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“I really like Nakobe with the green dot,” third-year cornerback Zech McPhearson said. “He has a lot of confidence. He’s like a vet out there. He takes pride in his game. He’s not afraid to be a leader, not afraid to be loud. I think that’s a really good fit for him and he’s handled it really well in [the huddle].”

In addition to Desai, Dean also is getting adjusted to working with his new position coach, D.J. Eliot, who Sirianni hired from Temple after former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon brought along former linebackers coach Nick Rallis as his new coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals.

In Eliot, Dean says the defense is gaining a plethora of football knowledge.

“Every coach coaches a little differently,” Dean said. “I like what D.J. Eliot is doing. Everything he brought over from Temple — the other day he was telling us he’s coached 11 different defenses. So that’s a lot of football, a lot of knowledge that we’re gaining from him everyday. He’s the same way [as Desai]. He won’t let anything slide, even the little things. You love the accountability that he holds with us.”