Jordan Hicks ready to lead as Eagles' middle linebacker

When the Eagles released DeMeco Ryans in February, Jordan Hicks sent a text message to his former teammate thanking him for his mentorship.

An hour or so after the team made the announcement new Eagles coach Doug Pederson confirmed that the middle linebacker spot — the position Ryans, more or less, held for the previous four seasons — was Hicks' to lose.

"He was drafted to be that guy," Pederson said at the NFL scouting combine.

Ryans probably knew as much a year ago. But how many third-round linebackers are able to prove in one year that they can be given the keys to a defense, let alone one with an extensive list of injuries?

Hicks, obviously, did. He emphatically made the case, but in only eight games and five starts. His season was once again cut short by an injury — this time a torn pectoral muscle. But the Eagles saw enough to project him as the heir apparent, and so, too, did Ryans, who responded to Hicks' text with a suggestion that said as much.

"The one piece of advice he gave me was, 'Don't be afraid to speak up,'" Hicks said Wednesday. "'The guys respect you, you've proved yourself. You've got to step into that role and you can't be afraid to speak up.'"

There's a certain level of confidence that is required to stand in front of a group of football players and assume a leadership role — particularly for a 23-year old — and Hicks appears to have the necessary amount. Asked if he was now the starting middle linebacker, Hicks said, "Yeah, absolutely."

New linebackers coach Ken Flajole had given his players their primary and secondary spots last week when offseason workouts began, so it's not as though Hicks was being presumptuous. But second-year cornerback Eric Rowe, by comparison, hedged when asked Wednesday if he would start this season when his spot is as much of a guarantee.

Hicks isn't cocky. He's confident. It was apparent last year after the draft when he first met with reporters and again on Wednesday when he casually answered questions at the NovaCare Complex. But most important, it was evident during the eight-game span when he went from reserve to the Eagles' best inside linebacker.

"At the end of the day, I prepared well and studied film like I was going to play," Hicks said when asked if his early success came as surprise. "And when my opportunity came I was able to make the most of it."

Injuries to Mychal Kendricks, Kiko Alonso, and Ryans forced Hicks into the defensive lineup in the second week. He responded by knocking Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo out of the game. A week later, in his first start, he recorded 14 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Hicks maintained that pace for the next six games and made perhaps the Eagles' best individual defensive play of the season when he returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown at Dallas in Game 8. But later in the fourth quarter, he tore his left pectoral attempting to tackle wide receiver Cole Beasley.

For the third time in four years — he suffered a hip sprain and a torn Achilles tendon at Texas — Hicks' season was prematurely cut short.

"Injuries at some point are out of your control," he said. "How am I supposed to control a pec? A torn Achilles?"

Hicks said he has tried to learn more about his body and was in the process of getting blood work done to see if there was anything that made him more susceptible to injury. But he said that he believes those days are in the past.

"I want to prove to myself this is a place that all my injuries are gone," Hicks said.

He said he was cleared by doctors in February and will be able to fully participate in spring workouts. That's good news for Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who is implementing a scheme change that will return the Eagles from a two-gap, 3-4 base defense to a 4-3 that utilizes the wide nine.

"It's a lot different from last year," Hicks said of Schwartz's defense. "But for me personally, it's not a lot different from what I've done in the past."

Hicks played in a 4-3 during his sophomore and junior seasons, but he played weakside linebacker. Still, Texas had him call plays, which said something about the Longhorns' trust in his ability to line up the defensive front.

"I've always been one when I've been on the field to take control naturally," Hicks said. "It's just the position I've always put myself in and felt comfortable taking on, being able to direct traffic and get everything right and put the pieces together and solve the puzzle."

Safety Malcolm Jenkins will lead the secondary and Connor Barwin and Fletcher Cox will speak for the line, but the middle linebacker carries extra responsibility by wearing the headset. Hicks, who is now partnered with Kendricks on the weak side and the recently-acquired Nigel Bradham on the strong side, will be Schwartz's eyes and ears on the field.

"I like his style, his demeanor, his aggressiveness, his confidence," Hicks said of Schwartz.

The last time the Eagles tried to install the wide nine, they had defensive coordinator Juan Castillo calling plays into rookie middle linebacker Casey Matthews. It was a disaster and ultimately led to the Ryans acquisition in 2012.

Ryans couldn't save that Eagles regime, and he couldn't do that same for Chip Kelly and Bill Davis. His skills declined over the last two years, but there wasn't a player as respected in the locker room. Hicks knows he has big shoes to fill.

"I've just got to continue to be me," he said. "If I try to be anyone else other than me … that's not what earns respect. You earn respect by hard work ethic, by showing your teammates that you're reliable, and being yourself."