Are the Eagles Committed to Jordan Hicks?

By Denny Basens, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

The Philadelphia Eagles made a significant addition to their mix at linebacker earlier in the week, signing veteran middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch. 

During a news conference this week, head coach Doug Pederson made an interesting comment regarding Tulloch's potential role with the team. Pederson came out and said that Tulloch would be in competition for the starting job at middle linebacker with second-year man Jordan Hicks, a somewhat shocking statement. 

The idea that Tulloch, who was still unsigned at the halfway point of the preseason and wasn't scooped up by the Eagles until a seventh-round rookie blew out his knee, could come in off of the streets and possibly take the starting role away from a young, ascending player like Hicks seems completely outlandish, but if Pederson is to be taken at his word, it is a possibility. 

The very idea creates some concern about the Eagles' starters at the position, particularly Hicks. 

Hicks was one of the lone bright spots during last season's disappointing campaign. As a rookie, the third-round pick took full advantage of the opportunity given to him by early injuries to Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks, and established himself as a playmaking presence that came up with a number of big moments throughout the season. After he tore his pectoral muscle in a win over Dallas, the defense wasn't the same without him. 

Throughout the offseason, the general feeling surrounding Hicks has been that he should be a key piece of the defense, with the only concern being his ability to stay healthy. 

However, perhaps the idea of Hicks being an anchor in the middle is one that too many have taken for granted. 

When evaluating Hicks, while his output was very impressive, keep in mind that it is in fact a very small sample size. Hicks was active for only eight games last season, seeing significant action in seven. It remains to be seen whether or not he can sustain that high level of play for a full 16-games, and keep himself healthy. 

Hicks is also learning a new defensive scheme, switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 that uses a lot of Wide-Nine looks. His responsibilities will be different, and it may take him some time to get a firm grasp on it. With this in mind, perhaps this is the reason why Pederson left the door open for Tulloch to take the starting job away. Tulloch has such intimate familiarity with Jim Schwartz and his scheme, and if Hicks struggles early in the season, its very possible that Schwartz will make Tulloch a bigger part of the unit than many would expect. 

It may be much too early to expect such a change to be in the immediate future. 

But the comments made by Pederson can't be ignored or taken lightly. 

The reality is that Hicks is still a very young, fairly inexperienced player that still has a lot of learning to do. His physical skills may surpass Tulloch's declining body, but Schwartz and Pederson value what the veteran can bring to the table, and want to find the best way possible to utilize his skills. 

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