One word keeps coming up when people analyze Nakobe Dean, explosive.
There’s no escaping it. Any mention of Nakobe Dean almost always includes an immediate toss to familiar phrases like ‘sideline to sideline’ and having a ‘nose for the football’. When this young man gets locked in or gets on a roll, it’s fun to watch.
Some have asked whether Dean’s playmaking ability was more attributable to playing behind a great defensive line than anything that he was doing. Those arguments are much ado about nothing. Besides, when did it become a flaw to play alongside great teammates?
Rest assured if you’re a Birds fan. Nakobe can get to ball carriers in a hurry. Zierlein compares him to Devin Bush. That won’t turn any fan of Philadelphia’s off, but based on the eyeball test alone, Dean’s top-level game speed appears to be more accelerated than Bush’s (no offense to Devin intended).
Dean’s ability in blitz situations comes with an accompanying burst. His closing speed is off of the charts. He accelerates like a ball carrier when in space and runs through them once he arrives. The Eagles have a nice situation at middle linebacker with T.J. Edwards and this young man. It will be interesting to see if they concoct ways to get both on the field at the same time.