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How Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, an old-school coordinator and a no-nonsense position coach have made linebacker the glue of the Eagles defense again

November 29, 2024

Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) celebrates his interception with linebacker Zack Baun (53) in the end zone during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean like to remind themselves of an article they spotted before the season. It ranked the Eagles’ linebacker group 30th of 32 NFL teams. And as Baun pointed out, it was published when Devin White was still with the Eagles. Baun could only imagine where they would have ranked before the season had the evaluation been made about the two players who eventually emerged as the Eagles’ starters.
“We took it personal,” Baun said in a conversation with PHLY. “That’s the kind of people me and Nakobe are. Someone’s going to say something — good or bad — we’re like, ‘OK, we’ll show you.’”
How’s that gone so far?
They’re not looking for the revision. If they’re bein...

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