Oh how the mighty have fallen. Coming off stellar back to back season in 2012 and 2013, it seemed that linebacker Mychal Kendricks was destined to be our next great linebacker. The Eagles, well actually Chip Kelly, signed him to a 4 year contract extension just last year and that is starting to look like a mistake. I just don’t get how a player can seem to get worse from year to year and still be in the prime of his career. I always liked Kendricks as a player. Early on in his career he was explosive and a play maker. He seemed to play with instincts and was always around the ball. Now, every time we say his name he’s either getting beat by a running back or tight end in pass coverage or missing a key tackle. Let’s take a look at some plays that will show you how bad it’s gotten with him.
This just pisses me off. Kendricks gets caught literally standing flat footed against running back Theo Riddick. He looks like he’s never covered that kind of route before. The worst part is he has inside help with Jordan Hicks so I don’t quite understand why he is playing inside leverage on the running back. This cost us a big 7 points early on.
This play was HUGE. We get a stop here on 3rd and 11 and there’s a chance we stop the bleeding before it gets worse. All Kendricks has to do is wrap up his man but instead just flies right by him like he’s never played the game before. Get back to your fundamentals and WRAP HIM UP. His careless play cost us here when Detroit converted a 4th and 1 and continued to suck up more clock and put up more points.
This is the play where safety Malcolm Jenkins absolutely ripped into Kendricks after he missed this tackle. I didn’t see it during the game but you can see Jenkins #27 react as soon as the play is over. I just can’t understand what Kendricks was thinking here. How do you miss this tackle? Really. Jenkins was right to scream at him after this play because he’s realizing that Kendricks is hurting this team. The Lions player,Golden Tate #15, was at a stand still and Kendricks just completely whiffs on him. As a linebacker in the NFL that just can’t happen.
Last one here. Watch Kendricks just follow his receiver to an area where there are already 3 Eagles defenders. I don’t know the exact play call but it seems that Kendricks blew his coverage and that led to the wide open gain for the Lions. If it was a zone call on defense Kendricks should have stayed on the left side of the field instead of following his man all the way across. There seemed to be miscommunication somewhere here and it doesn’t surprise me that Kendricks was involved.
Mychal Kendricks has become a liability for this strong defense this year. I can’t believe I’m even saying that but it’s the truth. His playing time is something to keep an eye on for the next couple games here. I foresee a drop in snaps for him and more increased snaps for Nigel Bradham, Stephen Tulloch, and Jordan Hicks. Our defense held Detroit to 45 yards in the second half and I believe that had to do with the fact that Kendricks wasn’t on the field as much. Maybe he can straighten this out and get back to his old playing ways, maybe he can’t. All I know is his play this season doesn’t give me any confidence he can turn it around.
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