Five Big-Picture Takeaways From Eagles Week 11 Loss to Buccaneers

Oct 11, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) is congratulated after recovering a fumble during the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

2.) The Jordan Hicks Injury Could be the Most Devastating of the Season

When Jordan Hicks suffered a torn pectoral injury against the Cowboys two games ago, I underestimated the effect it would have on the Eagles defense. I was under the impression that the mere presence of DeMeco Ryans on the field would have a calming enough effect to keep the defense organized and effective. Though one could make a case that the defense’s recent struggles are more a result of poor tackling and the inability to complete plays than mental lapses, the unit seems far more vulnerable the last two weeks than prior to Hicks’s injury. With Hicks in, the Eagles were the hunter. Now opposing offense’s are licking their chops at the weaknesses in Billy Davis’s group. For a roster that was riddled with players whose injury concerns dictated a handful of storylines this offseason, the Eagles have been relatively lucky in that department. Oddly enough, it was their unheralded rookie linebacker going down for the final eight games of the season that seems to have had the most profound impact. Hicks exhibited confidence and innate football instincts in his action as a rookie. He was a beast against the run and had a nose for the ball. He was the vocal leader of the defense when Ryans was out with an injury of his own. For all the frustrating draft picks during the Chip Kelly era, Hicks appeared to be a diamond in the rough.  

While it does seem as if teams are starting to pick apart Billy Davis’s gameplan, Sunday’s loss featured a defense that lacked any sort of confidence or swagger that had been their hallmark during the first half of the season. Hicks played every snap with a purpose and finished with authority when others might shy away from stepping up and making the big play. The Eagles were victimized in situations that called for a playmaker on Sunday: 3rd downs, red zone scenarios, two-minutes drills. Hicks might still end up being a franchise player for the Eagles if he is able to recover from his injury. His absence in 2015 is a major storyline and there’s no doubt the team is suffering without him.