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Eagles' Mychal Kendricks stuck in numbers crunch as third linebacker

Kendricks plays in the base defense, but he's behind Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham in the nickel.

Mychal Kendricks catches a tennis ball during Eagles training camp in August  2016.
Mychal Kendricks catches a tennis ball during Eagles training camp in August 2016.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer

For Eagles linebackers coach Ken Flajole, what Mychal Kendricks must do to play more this season is not based on skill. It's based on math.

The NFL is trending in such a way that teams are often in nickel packages, which calls for only two linebackers. Kendricks, a starter in the Eagles' base package, is on the sideline in sub packages because the team uses Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham, who both played at least 95 percent of the defensive snaps last season. Kendricks played 27 percent of the snaps and was on the trade block this off-season.

"If we were starting Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks in our nickel package, you'd be asking me what does Jordan Hicks have to do to get on the field," Flajole said.

"It's a nickel league with a two-linebacker set right now. And unfortunately, the numbers crunch a little bit not in his favor right now. But he'll have an opportunity. We have a three-linebacker package in our nickel, and he'll be important in that. And as I tell him, even though you're not on the field right now, you're an ankle sprain from being. So we're counting on you that way. He's embraced that. I wouldn't expect him to like it. I wouldn't expect anyone who's playing not to like it. But he's got to stay ready."

The problem isn't just math. Kendricks is a skilled blitzing linebacker, but the Eagles seldom blitz in Jim Schwartz's system. The linebackers must be effective in coverage, and Kendricks has been inconsistent in that area in recent seasons. That's why he's been limited mostly to running situations in the base defense.

Flajole's point about Kendricks' being an injury away from entering the lineup is valid. The Eagles were remarkably healthy at linebacker last season, but both Hicks and Bradham have missed time in recent seasons because of injury. If one of the two goes down, Kendricks would be the next one up in the nickel package.

Of course, Kendricks must stay healthy, too. He has missed time in all five of his NFL seasons, and he had a hamstring injury that limited him in OTAs. But Kendricks was a candidate to be moved elsewhere because of how he fits in the Eagles defense and the reality that he's the third linebacker, behind Hicks and Bradham. Although he has been publicly quiet this off-season, Kendricks wanted a bigger role last year.

"Mike's done a good job for us, No. 1," Flajole said. "If you're truly a competitor, and you're not playing every snap, I would expect that nobody would be happy the fact that they're just out there in base and they have limited time in our nickel package."

The percentage of defensive snaps Kendricks has taken has dropped in each of his seasons, from 88 percent as a rookie in 2012 to 83 percent in his second year to 66 percent in 2014, 52 percent in 2015, and 27 percent last season. The Eagles say they have packages to use him and injuries are always a possibility, but there is no clear path to more playing time for Kendricks as long as Bradham and Hicks are ahead of him.

"I know this: I know he's important to our defense, I'm glad he's here," Flajole said.