Fortunately, the Eagles have a number of players on the defensive side of the ball who could step into leadership roles.
The first is Sheldon Brown, who is the only remaining defensive starter from the 2005 Super Bowl and already somewhat of a team leader.
Of course, his contract tussle could take away from his leadership abilities, depending on whether he will truly put his battle with Joe Banner on the back burner or continue with his trade demands.
Regardless of what happens with Brown, I could see safety Quintin Mikell stepping into Dawkins’ leadership position on the defensive side of the ball. Mikell is highly respected by his teammates because of the way he earned his stripes. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Boise State in 2003 and became an attention-grabbing head-hunter on special teams.
Injuries opened the door for some playing time for the young safety and he made the most of it. Reid was calling him an All-Pro after the 2007 campaign. He backed up that season with another outstanding year in 2008. Mikell took a back seat leadership-wise to Dawkins in the past, but with him gone, he’s primed to step up.
Eagles middle linebacker Stewart Bradley also plays the position and has the demeanor to take on a larger leadership role. Bradley is a take-charge type of player who runs the team’s defensive huddles and has the pass defending skills to stay on the field in nickel situations. He has earned the respect of his teammates with his toughness, smarts and surprising athleticism. Most importantly, I sense his teammates believe in him.
Defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley has also been mentioned on the list of prospective leaders. The young defensive tackle is starting to be respected amongst team members for his effort, preparation and selfless attitude.
