5 Possible Solutions at Linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles' defensive coordinator Juan Castillo will likely be without a job in the next few weeks, and that will be largely due to the ineffective play at the linebacker position this year.

Although to be fair, expectations for this rag-tag group of linebackers never should have been very high, as those who played major roles on defense were no higher than a fourth-round draft pick.  Sad.

With Castillo on the outs, the next defensive coordinator would do well to bring in one of these surefire starters via free agency or the draft if they hope to remain in Philadelphia for more than a year.

D'Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns

Despite missing all of the 2010 season due to injury, Cleveland Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson proved this season that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

Simply put, the dude was a tackling machine.  His 158 tackles were good for second in the NFL, and he also showed his versatility by sacking the quarterback three times and notching both a forced fumble and an interception.

He is the kind of sure-tackling, playmaking linebacker that the Philadelphia Eagles have sorely missed these past few seasons.

David Hawthorne, Seattle Seahawks

David Hawthorne's 115 tackles this season will likely convince most fans that he is worthy of starting for the Philadelphia Eagles.  

But where he really shines is in coverage.  Over the course of the season, Hawthorne managed to tally three interceptions—one of which went 77 yards the other way for a touchdown.

If that wasn't enough, he also graded out favorably in pass defense by Pro Football Focus, meaning that he was efficient in limiting the amount of passes completed under his watch.

A run-stuffer and a pass-defender?  Almost seems too good to be true.  Fortunately, David Hawthorne is very much real, and he would be a welcome addition in the Eagles' locker room.  

London Fletcher, Washington Redskins

London Fletcher (36) may be getting long in the tooth, but he still plays as if he were in his mid-twenties.

His league-leading 166 tackles this season prove that he is a reliable tackler.  But if one season's worth of statistics isn't enough, then perhaps this is: Fletcher hasn't dipped below 116 tackles in over a decade.

Dependability, thy name is London Fletcher.

Still, it is hard to ignore that the veteran is getting up there in age.  But that may actually work out for the Eagles.  They could bring in Fletcher on a one or two-year deal, have him be his dominant self and all the while groom a potential replacement to be the long-term answer at the position.

In fact, it would be nice to see him tutor one of the next two candidates in this article.

Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State (rookie)

Vontaze Burfict's character issues are well-documented and have many teams worried about spending a high draft pick on him.  But he also has something that the Philadelphia Eagles have lacked in recent years: violence.

Burfict isn't just a sure tackler, he is a hit-you-in-your-mouth-and-watch-you-squirm type of tackler.  He is an imposing force in the middle of his team's defense, and he delivers the type of hits that leave offensive players thinking twice about entering his territory again.

Not since the days of safety Brian Dawkins have the Eagles had someone who can make bone-crunching hits.  Using their first-round pick on Burfict would ensure that opposing teams once again begin to fear the Eagles' defense.

Dont'a Hightower, Alabama (rookie)

In the same mold as Vontaze Burfict, Alabama's Dont'a Hightower also has a knack for making violent, disruptive play.

It is no coincidence that he played on an Alabama defense that simply suffocated opposing offenses all season long.  He is a bruiser and has the sideline-to-sideline speed that will make him an every-down linebacker in the pros.  

Better yet, he does not have the character issues that make Burfict such a risky pick.