Why DeMeco Ryans Was the Philadelphia Eagles' MVP for the Season's First Half

The catalyst for the Philadelphia Eagles' 6-2 start isn't signal-caller Nick Foles. It's not LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin or even the tenacious Darren Sproles.

It's inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

Somehow, amid all the talk about Nick Foles, the offensive line, Sproles and safety Malcolm Jenkins' multiple interceptions, DeMeco Ryans' strong campaign has gone relatively unnoticed.

Through eight games, he managed to rack up 45 tackles. Those numbers may not be otherworldly, but they are respectable.

What is more noteworthy about Ryans is his leadership. The Eagles defense has been noticeably improved this season. The offense struggled for the first few weeks, and while Darren Sproles' heroics helped, it was the defense that ultimately kept the Eagles in games.

It may not be ranked particularly high, currently a very average 15th in the NFL. However, the Eagles defense has come up big in several moments of the season.

The unit shut out the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half of the first game of the season, allowing the Eagles to stage a comeback after a scoreless first half. Jenkins intercepted Andrew Luck in the fourth quarter to allow the team to score a late touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.

What's more, the Eagles shut out Eli Manning and the New York Giants in Week 6.

What every defense in the NFL has is a leader. For the Eagles, the drop in quality from 2008 to 2009 was noticeable, largely due to the departure of Brian Dawkins. The drop from 2010 to 2011 was even greater, as Dawkins' replacement and former partner at safety, Quintin Mikell, also left.

Chip Kelly called DeMeco Ryans the "Mufasa" of the Eagles, a veteran player that players look up to and are willing to fight for. Without Ryans on the field, the Eagles defense's ability to come up big in clutch situations will be tested. As games wear on, and fatigue starts to settle in, it's easy to start to lose focus.

A leader on defense is critical for this reason.

With Nick Foles out for several weeks—possibly even for the remainder of the regular season—Ryans may be even more missed, as the defense will have to step up more than ever.