The fourth-year pro is in the prime of his career. The 2015 second-round pick has been one of the best linebackers in football this year. In the eight games he’s played, he has 68 tackles with many of them being run-stops behind the line of scrimmage.
What’s important to note about Eric Kendricks is not really any skill he has that no one else does, but rather his opportunities to make plays.
We always hear about running backs being patient, waiting for a hole to open up, or not dancing around behind the line but rather running with the offense and waiting for them to make a hole. Kendricks is much the same way but on defense. He has excellent gap control and understands not being aggressive on rush defense.
He doesn’t shoot up the holes like most linebackers do, but rather forces the running back inside and back towards the defense to make plays. He sets an edge very well and once he gets an angle on you, he doesn’t stop until he’s tackled you.
Kendricks is one of the best pure run-stopping linebackers in the NFL right now, if not the best.