Intro the Eagles are trying to get by again with a pair of linebackers on one-year contracts though Vic fanio believes inside linebackers are more important than ever in today's game Philadelphia it's to the point now two weeks into training camp where it's starting to feel like Zack Bourne will be the starter next to Devin white in defensive coordinator Vic fangio's defense the free agent signing from the New Orleans Vic Fangios Defense Saints is always out there with white on the first team he has been since the start of spring and it has continued into August it doesn't seem likely to change now though maybe the Eagles three preseason games will tell a different story beginning Friday night in Baltimore I feel really comfortable said Bourne it's a very familiar system for me obviously and just taking Representatives Days by day getting in the film room I'm getting used to Linebacker Options everything and it's going well it hasn't been perfect but options are few at this point ncoe Dean could make a surge to rest the job away or rookie jerem Trotter junor might come on strong or maybe Ben vanum and could remove the cloak of invisibility he has been wearing this summer exactly one year ago on Tuesday general manager Harry Roseman wasn't in love with what he saw from Nicholas Morrow and Dean was hurt so he Zack Cunningham went out and Inked Zack Cunningham and Miles Jack who retired two weeks later to go play with the Steelers Cunningham played well but he was not brought back he is still a free agent if Roseman is interested because right now fangio doesn't seem overly pleased of his pound group it's been good at times not so good at other times he said we need to win a high percentage of the battles when we go against a running back some guys have been good some not so up to this point fangio went to the Pro Patrick Willis Football Hall of Fame in shran ceremonies last weekend to watch one of his former players linebacker Patrick Willis get inducted I think every defense in the NFL relies on High level production from the inside linebackers especially with the way the game is being played now he said IB used to be a position where you somewhat could overachieve and be a tough guy but when the fullback disappeared and he's been replaced by a third wide out or second tight end that's a good receiver the game is played in space more but yet they still run the ball a good deal so the ilb position has become a more ILB Position demanding position in this last decade or so it's hard to play good defense without good ilb play these guys are working hard to get to that level shortly Roseman heard that comment every team has a position they don't invest as many resources in his other positions because you just can't in a salary cap World linebacker is that position for the Eagles so the Eagles will once again try to get by with a pair of linebackers on oneyear deals in white and Bourn then try again next year probably to find new ones at least Bourne who played mostly on special teams with the Saints has flashed toughness in Camp and the ability to make place as a Blitzer and pass rusher toughness is not only Tough Guy physical but it's mental he said I think once you master the mental side the rest of your game can develop it's always something I've had to work at I haven't always been this way but yeah you just grind you work at it and just hearing what different coaches want and it's always toughness toughness it keeps coming I said that's the player I need to be and that's the player I want to be his running mate de in white added great effort Pure Heart person that loves the game of football sticking his head in every way the guy just goes out there and is Relentless I knew a lot about him with the Saints he was on special teams doing it now he's just letting his light shine