Vic Fangio muddies up evaluation of Jihaad Campbell at EDGE for Eagles

Many Philadelphia Eagles fans are divided on what Philadelphia should do with rookie first-round pick linebacker Jihaad Campbell, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio offered some clarity on that debate.....kinda.

When asked how he thought Campbell performed as an EDGE, Fangio gave an answer that could rival your favorite politician.

"It's new out there," Fangio said via Bleeding Green Nation's Brandon Lee Gowton. "There's a lot to learn...The more he's out there, the better he'll get at it."

Should Campbell play more at EDGE for Eagles?

Fangio echoed a famous concept that because Campbell hasn't played much of the position at the NFL level, he's still learning, and the more reps he takes, the more he'll be able to make an impact, a crazy concept I know, but not an answer many are hoping for from the long-time defensive coordinator.

Many fans, media, and critics have likened Campbell to an inside linebacker, mimicking the skillset of Derrick Brooks, who excelled in Tony Dungy's "Tampa 2" defense with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Some believe flipping Campbell between EDGE and linebacker could hurt his development.

While many may criticize the Eagles' use of Campbell, one fact remains constant. He is a good football player, and good football players find ways to make plays.

Campbell has consistently been graded as one of the NFL's most emerging rookies and has garnered significant positive traction for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He's totaled 43 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one tackle for loss so far this season.

While Campbell seems to impact the game no matter where he is on the field, it does seem that his playing inside linebacker has yielded the best results. Another factor in the Eagles' EDGE room is now the return of Brandon Graham, coming back out of retirement.

With Graham returning after Za'Darius Smith's sudden retirement, Campbell should see more time at inside linebacker in an effort to allow Graham to add to the pass rush for the final 10 games of the season.