With lots of headlines to keep track of in training camp, strong safety might be the most interesting position battle.
Training camp is officially underway and all eyes are set on a handful of big names – Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, Dante Fowler Jr., Malik Jackson, and Tashaun Gipson are all seeing the field for extended time in front of fans and these potential stars are already stealing the show.
.@E_Dilla zoomed in gif pic.twitter.com/8GtMQOMFPY
— madebytim (@MadeByTim) July 30, 2016
While the high-profile guys are garnering most of the attention, there are a handful of other things to watch in camp. One of the spots up for grabs is strong safety, where former 2nd round pick Johnathan Cyprien is on his last legs and needs to show he can play at a high enough level to stay on the roster after this year. His main competition is second year player James Sample, someone the team is apparently very high on.
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Mike DiRocco of ESPN thinks strong safety is the most
under-the-radar offseason question for the Jaguars moving forward.
"Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jaguars drafted strong safety Johnathan Cyprien in the second round in 2013, but he has just two interceptions and three forced fumbles, and now he’s fighting with James Sample, the team’s fourth-round pick in 2015, to remain the starter. Because the Jaguars in previous years didn’t have a free safety capable of playing single-high coverage, Cyprien has had to work in coverage more than they wanted. With Tashaun Gipson now in Jacksonville, however, Cyprien can stay closer to the box, which is his strength. — Mike DiRocco"
I don’t have a lot of faith that Cyprien can turn things around, even with Gipson taking up most of the coverage responsibility in the back end. He’s been inconsistent not just in pass defense but also as run defender. Cyprien led the team with 21 missed tackles in 2015 according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Sample is only a 4th round pick but he’s at least a different option who has more upside just based on being an unknown. Even if Cyprien starts the season, I expect Sample to get into the lineup at some point.