Myles Jack Just Hitting His Stride On Defense For The Jacksonville Jaguars

When asked about how Myles Jack was performing this offseason and during the first two weeks of OTAs, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Todd Wash couldn’t help but smile.

It’s Jack’s turn to shine.

Coming off a solid second season in Jacksonville, erasing a rookie campaign where the former coaching staff could not find a spot for him on the field (which is still hard to believe), Myles Jack proved he was as good as advertised when Jacksonville traded up in the second round of the NFL Draft to grab the first-round talent.

Jack is going well in both the classroom, learning more about the defense and applying what he knows when he is on the field with his teammates.

"“He’s doing really well. He’s having the normal structured meetings that we have this time of the year when we have this time with them,” Wash said. “You see him making strides. He is not out on the grass obviously, but he is doing a lot of things within the classroom and outside the building to get himself ready.”"

While Myles Jack will be known in Jaguars lore for one of the plays that defined the AFC Championship game when an inadvertent whistle stopped what would have been a touchdown against the New England Patriots, his play last season coupled with Telvin Smith’s best season as pro, gives the team two of the best young linebackers in the league. In other words – MYLES JACK WASN’T DOWN!

It’s a combination Wash and the franchise are blessed to have on their side.

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This year is a bit different for Jack. Before the start of camp last year, Jack was moved inside and veteran linebacker Paul Posluszny was moved to the outside. It was an experiment that failed in the beginning but was easily remedied when the two switched positions, possibly aiding Jack’s solid season. Now, with Posluszny retired, Jack is being asked once again to move inside and play the position.

Another year of experience should help make the transition smoother. Wash likes what the former UCLA star brings to this fast defensive unit.

"“He is a very athletic player. He really understands our system now. He has been in it two-and-a-half, three years. He is going on his third. He gives us stability to play a lot of different things coverage wise. He is just so athletic,” Wash explained.“He can play man, he can play zone. He can do everything that we need him to do. He has really become a gym rat, which is nice to see. He is not out there physically taking the reps. He does some walkthroughs and all of that… He has really become a good student of the game.”"

The Jaguars finished second in overall defense last season. There is always room for improvement. There are 10 starters who returned from last season. Jack may be poised to have the biggest leap of any of them on the field.

Myles Jack may be peaking at the right time. This is the third season on the team and in this defensive scheme. As Wash explained, players tend to make that leap about that time in their careers. This is exactly where he and the other defensive coaches thought their star linebacker would make his ascent toward becoming a star in this league.