Addressing the Jaguars needs at linebacker this offseason
By David Levin
The Jacksonville Jaguars defense was ranked amongst the best in the NFL last season, but it did not mean all areas were solid, especially at linebacker.
It was exactly how the team had scripted it. A late interception and touchdown by Myles Jack in the later stages of the first game of the NFL season helped the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 20-15 win over the New York Giants.
The defense, which had been a dominant presence all season in 2017, picked up right where it left off. And everything was right in the world. It looked as though the prognostications of a run toward the playoffs and a possible Super Bowl berth could be possible because players like Telvin Smith and Jack would use speed and agility to do exactly what they did only one year earlier.
As we all know, that did not happen. The Jaguars defense was good, but not elite. The play at linebacker lacked and players showed they had a hard time in coverage, especially during the Jaguars seven-game losing streak in 2018.
This year, with free agency upcoming and the NFL Draft two months away, this unit must be different. It must be quicker and Smith and Jack, two of the league’s faster linebackers, must play better in space and in coverage.
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Not everything about the linebackers was bad for the Jaguars this past season, as Jaguars.com senior writer John Oehser wrote.
"“Smith led the Jaguars with 134 tackles, registering a sack, four tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, two interceptions, two passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery,” Oehser explained. “Jack was second on the team with 107 tackles, registering 2.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, four quarterback hurries, an interception, a pass defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.”"
The Jaguars need more of that on a consistent basis from more players. Leon Jacobs was a seventh-round draft pick out of Wisconsin who won the started outside job created when Jack moved inside to middle ‘backer and Paul Posluszny retired. He showed promise but was sent to the injured reserve list toward the end of the season.
Depth is a major issue with the group. Free agency could bring in one or two players to who could challenge for playing time. But as a whole, this unit must find its rhythm from the playoff-winning season in 2017.
Nick DeLuca is a name to watch this coming season. He replaced Jacobs in the lineup and played well with the time he was given. It remains to be seen if he can do that consistently over 16 games.