Joe Schobert becomes new man in the middle for the Jacksonville Jaguars

Linebacker Joe Schobert is being asked to step into the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive scheme and not only adapt, but become the unquestioned leader in the middle.

Once it was announced that the Jacksonville Jaguars had signed former Cleveland Browns linebacker Joe Schobert in free agency, social media erupted, wondering if the middle linebacker can do something that nobody has been able to do, yet.

Could he replace former Jaguars legend Paul Posluszny as the team leader and a true middle linebacker? After two seasons. where play in the middle has been less than spectacular, it appears the Jaguars front office has finally found somebody who is up to the task.

Last season, Myles Jack proclaimed himself the “Mike” linebacker, in a failed experiment where he was out of place on many plays and was not as proficient as he has been in his more comfortable position on the outside.

With Jack moving back outside and the addition of Schobert, coupled with the team’s second first-round draft pick, K’Lavon Chaisson, there is great potential for this unit. The front office also added other key components to both the linebacker and defensive line positions over the last few weeks. Because the defense took a major step back in 2019, it is the belief that a stronger unit, with more interchangeable parts, should be able to help Jacksonville stop the run, but could improve the pass rush as well.

And all of it should filter in and around Schobert this season.

Schobert’s deal with Jacksonville is for five years and  $53.75M, which includes a $12M signing bonus, $21.5M in guaranteed money.

Schobert had a  chance to speak to the local media last week, outlining his reasons for coming to North Florida and how he wants to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defense get back to its dominant ways. A former Wisconsin star, watching Schobert move around, calling plays as the defensive quarterback and not only helping to stuff the run but move around and pass coverage, there’s a lot to like about his game. There’s also a lot of his game that is reminiscent of Posluszny during his seven years in Jacksonville.

More from Black and Teal

• 5 Jacksonville Jaguars dream targets in 2023 NFL Free Agency
• 3 potential trade partners for Jacksonville Jaguars CB Shaquill Griffin
• Jaguars should explore trading for Michael Thomas amid Calvin Ridley suspension
• Jacksonville Jaguars named best fit for CB James Bradberry in 2023 NFL free agency
• Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram highlights discrepancy in WR and TE salaries

"“I come from a franchise where I didn’t play in the playoffs. I was 1-31 my first two seasons; that was my record,” he said. I just want to prove that I can be a part of a winning franchise, a winning organization. In 2017, the Jaguars went to the AFC Championship game, but I want to be able to change the culture into a traditional winning culture to be a team that can go to the playoffs year after year and become one of the more successful franchises in the AFC, competing for titles every year.”"

Posluszny made one Pro Bowl appearance for the Jaguars in his time in Jacksonville. If the team can get more than one year from Schobert, it will be a successful move by the team’s front office.

Head Coach Doug Marrone stated following the NFL draft, that the team will have more of a 3-4 look this season, which will allow there to be more speed on the outside. It would also mean there will be more concentration on stuffing the run. It’s something Schobert said he welcomes, coming from the same kind of system in college.

"“Once you learn NFL schemes, 3-4, 4-3, obviously different in terms of defensive line personnel and outside linebacker personnel on the field, but schematically for an inside linebacker, it’s not so different. There’s only so many ways you can play, cover-3, cover-4, man-to-man,” he added.“There’s only so many gaps you can play. It’s just about learning where you’re going to line up and ‘the techniques and the communication that would go on, but once you get that stuff down, it’s really not that hard, you’ve just got to learn, like right now, I’m learning the verbiage and all the communication for the Jaguars’ system. Once you get that stuff down, it’s kind of just plug and play.”"

Schobert is ready to get out on the field and show his new teammates and the Jacksonville Jaguars fan base what he can do to help this team get back to its winning ways.