Jaguars coach Bill Shuey can change the linebacking corps

The Jacksonville Jaguars have many defensive needs to address this offseason but they at least have a new defensive coordinator in Mike Caldwell. Also, Billy Shuey will serve as the Jags’ linebackers coach, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, so it looks like head coach Doug Pederson will leave the defense in good hands.

Caldwell is going to bring some aggressiveness to the defense. Expect pressure from a lot of different angles mixed with some blitzes. This is particularly refreshing when you take into account how inconsistent play the Jaguars have gotten from their linebackers for a few years now.

The middle has not been the same since Paul Posluszny left for retirement. In his heyday, Posluszny was a tackling machine that was always around the ball. As a fan of the Jaguars, I would have liked to see them draft him out of college. He could have been a huge part of making teams think about running up the middle. If the Jaguar’s defense is to take the next step they will need Bill Shuey to get the most out of their linebacker corps.

Bill Shuey brings the experience the Jaguars’ linebacker unit needs.

Bill Shuey brings a lot of experience for the Jaguars. The Bears have had consistent linebacker play over the years. Khalil Mack has the talent to change games and make the job a little easier but Shuey also had Roquan Smith and Alec Ogletree perform at a high level. Shuey will now need to make some changes to how the linebackers play for the Jaguars.

Helping Myles Jack rebound after a relatively down season should be one of the Jaguars’ top priorities this offseason and Shuey should be able to elevate him. In particular, Jack must make more impact plays behind the line of scrimmage. He does make a lot of tackles each year. The trouble is where the tackles are being made. Creating a few turnovers would go a long way towards helping the offense. In 2021, the former UCLA Bruin didn’t register a single one.

In his years in Chicago, he was outside linebacker coach, pass rush analyst, and quality control and that kind of resume plays perfectly into what Caldwell will do with the defense. If the Jaguar’s defense can make teams one-dimensional. It will make it easier to blitz the offense. Fans have seen what happens when they can pin their ears back and get after the quarterback. The Buffalo Bills found out in 2021 what it was like to not have a running game to lean on. It is much better to be the bully and not the bullied.

For this reason, I am excited to see what Shuey can do with the linebackers. He has the experience to make a positive impact next year. The combination of getting the linebackers up to par with the rest of the league and upgrading the talent at the position. That opens up the defense more and will allow Mike Caldwell to be creative with the play calling.

Are there any more linebackers in free agency that could change the Jaguar’s fortunes?