By: Hays Carlyon
INDIANAPOLIS – Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone seem to at least be considering a position change for middle linebacker Myles Jack.
Both met with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday at the Indiana Convention Center.
The 24-year-old Jack regressed last season, his second season playing solely inside after spending his first two seasons moving between the strong-side spot and middle. Jack missed five games last season, finishing with 66 tackles (three for a loss) with an interception and half a sack. The Jaguars finished 28th against the run.
The Jaguars don’t have a lot of proven answers around Jack, which has the Jaguars looking to make sure their best talent at the position is being utilized to the full extent. Jack is in the long-term plan after signing a four-year, $57-million contract with $33 million in guaranteed money last year. Jack’s 2020 salary-cap hit is $15.4 million.
“We’re going to make sure that we better the team as a whole,” Marrone said. “The one thing about Myles is that he has been great. He is a guy that is super talented, he has played multiple positions for us already. Getting him comfortable is really what my main goal is and putting him in a spot where he can go and play and maybe not have to worry about a lot of other people.”
Marrone went on to praise Jack’s communication skills in calling the defense. However, his comments certainly make to seem like Jack may be moving outside.
“Whatever combination is going to make us a better [team], that’s what we’re going to do,” Marrone said. “We’re going to do that in discussions with the player first before we publicly go out there and tell people what we are doing.”
If Jack were to move, the need for a middle linebacker would increase in free agency.
“If we can get a guy to come in and if we need to move Myles,” Caldwell said. “Myles offers so much flexibility, whether it’s MIKE [middle], WILL [weakside], he played SAM [strongside] in 2017. We feel good about that.”
Jack was adamant about his desire to stay at middle linebacker last season. If the Jaguars do decide to move Jack, that will certainly be an interesting conversation.
The first step will be securing a veteran middle linebacker in free agency. Without that, it’s hard to see an in-house solution who the Jaguars would trust to man the middle.
(You can email Hays at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @HaysCarlyon)
