The Jacksonville Jaguars’ focus for free agency has been clear: Get better against the run. Doug Marrone came out to say that was the mindset with the acquisition of linebacker Joe Schobert and that especially seems to be the case with the addition of defensive lineman Rodney Gunter.
When speaking with Jaguars.com’s Ashlyn Sullivan Thursday via video chat, Marrone not only praised Gunter’s ability against the run, but said they liked his ability to be a three-down player for them in 2020.
"We know he’s a good player against the run."
Coach Marrone discusses adding @KingRod90 to the defensive line. pic.twitter.com/OlaNMLxIcd
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) March 19, 2020
“He’s very good against the run and we think we can get some pass rush out of him,” Marrone said Thursday. “We think of him as potentially a three-down player for us. We feel very comfortable in getting him and I was very excited we were able to get him.”
“We were looking around [on film] and all of a sudden, Rodney comes up and it’s, ‘We really like him”’ Marrone said. “We don’t know that division that well. It’s the NFC West and you don’t really see a lot of cross tape of people like that during the year. We really like the skill set.
“We think he can play multiple positions for us, whether he can go down in a three (-technique defensive tackle) or play the big (strong-side) end.”
Some have said Gunter, who is coming from a 3-4 scheme, is a player more suited for a 4-3. If so, maybe we’ll see him explode in terms of production like Campbell did when he left the Cardinals for the Jags.