The majority of the Colts’ linebacker snaps this season will be played by Zaire Franklin and EJ Speed, but rookie Jaylon Carlies will have the opportunity to carve out a role with his coverage ability.
Although the Colts play a 4-3 defense under Gus Bradley, in today’s NFL, nickel is the true base defense for every team. Realistically, the Colts will only have three linebackers on the field for perhaps 10-20 percent of their defensive snaps.
However, as a former college safety at Missouri, Carlies’ skill set, with his length, athleticism, and experience in coverage, can add a complementary element to what Franklin and Speed already provide.
“We always think guys with length that can run have an advantage,” said GM Chris Ballard about Carlies. “It’s going to fit him well inside.”
During his final three seasons at Missouri, Carlies recorded nine interceptions as a safety, along with five pass breakups. Joey Van Zummeren, who covers Missouri Football for SI’s Fan Nation, noted that tackling was where Carlies made a big impact, an ability that can help him limit yards after the catch while in coverage.
Colts’ area scout Tyler Hughes mentioned following the draft that in Carlies’ transition from playing safety to linebacker, there will be a learning curve for him, particularly in run defense.
Assisting Carlies with this position change will be an experienced staff that includes assistant linebackers coach Cato June, who made a similar switch when he was in the NFL, along with linebackers coach Richard Smith, who was part of Gus Bradley’s staff in Las Vegas that worked with Divine Deable transition from safety to linebacker.
“Those coaches have a good plan in place of how they’re going to utilize him and how they’re going to develop him,” said Hughes. “You got guys like Divine Deablo, who our defensive staff had, so (Carlies has) got a lot of versatility to him and definitely the figure to see what we want at a linebacker at our level.”
So early on in Carlies’ career, with the emphasis being on putting him in positions to be successful, his playing time will more likely come on obvious passing downs or as the Will linebacker when the Colts are in their base 4-3 defense.
This playing time will, of course, have to be earned. The competition for that third linebacker role is one of the more under-the-radar positional battles taking place this summer for the Colts.
Competing with Carlies for those snaps will be Ronnie Harrison, who can fill a very similar coverage-first role. Also, at linebacker, the Colts have Segun Olubi, Cameron McGrone, and Grant Stuard.