Tag: Myles Jack

Doug Marrone confirms Jags will move Myles Jack back to OLB after acquisition of Joe Schobert

Myles Jack will be making a position change thanks to the addition of Joe Schobert and he’s excited about it.

When the Jacksonville Jaguars came to terms with linebacker Joe Schobert Tuesday they didn’t just address one need at middle linebacker but they also addressed the weakside linebacker position. With Schobert being a true answer in the interior, Jags coach Doug Marrone confirmed that the team will be moving Myles Jack to weakside linebacker, making the unit an overall better one.

″[The addition of Schobert] gives us the ability to move Myles to outside linebacker, which I feel is a more natural position for him,″ Marrone said vis Jaguars.com. ″Myles and I spoke about the change and he’s excited.″

Most expected the Jags to address linebacker this offseason because it was arguably their worst unit. To get a player of Schobert’s caliber and add him with an elite athlete like Jack should now significantly improve the unit and maybe even get them back to where they were at the position before the departures of Telvin Smith and Paul Posluszny.

Marrone also mentioned that Schobert would help the team stop the run, something they struggled with last. The team was ranked 28th in the category last year as they were decimated with injuries but it’s hard to believe Schobert won’t help the Jags there as he’s had at least 103 tackles in his last three seasons. He also was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017.

“Well, going back in the background I think the first thing was to make sure we did everything we could to stop the run,” Marrone said. “I know it’s something we’ve talked about it publicly, we’ve talked about it to reporters, we’ve talked about it internally. We were looking to do that and looking into how we could upgrade our football team when looking at the players we had.”

While he’s not Bobby Wagner or Cory Littleton in the category, Schobert also gives the Jags better coverage abilities in the interior, too. On film, his ability to diagnose pass plays is evident and he clearly does a lot less thinking there than Jack.

Ultimately time will tell if Schobert was worth the pricey five-year, $53.75 million deal he signed that includes $22.5 million in guarantees. However, with the Jags’ future cap situation looking extremely bright, it’s a chance fans should understand them taking.

Doug Marrone, Dave Caldwell seem open to moving Myles Jack from inside LB

Neither said a move was a certainty, but Jags HC Doug Marrone and GM Dave Caldwell at least seem open to moving Myles Jack from inside LB.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been candid about putting their players in a better position to flourish this season after putting together two back-to-back seasons in which they had double-digit losses. Atop the list of names fans feel should change positions is inside linebacker Myles Jack, who struggled mightily with his role.

With the NFL Combine currently ongoing, the potential change was one that came up multiple times from the media when Jags coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell took the podium.

Marrone, who was first to address the media, said that the young linebacker was recovering well from the knee injury that put him on injured reserve in December and expects him to be back around mid-March. He also added that he thinks Jack has basically played well everywhere at some point but will look to put him in the best position for the team.

“I think when we look at Myles, first of all, he’s doing well, rehabbing well and will be back sometime in mid-March,” said Marrone. “I think that we’re going to make sure we better the team as a whole. The one thing about Myles, he’s been great. Obviously, he’s a guy that is super talented and has played multiple positions for us already.”

Jack has played at two linebacker positions in Todd Wash’s scheme, however, he clearly looked better at SAM linebacker (2017) than at MIKE. In fact, 2017 was his best season by the standards of Pro Football Focus as he registered a grade of 83.4. However, with Paul Posluszny retiring, he moved to the middle, where things haven’t gone as well.

In his defense, the MIKE linebacker position isn’t the easiest to learn as it comes with a lot of responsibilities. In addition to the retirement of Posluszny, it became painfully obvious when he became the leader of the group due to Telvin Smith’s retirement.

Like the fans, Marrone hinted that Jack may need to play at a position with fewer responsibilities but also said he’s handled the role fine. However, if moving him makes the team better, it appears Marrone wouldn’t be opposed to it.

“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 but he’s done a good job,” Marrone added. “He’s been able to call the defenses for us and he’s been a leader on that side of the football. I think at the end of the day whatever combination is going to make us a better player, that’s what we’re going to do but we’re going do that in discussions with the player first before we publicly go out there and tell people exactly what we’re doing.”

Caldwell practically said the same thing, pointing out Jack’s versatility and how it gives the Jags options.

“If we can get a guy to come in [through free agency or the draft] and move Myles [we’d possibly look into it] because Myles offers you so much flexibility rather it’s MIKE, WILL, and he played SAM in 2017, so we feel good about that,” Caldwell said.

In my opinion, Jack’s 2019 struggles and his success outside of the MIKE linebacker spot is a clear indicator that the Jags need to prioritize finding a new player to run things in the middle. If they feel Jack still needs to stay on the field full-time, then weak-side linebacker should be an option, but simply put, keeping him in the middle certainly doesn’t feel like a move that would be best for the team.

This offseason, inside linebacker options like Joe Schobert and Nick Kwiatkoski could be available on the open market as players who won’t be market-setters but will get paid well. Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray is a player who could be available early in the draft. Ultimately, time will tell if any of those players are options (or anyone else) but it appears Jack’s name certainly isn’t written in ink at inside linebacker.

Jags promote LB Joe Giles-Harris to active roster after moving Myles Jack to IR

The Jags will be giving Joe Giles-Harris another shot to prove what he can do as a reserve linebacker.

After placing linebacker Myles Jack on injured reserve the Jacksonville Jaguars filled his spot with another young linebacker from the practice squad in rookie Joe Giles-Harris.

Giles-Harris, 22, is getting his third opportunity on the active roster. He made the initial roster and was one of two undrafted rookie free-agents (with safety Andrew Wingard) back in August, but was waived before the team’s first regular season game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Not too soon afterward he was added back to the roster through the Jags’ practice squad. They promoted him again in October, but waived him in early November only to add him back to the practice squad days later.

Giles-Harris has yet to register any regular season stats, but saw the field in the preseason and racked up 15 tackles while playing in all four games. He also got the opportunity to start in their preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

Report: Jags LB Myles Jack headed to IR

The Jags will be placing one of their high-priced investments on IR in LB Myles Jack (knee).

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be losing yet another leader on their defense. Per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, middle linebacker Myles Jack (knee) is headed to injured reserve.

The decision comes after Jack missed practice last Wednesday and Thursday, but was limited Friday. Evidently the team may have found out he was nowhere near close to 100% and decided to shut him down with the playoffs out of reach.

Another factor that may have played into the decision was the fact that Donald Payne looked solid in his place Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs. The young linebacker was able to accumulate 13 total tackles against the Bucs and also had a sack on the day.

Jack’s designation onto IR comes after a disappointing season where he didn’t quite have the season some hoped for after receiving a four-year contract extension worth $57 million in totality and $33 million in guarantees. With a coaching change on the horizon, it’s no guarantee Jack will remain at MIKE linebacker heading forward as most thought he clearly is better suited to play on the outside.

He’ll end the season with 66 total tackles and a Pro Football Focus grade of 46.1.

Jaguars activate LB Jake Ryan from reserve/non-football injury list

The Jags seemingly will have some much-needed help at linebacker this Sunday after activating LB Jake Ryan prior to Week 13’s game.

Fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars had been heavily anticipating the debut of linebacker Jake Ryan and it appears they will finally have their wishes granted. The team announced that the veteran linebacker was activated from their reserve/non-football injury list Saturday, which should provide some much needed help to their struggling linebackers group.

To make room for his addition, the Jags waived running back and punt returner Tyler Ervin.

Ryan, 27, signed with the Jags this offseason due to his relationship with defensive advisor Dom Capers back in Green Bay, who previously served as the Packers defensive coordinator. Ryan was drafted by Green Bay in the fourth-round of the 2015 draft (selection No. 129) and played for them until 2018. However, in July of last season, he tore his ACL and missed the whole 2018 season.

While with the Packers Ryan managed to accumulate 213 total tackles, a sack, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.

After signing with the Jags this March, Ryan was expected to be available for the regular season but suffered a setback in August. After working hard on a return, he resumed practicing with the team after the bye week and it appears the coaching staff liked the strides he made.

Ryan’s signing could be a sign that starting MIKE linebacker Myles Jack will be unavailable Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs after surfacing on the final injury report as questionable with a knee injury. It remains to be seen what position Ryan will play but fans shouldn’t rule out him seeing snaps at MIKE linebacker where Jack has struggled even when healthy.

LB Myles Jack and CB Tre Herndon ruled questionable vs. Bucs, 2 others ruled out

The Jags may have to face the Bucs’ explosive passing attack down three players on the back seven.

The Jacksonville Jaguars could be without several members of their back seven Sunday against the Tampa Bay Bucs as multiple players from the group were on the final injury report. The most notable name on the list was starting MIKE LB Myles Jack (knee), who was ruled questionable alongside starting cornerback Tre Herndon (shoulder).

Both Jack and Herndon were limited Friday. However, Jack missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practice. If neither or just one player can go, the Jags could find themselves in a bad situation as the Bucs’ offense is ranked fourth in passing and third in points.

The Jags will also be without safety Ronnie Harrison Sunday after he sustained a concussion against the Tennessee Titans Week 12. He was in the process of bringing down Titans tight end MyCole Pruitt and incidentally collided with teammate Jarrod Wilson on the way down. As a result, he didn’t practice all week.

The last player listed on the injury report was tight end Seth DeValve (oblique), who has missed the Jags’ previous two games. Once again, he didn’t practice all week and fans will have to wait until next week for a possible return.

Bucs-Jaguars Injury Report (Nov. 27): Beau Allen, Jamel Dean limited

Check out the injury report for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of their Week 13 showdown.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the league’s toughest schedule the first half of the season, playing five-straight games away from the friendly confines of Raymond James Stadium.

During that stretch, the Bucs traveled for games in Los Angeles, New Orleans, London, Tennessee and Seattle, respectively, going just 1-4.

Fortunately, their road game in Week 13 will keep them in-state as they travel to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, who, like the Bucs, sit at 4-7.

Here is the injury report for both teams from November 27.

Buccaneers

DL Beau Allen (neck) – Limited Participation

CB Jamel Dean (shoulder) – Limited Participation

T Demar Dotson (not injury related) – Did Not Participate

DL William Gholston (ankle) – Limited Participation

WR Scotty Miller (hamstring) – Limited Participation

CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (knee) – Limited Participation

OLB Anthony Nelson (hamstring) – Did Not Participate

OLB Jason Pierre-Paul (knee) – Did Not Participate

CB M.J. Stewart (knee) – Did Not Participate

Jaguars

DE Josh Allen (knee) – Limited Participation

DL Calais Campbell (back) – Limited Participation

WR Chris Conley (hamstring) – Limited Participation

TE Seth DeValve (oblique) – Did Not Participate

S Ronnie Harrison (concussion) – Did Not Participate

LB Myles Jack (knee) – Did Not Participate

OL Brandon Linder (illness) – Did Not Participate

DE Dawuane Smoot (knee) – Limited Participation

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Jaguars vs. Titans: 3 matchups to watch

The Jags will need to win some key matchups Sunday to overtake the Titans and one of them is the battle between Fournette and Rashaan Evans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6) and Tennessee Titans (5-5) will clash for their second time in 2019 with their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread. Needless to say, that means neither team can take a loss in Sunday’s matchup, which will come down to a few key matchups. Here are three we’ll be watching in particular:

Edge rushers Yannick Ngakoue and Josh Allen vs. offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin

While the Jags aren’t quite where they want to be record-wise, fans who like breaking down the film should at least be happy to see this matchup regardless of the outcome. It’s rare to see two tandems of this magnitude duke it out on the edge and I’ve personally been waiting to see this matchup since Josh Allen was selected by the Jags.

In the Jags’ and Titans’ Week 3 meeting, Taylor Lewan was suspended and his absence showed as quarterback Marcus Mariota was sacked nine times. Now he’s back and the playing field is level. With that being the case, it will be interesting to see how Yannick Ngakoue and Allen respond to the tandem as Lewan and Jack Conklin are regarded as one of the NFL’s top bookend duos.

RB Leonard Fournette vs. ILB Rashaan Evans  

Leonard Fournette wants more carries and the Jags want to give him that. That said, if the Jags give him the ball as most suspect he’ll have to deal with the Titans leading tackler in Rashaan Evans. These two are quite familiar with each other after their time in the Southeastern Conference and now the rivalry has followed them to the league due to being selected by the Jags and Titans.

Evans will enter the game with 82 tackles while Fournette will enter the game with 854 rushing yards and one touchdown. As we’ve mentioned in the past, he’s struggled against the Titans. Throughout, four starts against them, he’s garnered 62 carries for 211 yards (good for a 3.4 YPC average) and a touchdown, which is not an impressive stat line. Simply put, that needs to change Sunday if the Jags want to win.

LB Myles Jack vs. RB Derrick Henry

This kind of goes back to what was said in our bold predictions post when I mentioned that Myles Jack is the most criticized player on the Jags’ defense — and rightfully so. He hasn’t played to his contract extension this season and will need to flip the switch quick as he’s played so poorly to the point where many have been wondering if he needs to change positions.

Jack likely understands he’s fallen short of expectations more than anyone and could play with his hair on fire against the Titans. With Derrick Henry expected to lead their offense, he’ll receive ample carries and Jack could make a statement Sunday by holding him in check and acquiring double-digit tackles on the day.

3 bold predictions for Jags vs. Titans

The Jags will need some players to step up after two straight losses and Dede Westbrook is one to watch against the Titans.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached the point where their playoff aspirations are on life support as they will be taking on the Tennessee Titans, who are almost in the same situation. One thing the Jags will at least have in their favor is the fact that they beat the Titans earlier this year and fans are hoping history repeats itself.

When considering their last two performances, the Jags clearly will need several players to play out of their minds and here are three bold predictions for Sunday’s game:

Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Dede Westbrook will exit the game with over 130 yards, a receiving touchdown, and special teams touchdown

While it’s Leonard Fournette who most Jags fans want to see more involved, it’s possible struggle against the Titans, who have the No. 13 ranked rushing defense. Additionally, he’s struggled to find success against the Titans and will enter Sunday’s game with just 211 rushing yards throughout four games against them.

However, when looking at their defensive statistics, they’ve struggled mightily against the pass and rank 22nd in the category. When looking at their last three games, they’ve allowed two receivers to accumulate over 157 yards against them (Mike Evans and Tyreek Hill), while Carolina Panthers receiver DJ Moore accumulated 101 yards against them. That said, I think they may focus so heavily on DJ Chark Jr. to the point where Dede Westbrook has a breakout game against them and racks up over 130 yards against them with a touchdown. Don’t be shocked to also see him contribute on special teams against Tennessee, too, as he’s due for a punt return touchdown.

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Todd Wash on Myles Jack changing positions: “He’s our mike linebacker”

Fans wanting a position change for Myles Jack can keep wishing as DC Todd Wash shot down any chances of it happening this season.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars elected to give middle linebacker Myles Jack a new contract extension in late August, and so far, it’s a move that isn’t paying off. The young linebacker has struggled mightily at the mike linebacker position, constantly finding himself out of place or failing to shed blocks. As a result, many fans have proposed the question as to whether the former first-round pick should change positions, however, that’s seemingly not even a thought in the mind of defensive coordinator Todd Wash.

At this point in the season, it’s not shocking that a position change isn’t a thought in the mind of Wash, but it definitely should be a possibility next season regardless as to who is coaching the team.

A lot of fans have been on record for saying Jack has the skillset to play at the weak-side position where Telvin Smith formerly played, however, the fourth-year linebacker has never played at the position. During his rookie campaign, he saw time solely at the strong-side linebacker position, then played a mix of strong-side and middle linebacker in 2018. That said, it seems as though Jack’s chances to move to the outside are pretty slim — at least as long as Wash is in charge.

Heading forward, Jack will have ample opportunities to prove himself at mike linebacker. That starts this week with their longtime rivals in the Tennessee Titans next on the schedule, who undoubtedly are going to test Jack and the defense in the interior.