Jack jumps at Jaguars’ starting role
Linebacker preparing to be QB of defense
JACKSONVILLE Very little about Myles Jack’s first year in the NFL went according to plan, starting with the long recovery from a collegiate knee injury that dropped him to the second round of the draft and to a limited, situational role in the Jacksonville Jaguars defense as a rookie.
Now Jack is getting his shot to prove why he believed he should have been a high first-round draft pick and Day One starter.
Jack heads into the 2017 season as the starting middle linebacker, taking over the responsibility of running the defensive huddle from veteran Paul Posluszny, who slides over to the strong side.
“I have to be the quarterback (of the defense), and that’s something that I need to continue to work on,” Jack said Tuesday. “It’s a big load or pressure or whatever you want to call it. It’s what I’ve asked for and what the coaches believe I can do.”
Jack fell out of the first round of the draft last year because of concerns about his knee, which he injured in September 2015 while at UCLA. Then he struggled to find the right fit in former coach Gus Bradley’s defense. He played in all 16 games but had just 24 tackles.
The first big test of Jack’s progress from role player to starter will come next week, when the Jaguars travel to Foxborough, Mass., for joint practices against the New England Patriots.
It’s one thing to face Blake Bortles in the friendly confines of the Jacksonville practice fields but another to try to learn to call the defense while lining up opposite Tom Brady. Jack admitted Tuesday that he’ll probably be a bit star-struck, but he’ll have to get over it quickly so he can focus on making clean and clear calls and correctly organizing his teammates.
“That’s everything from getting the calls right to when I’m tired, still being able to talk and tell everybody what to do, making sure everybody knows it’s the far corner on the other side, little things like that,” Jack said.
“When I go up there, I’m going to take it as it’s a game. We’re going, and I’m going to give it my best shot.”