JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As a rookie last year, linebacker Myles Jack said his biggest responsibility was just not messing up. This year Jack makes the move to middle linebacker, replacing 10-year veteran Paul Posluszny, and now says that he has a lot more on his plate.
"It's really all of the responsibilities being put on your plate," Jack said after the Jaguars second OTA session. "Number one, getting the defense aligned, the defensive lineman aligned, making the calls, making the checks, talking to the defensive backs, it's a big responsibility but it's been fun."
Fun may not be what the average person would call being responsible for the defense on a play by play basis, but the second year man from UCLA says he has a lot of help from the teammate that he is replacing. Paul Posluszny had a team-high 133 tackles last season but that was not enough to keep his position for 2017. It may not be the easiest transition for Posluszny, but he said that if moving positions is best for the team, he is more than willing to do that.
"My entire perspective of how to play football in the NFL, my entire identity has been that position and now that's not the case," Posluszny said last month. "The biggest thing for me is when the decision was made and they said this is what's best for the team, that's it. If it is going to help us win, I will make the adjustment and do my best."
After OTA's today, Jack praised Posluszny's professionalism in making the switch saying it could have been awkward but a conversation between the two where Posluszny made it clear that he was willing to do anything to help the team win lifted a weight off of Jack's shoulders.
"I didn't know how he was going to be but Poz is such a professional, he was just like, OK, let's get this right. If this is what it takes to win, then that's what we are going to do. So I just kind of followed his lead and it gave me the confidence to step in that huddle, look everybody in the eye and take over where he left off."
At practices and games in 2016, where Posluszny was, the 2nd round draft pick was not far behind. Jack mentioned that Poz kind of took him under his wing and instilled better work habits and time management in him his rookie year. Now that he is considered a leader of the defense, Jack says that leaning on Poz for advice will not change now.
"It is not even occasionally, I would say frequently I am asking him questions like, should I have done this or done that, what would you have done in that situation. After practice we will watch film. He's been like an older brother to me, really taking me under his wing. He's been nothing but help and I greatly appreciate it because he doesn't have to do that."
The Jaguars wrap up the first week of OTA's Friday morning before returning to the field next Tuesday.