With the retirement of Meester, everybody knows that C is a huge need for this team.
Even though the pursuit was ultimately unsuccessful, most Jaguars fans applauded the attempt to get Alex Mack from Cleveland. Now the hopes of solidifying the C position come from the draft.
Now there is a popular thought that since the Jaguars are employing a zone blocking scheme, the C should be undersized and mobile. However, the rules changes regarding the elimination of blocking below the waist from the sides in the trenches along with an examination of the schedule makes me think whatever C prospect we get should be a bigger guy.
In the past, zone blocking teams with smaller OL like Denver emphasized athleticism and quickness in offensive linemen, and utilized angles, lateral movement and cut blocks to open holes in the running game. However, many of those cut blocks will be illegal this year with the rules changes. Offensive lines will have to rely more on power and size to open holes, as opposed to taking out the legs of linemen. I think that means size should be more of a premium.
Twelve out of our sixteen games will be against 3-4 teams or 3-4 hybrid schemes. The Titans are switching to a 3-4, which means they will need 3-4 personnel. In Arizona and in Cleveland, Ray Horton used bigger NTs in his 3-4 defenses with Dan Williams. He is now Tennessee's defensive coordinator. Houston has been running a 3-4 for several years. But Romeo Crennell came from the Belichick school of defenses, which utilized bigger defensive linemen, including Seymour and Wilfork and drafted Ron Brace. and they typically employed bigger guys on the DL than Houston did under Wade Phillips. I expect both teams to draft bigger DL this year. The Colts have made an effort to get bigger in the trenches, and I expect that to continue this year as they continue to transition to the 3-4. The Browns are huge along the DL with Phil Taylor, and the Ravens are big with Ngata and Cody. The Steelers have been a long time 3-4 team. They've had a 330 lb guy on the nose for years in Casey Hampton, and I expect them to try to get a bigger guy on the nose this draft. To combat this size and the problem these big NTs are going to pose, I think the Jaguars will need to strike a proper balance between athleticism and size/power and draft a bigger C and G than what would have been the case in years past.
I think the pursuit of Mack is a recognition of the need for size, power, and athleticism at C.
A really underrated beast of a center is Corey Linsley from Ohio State. Watch any of Carlos Hyde's cut-ups on draftbreakdown or wherever you like to view clips from and you will see him knocking people on their butts all game. When I thought the Browns were going to let Mack walk, he was the guy I was hoping they'd get.
Give me a stout Center and athletic Guards. Nothing but nothing disrupts a QB more than pressure in his face so why not have a guy who can hold the point against the Vince Wilforks of the League?
I agree wholeheartedly Bullseye.
If we go after the best C in the draft, as we tried to go after the best C in free agency, then we may have to trade up to the bottom of the first not for a QB, but for Marcus Martin.
Quote:Give me a stout Center and athletic Guards. Nothing but nothing disrupts a QB more than pressure in his face so why not have a guy who can hold the point against the Vince Wilforks of the League?
I agree wholeheartedly Bullseye.
Hopefully there is a Dermontti Dawson caliber C for us in this draft.
Quote:If we go after the best C in the draft, as we tried to go after the best C in free agency, then we may have to trade up to the bottom of the first not for a QB, but for Marcus Martin.
Maybe.
I know this year, C becomes a far bigger piece of the puzzle and perhaps a far higher priority than anyone imagined.
The question is does the talent at C fit the urgency of the need?
I think Martin is definitely the best blend of high physicality/athleticism, but as I've also mentioned I think Ikard on day 3 could be really attractive too. The Jags got to see a lot of him during his very impressive senior bowl week, and then he blew away the combine athletically. He definitely has the size and athleticism for any NFL scheme, but needs to add strength. Definitely my favorite developmental C in this class.
Quote:I think Martin is definitely the best blend of high physicality/athleticism, but as I've also mentioned I think Ikard on day 3 could be really attractive too. The Jags got to see a lot of him during his very impressive senior bowl week, and then he blew away the combine athletically. He definitely has the size and athleticism for any NFL scheme, but needs to add strength. Definitely my favorite developmental C in this class.
As we've learned in the past, it never hurts to have some depth at the C position. The only reason Meester played last year was because the cupboard was bare, and we had no other viable options.
Quote:Give me a stout Center and athletic Guards. Nothing but nothing disrupts a QB more than pressure in his face so why not have a guy who can hold the point against the Vince Wilforks of the League?
I agree wholeheartedly Bullseye.
I agree with this sentiment. We've seen firsthand how QBs struggle when the center isn't playing up to snuff. We need an anchor out there.
This center needs to be "the fixture".. A punch em in the mouth, immovable boulder.. I have confidence that Dave and Gus will do their best to get one..
Quote:Give me a stout Center and athletic Guards. Nothing but nothing disrupts a QB more than pressure in his face...
This is especially true about Peyton. (albeit rare to happen). Peyton when facing pressure from the sides usually isn't a problem for him.....but when he faces pressure from the middle, he tends to really struggle.
I think Martin is a bit overrated since Mayock out him as his number 1 center. He only got that rating because he played the game of his life against Notre Dame (and Mayock is a blatant ND homer) and kicked Louis Nix's butt up and down the field. Outside of that game he was OK. JMO.
I think you also have to factor in the type of QB we bring in as well as this may determine the type of offense we will run. If we are targeting a more mobile QB then you may want to target a more athletic type of C and if we are targeting a pocket passer it may be best to go after the more stout/power center.
With Manziel at qb, the current roster of centers are adequate. Let Manziel work his magic.
The position of center has been ignored too long.
Obviously, with just a virtually UNDRAFTABLE Virginia scrub on that list of official visits, Lageman continues to be a total homer for the Cavaliers. There's a Virginia guy at right tackle dubiously over-rated in-house that can not possibly NOT need to be upgraded over with pick three.
The only question left is how much unfair and inappropriate influence did the incompetent dolt Lageman have over opting out of selection Cal C Brian Schwenke last year?
Rewinding a bit further, re-signing Old Yeller was not exactly a great thing to do since he should have been cut two to three years earlier.
Somebody inside the Jaguars front office should pay the price for deciding to ink Meester for the 2013 season in order to avoid drafting Brian Schwenke. Not only was it wrong to do, but if it can be proven by consensus of thought the ploy was to avoid filling the position with Schwenke in order to blank the position until this undraftable Viriginia scrub could arrive then who can NOT be totally livid?
The Jaguars should be drafting a quality center prospect this year. Narrowly focusing in on a guy like Marcus Martin is just a set up to avoid drafting Westburg, Swanson, or Stork.
We really need to think about what's right for the Jaguars.
Desiring Alex Mack and then settling for an undraftable scrub from Lageman's old school is comical for its intensity of glaring sheepishness and maudlin superfluity.
With the money they were about to put down for Mack was definitely an indication of their feeling of importance to the position, and the current lack of someone on the roster to fulfill the job adequately. A center will be drafted, and I highly doubt they wait until the later rounds to find one.
Quote:With the money they were about to put down for Mack was definitely an indication of their feeling of importance to the position, and the current lack of someone on the roster to fulfill the job adequately. A center will be drafted, and I highly doubt they wait until the later rounds to find one.
The center pick is predicated upon just a few things.
He must be intelligent including excellent verbal communication skills.
He must be the combination of superior strength to anchor against inside pocket compression, and demonstrate he is tactically supreme able to redirect defensive tackles and easily catch blitzers
Great offensive lines are built strong from the inside out. Regardless of what critics want to say in order to impress themselves while demonstrating their lack of football knowledge to others, you must surround the football with strength. The closer the player plays to the football the stronger he must be.
Quote:The position of center has been ignored too long.
Obviously, with just a virtually UNDRAFTABLE Virginia scrub on that list of official visits, Lageman continues to be a total homer for the Cavaliers. There's a Virginia guy at right tackle dubiously over-rated in-house that can not possibly NOT need to be upgraded over with pick three.
The only question left is how much unfair and inappropriate influence did the incompetent dolt Lageman have over opting out of selection Cal C Brian Schwenke last year?
Rewinding a bit further, re-signing Old Yeller was not exactly a great thing to do since he should have been cut two to three years earlier.
Somebody inside the Jaguars front office should pay the price for deciding to ink Meester for the 2013 season in order to avoid drafting Brian Schwenke. Not only was it wrong to do, but if it can be proven by consensus of thought the ploy was to avoid filling the position with Schwenke in order to blank the position until this undraftable Viriginia scrub could arrive then who can NOT be totally livid?
The Jaguars should be drafting a quality center prospect this year. Narrowly focusing in on a guy like Marcus Martin is just a set up to avoid drafting Westburg, Swanson, or Stork.
We really need to think about what's right for the Jaguars.
Desiring Alex Mack and then settling for an undraftable scrub from Lageman's old school is comical for its intensity of glaring sheepishness and maudlin superfluity.
Unless it's a "can't miss" first round C, which it seems like there are fewer and fewer of lately... it's a complete crapshoot. Shaun O'Hara went from UDFA to HOF. So unless it's Martin, you're rolling the dice so I wouldn't even bother until the fourth round or so if we don't land him. There are better prospects at other positions in the second and third round, where some positions are stacked. We're likely to see two or three of the top five Cs still available in the fourth. It's all or nothing, feast or famine for Cs in the draft. They go high or they fall, with little in between.
#1 - Johnny Football - QB
#2 - Xavier Su'a-filo - G
#3 - Martin - C
In that order would be nice. Just get it done DC.
Quote:#1 - Johnny Football - QB
#2 - Xavier Su'a-filo - G
#3 - Martin - C
In that order would be nice. Just get it done DC.
Lol, hard to just get it done when the players aren't on the board.
Quote:Lol, hard to just get it done when the players aren't on the board.
How far can Johnny go? Trade out of the #3 (get JM) and gather another #2 pick, take that extra #2, #4 and another #4, Move back up to #29 and take Xavier.