If Harrison is up to the challenge and, more importantly, if the coaches are willing to create another nickel package to utilize him as a TE cover specialist, then sure, why not?

Both of those "ifs" are just big speculation right now, but it makes sense. Especially if they aren't liking what they are seeing from Hayden covering ASJ and others in camp.

Practicing against Kyle Rudolph in Minnesota in two weeks will give the Jags a good opportunity to evaluate different guys covering another good tight end. If Harrison gets looks there, then this thing has a chance.

I think it's probably more likely that Harrison sees the field in preseason at SS as the staff simply tries to determine when the right time to supplant Church might be.

I said it in the comment section of the article praising Harrison.
A day or two later they have an article about it...
coincidence?? I think not..... lol
Not only would he possibly be able to cover TEs in the slot but a bigger body than a NB in case they run (which is what I brought it up for.... the amount of times we got ran on in nickel)

Will help against the run... and screen happy offenses.  Like the Patriots, Steelers, and even 49ers who exploited us last year.  Coincidence, I think not.

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Does this mean we'll see more Leon Jacobs in coverage? 

We have all 11 starters back from an exceptional (pass) defensive unit and we are willing to not only one, but two rookies in coverage. By choice. Unrelated to injury.  Either that's a REALLY good sign or something that won't last.

Unless I have misunderstood you, I do have one minor correction.

Paul Poszluzny, a starter last year, retired.  Furthemore, Aaron Colvin signed with Houston.

So depending on what you consider to be a starter/what defense is your base, as many as two guys from last year that could be considered defensive starters were lost.

However, your larger point regarding the potential reliance on rookies in coverage remains sound.

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

Does this mean we'll see more Leon Jacobs in coverage? 

We have all 11 starters back from an exceptional (pass) defensive unit and we are willing to not only one, but two rookies in coverage. By choice. Unrelated to injury.  Either that's a REALLY good sign or something that won't last.

Unless I have misunderstood you, I do have one minor correction.

Paul Poszluzny, a starter last year, retired.  Furthemore, Aaron Colvin signed with Houston.

So depending on what you consider to be a starter/what defense is your base, as many as two guys from last year that could be considered defensive starters were lost.

However, your larger point regarding the potential reliance on rookies in coverage remains sound.

Good point about Poz.  I'm knocking off the offseason rust.  Forgive me?

My point being, is the snaps % returned this year is a statistical rarity.  Even a partial shift to rookies signify something really exciting, whether it's good or bad.

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Unless I have misunderstood you, I do have one minor correction.

Paul Poszluzny, a starter last year, retired.  Furthemore, Aaron Colvin signed with Houston.

So depending on what you consider to be a starter/what defense is your base, as many as two guys from last year that could be considered defensive starters were lost.

However, your larger point regarding the potential reliance on rookies in coverage remains sound.

Good point about Poz.  I'm knocking off the offseason rust.  Forgive me?

My point being, is the snaps % returned this year is a statistical rarity.  Even a partial shift to rookies signify something really exciting, whether it's good or bad.

Nothing to forgive, '06. As I said...a minor point of correction, and I agree your point about the rookies starting is sound.

If the coaches can feel comfortable giving Jacobs and Harrison considerable playing time on this defense, it bodes well for this team.

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

I attended a few football clinics over the summer and one of, if not the, biggest concepts out there for the Offense was "find the Nickel SAM". Now, that player can be called whatever the hell the Defense wants, but to me the title is very telling as to how the Offense thinks.

When the Offense refers to a Nickel SAM, what they are looking for is the guy that is Coverage first but is looking to support the Run defense -or- is Run support first and is going to have to cover. In other words, who is the guy that is out of place? Find him and give him hell. If he's light, run at him. If he's big, make him run.

The emergence of Harrison as a player that can fit either role and not require substitution due to personnel changes is a huge boon for this Defense.

As I recall, you have been a proponent of this overall approach for some time.

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

I said it in the comment section of the article praising Harrison.
A day or two later they have an article about it...
coincidence?? I think not..... lol
Not only would he possibly be able to cover TEs in the slot but a bigger body than a NB in case they run (which is what I brought it up for.... the amount of times we got ran on in nickel)

Makes too much sense.  Virginia Tech has been doing something similar with their whip.

Having a guy who can play an lb or ss role against the run, then switch to more of a coverage role against the pass without having to substitute is a plus against quick offenses and no huddle situations.  It can turn the tables by taking something offenses exploit and using it against the offense by eliminating their mismatch.

It does make too much sense. I wonder if they considered this role prior to the draft (thinking about Gronk in Week 2 likely played into it), identified guys who would fit and jumped for joy when their top choice fell to the 3rd..

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Season Ticket holder since 2004.

 

        

https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2018/8/1/1...his-season

Harrison as a big nickel?  Hmmmm......

Obviously, he is competing for a lead role on the defense. Awarding him a nickel job is a way to encourage him along the way to starting.

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Oehser confirmed this week that they indeed are sometimes using a “heavy nickel” package with the 1st team defense. Harrison is the fifth DB.

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Oehser confirmed this week that they indeed are sometimes using a “heavy nickel” package with the 1st team defense.  Harrison is the fifth DB.

NICE! I'll be looking for Ronnie to play his way on the field

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He is starting for Gipson today

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Regardless of what you think of the game Madden 19 has a big nickle formation for the Jags and Harrison does play into that.

There is research done on the the team, and scheme before a defensive playbook is set to a team.

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Marrone had praise for Harrison...

https://www.jaguars.com/news/notes-and-o...never-left

.For the second time in three days Marrone had high praise for rookie safety Ronnie Harrison, who led the team with five tackles and a forced fumble Saturday. Harrison learned shortly before the game he would start for veteran Tashaun Gipson, who was held out for precautionary reasons. “He went out there, had good hits, jarred the ball loose and played extremely well,” Marrone said of Harrison. “It was probably everything we were looking for when we drafted him. Is there room to improve? Of course there is. There always is. But I thought he did a nice job from how he handled himself, calls, what he was doing. He did a good job.”

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

He is starting for Gipson today

I think he will start over Gipson by seasons end.

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He is starting for Gipson today

I think he will start over Gipson by seasons end.

He's really more of a strong safety. (can obviously play both but more suited nearer the line)

More likely he gets worked at nickel some this year and takes Church's spot next season.

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He is starting for Gipson today

I think he will start over Gipson by seasons end.

In my knee jerk reaction/prediction of the week, Gipson would be my pick for surprise cut.

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Worst to 1st.  Curse Reversed!

Harrison might be a little shaky for single high duties. 

I thought Gipson played at a Pro Bowl level last year, not sure where the angst us coming from.

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Harrison might be a little shaky for single high duties. 

I thought Gipson played at a Pro Bowl level last year, not sure where the angst us coming from.

How soon we forget.
Gipson, being the dawg he is, played hurt in New England. He was trying to tough it out through some sort of foot injury.
Ended up giving up a play late (3rd and 18 I think) and our rabid message boarders jumped on him like he was trash all season.

edit:
Gip was a top 10-15 safety last year, imo

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Yeah. Didn't understand thoughts of parting with Gip last year, don't understand them now.

Harrison looks like he'll be great, but he's better off replacing Church and Gip had a very good season in 2017.
BTW - every single scouting report I read on Harrison mentioned his strengths were in run defense, playing close to the line, good blitzer, and covering shallow routes from underneath. Weaknesses were getting lost in coverage, jumping early break on complex routes, lack of open field patience/too quick to (over)react to movement.

Sounds like a SS to me.

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and here we go again.. people ready to cut a top safety like gipson because a rookie had 1 good preseason game lmao

I literally cant handle this fanbase sometimes lol

If harrison eventually replaces anyone, its Church, not gipson, gipson is younger, better at the FS role, and has played at a top level, as has all of our secondary

just because we have a good looking rookie DOES NOT MEAN WE CUT THE PROVEN, STILL BETTER VETERAN

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Free Safety is one of the hardest positions to find quality talent for. Anyone advocating getting rid of Gipson doesn't understand this simple fact.

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