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.

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