Quote:The Jacksonville Jaguars will be introducing a new position to their defense this season called the OTTO linebacker. While I doubt that it's entirely new position to the world of football, much like the LEO is a modified/renamed ELEPHANT end, it's something in the Jaguars lexicon we'll all need to be familiar with.


The Jaguars signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson in free agency, of which we thought would solidify their strong side linebacker (SAM) position, which also doubles as a pass rusher at times in Gus Bradley's defense. The Jaguars plan to use Watson as their new OTTO linebacker going forward, as well as second-year linebacker LaRoy Reynolds, according to defensive coordinator Bob Babich.


"OTTO is kind of going to be on the edge, we'd like to have some pass rush ability, in a pinch he could go down in a third-down situation to blitz him off the edge," Babich told Mark Long and Mike Dempsey in an interview with Jaguars Today on 1010XL.


"It's something that's new to us, so formulating exactly what he's gonna be. But, it's gone really well and our guys have adjusted to it and our guys are excited about it," Babich continued. "He can be strong or weak and most of the time he's going to be on the line of scrimmage, standing up."


The OTTO position sounds similar to that of the JACK linebacker in the old 46 defense, where the linebacker is up on the line of scrimmage and will either rush the passer or buzz back in coverage, which is exactly what the Jaguars signed Watson for.