Quote:Thanks for posting and come back often! Your post has helped this Defense / Defensive Philosophy to crystallize in my head a little more. When the team signed Dekoda Watson, they stated that they liked him at Strongside Linebacker but would also use him to pass rush. Now that you've stated that the SAM and LEO are interchangeable players, this makes more sense to me.

 

I agree with the article that stated the OTTO LB is an effort to bring a "46" flavor to the Defense, but it's a bit difficult for me to visualize this using just four DL (counting the LEO as a DL). It's going to be a lot of fun to watch this Defense develop.

Thanks for the welcome!

 

I'm not X's and O's expert, but to help with you visualizing this defense, I can share my idea of what changes Gus may be describing with the "otto" linebacker that will play closer to the line of scrimmage on the edge. Granted each defense is different, but I think Jacksonville's and Seattle's defense will be similar next year. 

 

Last season, the Jaguars looked to have played a mix of 4-3 over and 4-3 under, but I'd expect Jaguars to play a lot more 4-3 under only, as it puts the SLB/OTTO closer to the LOS as more of a threat to pass rush (base defense only).

 

You can expect the LEO and SLB to change it's responsiblities out of this defense which, by design, is meant to creat pass protection indecision for the Oline and confusion for the quarterback. Below is Seattle's blend of the 4-3 under hybrid w/ 3-4 "bear" front look.

 

Here the SLB rushes and the LEO dropbacks in coverage in its hybrid 4-3 under:



 

Here, the SLB and LEO drop into coverage in a more 3-4 "bear" front look.



 

I think the main thing to come away with is that the OTTO will be a mutli-use weapon on defense that can do it all and that the LEO will no longer just have the one job only..to rush the QB, but will drop into coverage on occasion from both a 2-point and 3-point stance.

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