Before 2013 who would have thought that SenDerrick Marks could garner more than 2 sacks in a season? In 2009 his rookie season he had 1 sack. In 2010, he had 0 sacks, in 2011 he had 0.5 sacks and in 2012, he had 1.5 sacks. Yet Dave Caldwell saw something and gave Marks an opportunity and we know the rest of the story.

 

In 2011, Adrian Clayborn had 7.5 sacks. In 2013 he had 5.5 sacks. So to me 6 to 8 sacks is not an unreasonable projection from 5.5 to 7.5.

 

No one would argue that Adrian Clayborn should be paid big money but he could be useful in the Jags defense and if he can be signed with a one year PROVE IT contract then the Jags might end up being the big winner.

 

At this point, there is reasonable doubt that JPP hits the market and if he does, is he worth 14 Mil like Robert Quinn of the Rams?

 

So Clayborn is the Dollar General brand on the market and to me it does not hurt to kick the tires and give him a shot on this defense.

 

When Telvin Smith has over 100 tackles at the WLB spot it says that the Leo DE can't stop the run. So the offense gets 5 more yards and Telvin Smith makes the tackle 5 yards down field. With Clayborn at the Leo spot, his 64 tackles in 2013 suggests that the tackle is made near the LOS and thus less run yardage, less first downs, more 3 and outs and better defense. Not to difficult to figure this out. Stopping the run is a defense's first option even in a pass happy league.

 

I think Ryan Davis could be a star at the Leo DE position, but he is not really stout enough to stop the run. Clayborn at 6'3" 280 Lbs is stout enough to be the 1st and 2nd down Leo DE and then you put Davis in on 3rd Down with Clayborn moving over to DT beside Marks.

 

For those who say that Clayborn is too big to play the Leo position, note that JPP is 6'5" 278. So Clayborn is 2" shorter but the same weight. Clayborn is a lot better than most people think. In many ways he is very similar to SenDerrick Marks.

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