Quote:He's too small.

 

6-0 235 per Jaguars.com.

 

The size of the LBs has been one of my biggest beefs against the 3-4 over the years.  3-4 ILBs traditionally have needed to be big/strong enough to take on guards, stack and shed to get to the RB.  They traditionally need to be around 245-250 lbs to effectively fill that role, only after having a big, powerful DL in front of them to occupy blockers, especially a NT.

 

The only reason I have begun to kick around the idea of a 3-4 here is when the possibility of signing a true 3-4 NT arose when Poe made his visit, I started thinking about ways to get the most talented players on the field at the same time.  I came to the idea of a 3-4 alignment with a DL of Campbell, Poe and Jackson, with Fowler and Ngakoue at OLBs, and Jack and Telvin Smith at ILBs.  When the Patriots first started winning Super Bowls in the last decade, they used converted college DLs in WIllie McGinest (270), Tedy Bruschi ( 247) , and Mike Vrabel (261) to stock their LBs, in addition to Ted Johnson (253).  Looking at the recent Texans rosters shows starting LBs Clowney at 266, Brian Cushing at 243, McKinney at 246, and Mercilus (261), all bigger than Pullard (235) and Telvin Smith (220).  Only the Steelers of relatively recent vintage have used numerous starting LBs under 245 full time and managed to run anything close to an effective 3-4.  In fact I have often remarked the Steelrs represent the first speed based 3-4 defense to win a SB.  But generally speaking, 3-4 LBs tend to be bigger. 

 

While Jack and especially Smith are too small to fit the traditional 3-4 paradigm, this personnel package would serve as essentially a nickel package with an emphasis on stopping the pass.  So in other words, in down and distance situations where the opposing offense lines up in a conventional personnel grouping but in a likely passing situation.  This allows for pass rush (Campbell Jackson Fowler and Ngakoue) and underneath coverage (Jack and Smith).  While there would be some sacrifice of stoutness against the run, the idea of providing quality underneath coverage in a traditional 3-4 look appealed to me, especially within the context of being able to switch up within a drive. 

 

Were we talking about a full time switch, more stoutness against the run would be necessary, as would bigger LBs to hold up against the run.  Over the course of a season, Smith and Pullard would not hold up as 3-4 ILBs.  I'm not knocking Pullard at all.  He is actually a favorite of mine.

 

Honestly, I'd be leery of going 3-4 right now, especially with our personnel. Let's remember what Tom Coughlin's goal was when he first joined the Jaguars: dethrone the Steelers and win the division. That's the key to getting to the playoffs.

 

Right now, Tennessee is built on a power run game. Houston is and will be a run-based offense (especially with their QB question marks). Indy might be the odd team out here, but I think they've thrown the ball out of necessity. Seeing a lot of mocks nowadays with them taking a RB in the 1st.

 

We cannot go "light" in this division if we hope to win it.

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