Each day for the next two weeks we’ll review how each position group performed for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014 as well as taking an early look at 2015. Today we’ll examine the linebackers. On Thursday we’ll do the cornerbacks.
Linebacker
Breakdown of starts: Geno Hayes (11), J.T. Thomas (10), Telvin Smith (9), Paul Posluszny (7), LaRoy Reynolds (3), Dekoda Watson (1).
Recap: The unit was in flux all season and especially after Posluszny went down with a torn pectoral muscle in Week 7. The two most impressive players turned out to be Thomas and Smith. Thomas played mainly outside linebacker and started one game there before moving inside to replace Posluszny for the starter in the final nine games. His versatility and speed are his strength and that helped him record 81 tackles five pass breakups. He also had a hand in five turnovers: two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Smith was a pleasant surprise because the Jaguars weren’t sure how he’d hold up to the pounding of the season at just 218 pounds. It turned out to not be an issue. Smith, a fifth-round pick in 2014, impressed everyone with his speed during training camp and followed that up by flashing some much-needed play-making ability. He finished second on the team with 99 tackles and added two sacks, an interception, nine pass breakups, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He didn’t always know what he was supposed to be doing, especially early in the season, but he got more consistent as the season progressed. Until his injury, Posluszny was the Jaguars’ most consistent linebacker against the run but continued to have issues in pass coverage.
Looking ahead to 2015
Players under contract: Posluszny, Reynolds, Smith, John Lotulelei, Khairi Fortt, Jeremiah George.
The skinny: Posluszny will be back despite a cap number of $9.5 million, but it’s unlikely that Hayes will be re-signed. The Jaguars do want to re-sign Thomas and move him back outside, which is his more natural position. Reynolds and Lotulelei are special teams players. The team was intrigued by George but he suffered an ankle injury in Week 9 and appeared mainly on special teams in just three games the rest of the season. Fortt was a practice-squad player who was called up for the final five weeks of the season but didn’t play a snap. Expect the Jaguars to add linebackers in free agency and the draft. Those players will likely have two things in common: speed and play-making ability. The Jaguars don’t have much of either -- outside of Posluszny and Smith -- and that’s the defense’s second-biggest weakness behind free safety.
