San Diego Chargers: Is Myles Jack the Answer?
Upon losing Eric Weddle in free agency, the San Diego Chargers lost their most cerebral defensive player.
With the third pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Chargers have their first top-five selection since 2004; the last three top-five picks for the organization have turned into Philip Rivers, Quentin Jammer, and LaDainian Tomlinson. Given the quality and the duration that these players performed at during their respective careers, there is high expectation that the pick in this draft must not be wasted on a bust.
San Diego has many different options regarding this draft pick, a draft pick that seemingly symbolizes the hope for turning from a mediocre team to a playoff team. Earlier in the year, I was certain that ex-Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey was the clear-cut answer as to who should be drafted by the Chargers. However, each day, it seems as though another player may very well be able to satisfy both the needs and desires of the team in a better manner.
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Former UCLA standout Myles Jack does not have a set position. In fact, during the 2013 college football season, Jack became the first player to win both the Offensive and Defensive Pac-12 Rookie-of-the-Year Awards.
During that year, Jack totaled 76 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, and two interceptions while on defense; on offense, Jack averaged out to score a touchdown every 5.4 touches. In the subsequent year, Jack played less on offense and garnered 87 total tackles along with eight tackles-for-loss.
Jack plays with the same ferocity that current San Diego middle linebacker Denzel Perryman plays with; Jack also plays with nearly the same sure-tackling ability as well, missing only six tackles over the past two seasons per Pro Football Focus.
The video below perfectly shows the essence of what Jack brings to the table as a dynamic prospect.
The combination of size, speed, and power that Jack possesses is complemented by a rare instinctual ability and a plus football IQ. This is evident given that Jack is the type of player who is able to correctly memorize the game plans and checks for both offense and defense.
If drafted by the Chargers, I could see Jack being used as a mix between Deone Bucannon and Kam Chancellor. Even though the UCLA product played linebacker in college, he has the ability to dominate as an in-the-box safety or a roaming defensive back. With the loss of Eric Weddle to Baltimore, Jack would be welcomed with open arms in San Diego’s Secondary.
The problem with Jack is that all of this potential is based nearly on the sole basis of projections. Jack tore his ACL last season and even though he has taken strides towards recovery, it is still uncertain how he will come back from an injury of that magnitude. Jack is confident in his ability to comeback however, comparing his standpoint to that of current NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley in that Gurley also suffered from a torn ACL during his final collegiate season and ended up making a tremendous comeback as the 10th pick in the 2015 draft.
The debate between Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack is undoubtedly a good one to have given the definite lack of talent for the San Diego Chargers. Earlier in the year, my pick would have been Jalen Ramsey.
Yet, the more I look at the tape of Myles Jack, the more I believe that he is the answer to the Chargers problems of a marketable, dynamic player. Jack would be able to be that electric player that San Diego has missed since the absence of LaDainian Tomlinson. Therefore, in a definite change of thinking from before, Myles Jack is the answer for the San Diego Chargers as the third pick in the NFL draft.