Jacksonville Jaguars: 5 Keys To Success In 2015

Dec 15, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills running back CJ Spiller (28) runs against Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny (51) during the first half of the game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

4. The linebackers must bolster the defense in the middle

Anyone who knows anything about NFL defenses will tell you that the linebackers are the heart and soul of a defense. Right in the middle of all the action, they are generally some of the most athletic players in all of football, and also must be intelligent as they are often responsible for making sure the defense is set up properly. In Jacksonville the linebackers have struggled to be effective, and this has hurt the defense.

In the middle, Paul Posluszny is an excellent run-stopper. He’s a huge man, made the Pro-Bowl in 2013, and is sixth on the team’s all-time tackle list. He’s been consistently good for several years, although he missed nine games in 2014 due to a pectoral injury. He should continue to be the team’s defensive leader, but other players need to step up around him.

In particular, I think outside linebacker Telvin Smith really needs to step up and perform. To be fair, he did just that in 2014, finishing second on the team in tackles, but I think he has the talent to be a Pro-Bowler. Headed into his second year in the league, I look for Smith to become one of the centerpieces of the defense. He’s got the speed and athleticism needed, and he has put on some weight this offseason, but he says he’s also focusing on the most important part of the game:

"“I think the NFL is more mental than physical,” said Smith (via Mike Kaye of First Coast News) People always say ‘They’re so big, they’re so strong,’ but you have to have a mental side to you to understand the playbook and to understand what to do on defense. That was the biggest thing from last year to this year that I needed to work on.”"

Also on the outside, newly signed linebacker Dan Skuta should be an interesting piece to the team. He doesn’t have the most storied career, but he should add some solid edge-rushing to the team. Jacksonville managed 45 sacks on defense last season, most of those coming from a talented defensive line. Skuta should help add some more versatility to the pass-rush and put even more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The linebacker corps in Jacksonville is a solid bunch, but has nothing particularly spectacular to offer. The team elected to not take a linebacker in this year’s draft, but instead to rely on veterans and free-agents, so we will see if that pays off.

One thing is certain, dominance from the team’s linebackers could help elevate them to a much higher level as a team. If these guys can hold down the middle of the defense, the Jaguars should be in goo shape. However, if they are again plagued by injuries or ineffective, the team could be in for another long season.

Next: Consistency Is Key