[Note by River City Rage, 07/13/08 3:09 PM EDT ] Zac from the fantastic site "Throwing into Traffic" has perhaps the most nuanced perspective on the rise and fall of Matt Jones.  He was kind enough to let me post it here.  Zac has a unique take on the Jaguars, and he links to some of his other writings in this article.  Thank you Zac for sharing this! -Chris

I’m probably one of maybe a handful of people that is in any way saddened by Jaguars WR Matt Jones being caught with cocaine. Anyone who frequents the site knows that he’s a particular favorite of mine, both because of his physical capabilities and the humanizing, almost pathetic desperation that he seems to carry around with him. Indeed, despite my recent praising of Jack Del Rio, I still begrudge his careless destruction of Jones, who is built much more psychologically fragile than his frame and measurables suggest. Perhaps most saddening is that this year, surrounded by a team of fellow NFL castaways and relieved of much of the pressure that came with his arrival into the league, Jones stood a chance of thriving in Jacksonville. After all, does it make sense that someone who has Jones’s gifts and has flashed the kind of potential he’s shown (Jones’s one handed catches are as close as I think the NFL has come to slam dunks) would stay completely quiet for long?

That said, I don’t now how to read this latest misstep in Jones’s career full of mistakes by himself and others. It’s not surprising that he’d be caught with some sort of illicit pastime; after all, you try going through life hearing how much more spectacular you should be and see if it doesn’t mess with your perspective. I joked with a friend that Jones did cocaine because at 6’6", 238 pounds, a 4.37 40-yard time and a 40 inch vertical, ordinary life among humans is BORING. I’m not so sure that the idea is far off of the mark, although the real problem may not be that ordinary life is depressingly boring compared to who Matt Jones is, but that Matt Jones’s life is depressingly boring compared to how Matt Jones knows it should be. We talk all the time about our frustrations with failed "workout wonders," but I wonder what it must be like for them. Consider that while our feelings are tied to the unimaginable potential of possessing the athletic capability of these players, for them, the potential is completely imaginable. Matt Jones knows exactly what it’s like to move as fast, jump as high, and be as strong as Matt Jones, and it must be incredibly frustrating to have that understanding paired with the disappointment that comes from those gifts lacking accomplishment. This is probably why while Jones’s career becomes a punchline for us, he and other similarly athletically gifted disappointments are totally unable to find levity in the situation.

Matt Jones is one of the most uniquely human wide receivers in that his general diva tendencies (the pouting, the vow to not shave…) never fully eclipse his own desperation. This makes it particularly frustrating to watch Jack Del Rio bench Jones and chide him in the media for the very traits that I’ve come to appreciate, and the fact that this latest issue is probably going to lead to more of the same is disheartening. This is why I’m hoping that this latest incident serves two purposes. First, I’m hoping Jones gets released from the Jaguars. I know I’ve extolled the virtues of the faceless, band of damned brothers passing attack they’ve built down there, but at this point the likelihood of Del Rio allowing Jones to be a part of it seems slim; Jones would be the fifth option at best. Furthermore, given this latest incident, I don’t know that anonymity in the whole is the cure for what ails Matt Jones. Instead, maybe he needs a change of locales to a place that has shown an aptitude for and a predilection towards repairing and restoring fallen stars. Which is why the second thing I hope is that Matt Jones, an Arkansas alum, will wind up on the Cowboys. This isn’t as out of the blue as it may seem. Jerry Jones lives and dies by Arkansas football, and has proven his willingness to bet on tremendous upside versus some potential for failure in the cases of Terrell Owens and Adam Jones. Furthermore, the team needs to solidify it 2-3 receiver spots, and Jones is ideally built to satisfy either role (he’s certainly more of a downfield threat than Patrick Crayton). Throwing T.O., Matt Jones, Crayton, and Witten downfield would give the Cowboys the strangest and most dangerous (in several different senses of the word) passing offense in the league. Having already gambled and won with T.O., is it crazy to think Jones could do the same with a younger, faster, bigger receiver?

In any case, I want this incident to be the one that lets Matt Jones separate from the past. Obviously, it’s never a positive thing when someone gets arrested, but I can’t shake the feeling that this is less the start of a terrible pattern or downward spiral than it is a necessary outburst on a lost prodigy’s road to finding himself. It’s not like Matt Jones was riding high prior to the arrest; he’d gone from dynamic receiver of the future, a man who could turn his size and speed into airborne art that was the sum of a number of dynamic energies, to a failure cruising around the backwoods with blow in his lap. If Dallas, (or anyone for that matter, but Dallas has done it already so let’s stick with them) were willing to pick up the pieces of Matt Jones, wouldn’t it be worth it to buy so low on such young, potentially salvageable greatness? Having already shaped T.O. into a happier human being, I think it’s time for the Cowboys to work psychological wonders on another project. I want Matt Jones to start smiling.

Buddy Ryan, Gregg Williams and Jack Del Rio: Will their defensive philosophies create conflict or championships?

The Buddy Ryan Effect:

Last week, we discussed the history, philosophy, and possible effects of introducing Gregg Williams to the Jacksonville Jaguars.  One name that comes up with any research into  Gregg Williams is his tutelage under Buddy Ryan.  Ryan is best known for developing the defense that would define the 1985 Chicago Bears, the 46 defense. Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Oilers, and Arizona Cardinals might disagree with that statement, of course, but the legacy of Ryan is in his approach to defenses.  Gregg Williams is considered a disciple of Ryan, though he only technically worked under Ryan in 1993 with the Oilers.  Though their time together was short, Williams defensive career is centered on emulating and developing the concepts established by Buddy Ryan.  The "attack style" reputation of the Jaguars new defensive coordinator is ripped straight from the playbook of Ryan.

To better understand what Williams is going to bring to Jacksonville, we must first look at Buddy Ryan's contributions to Gregg's philosophy and how to translate that to the Jaguars.

On Attacking the Quarterback:

"Buddy Ryan said it best. It's hard for a quarterback to throw with tears in his eyes. We brought the whole house. We left our two corners back. Bledsoe went hot and got the ball out quickly. Terry Glenn caught it..."

The point of emphasis of a Buddy Ryan defense is to attack the pass protection in as many different ways as possible in order to shut down the quarterback.  The object, simply put, is to expose the protection and eliminate the passer.  It is not a senseless throwing of players at the offensive line in an act of desperation, but the specific and methodical attack of the offensive line in order to expose weaknesses in protection.  Crudely put, it's a pack of velociraptors testing the fences in Jurassic Park, rather than the overwhelming but clumsy Tyrannosaurus Rex knocking down the towers with brute force.

While blitzing is nothing new to the NFL, Ryan took things to a whole different level with the development of the 46 defense.

This formation is named for Doug Plank's jersey number.  Plank was a hard-hitting, hard-nosed, and nasty storung safety that allowed for the development of this formation.  Notice all the players on the line of scrimmage.  J and C are the strongside and weakside linebackers, (Jack and charlie in Ryan's system), with the mike or middle linebacker lined up between and behind the charlie linebacker and the defensive end.  One defensive end is lined up directly over an offensive guard, one defensive tackle is directly over center (like a nose tackle), the other defensive tackle is right over the offensive guard, and finally there is a defensive end just outside the right tackle.

You'll notice that the strong safety is as close to the line of scrimmage as the middle linebacker.  The strong safety would play the role of a run-stuffing linebacker or blitzer, leaving the free safety and cornerbacks in largely man-to-man coverage.  Ryan could very easily shift his blitzers and cover men based on down, distance, and the offensive in front of him.  The jack, charlie, or mike linebackers were fast enough to cover as well as blitz, though the latter was clearly preferred.  What was important for Ryan was to probe the pass protection and identify weaknesses that could be exploited later.  If linemen were making their blocks based on certain reads or looks, Ryan could call a blitz that took advantage of that reaction and find a way to leave a man unblocked.

To fully understand what Buddy Ryan developed, remember that
Bill Walsh would develop a short drop and well timed passing offense as a reaction to the blitz packages developed by Ryan.  The "west coast offense" is seen by some football academics as a reaction to the aggressive attacks of defenses like the 1985 Chicago Bears.  It is a slight oversimplification to say that it is only because of Ryan, but it is without doubt a factor.

On the Philosophy:

While the 46 defense is a major part of Buddy Ryan’s defensive toolbox, his philosophy is much broader than a personnel grouping.  Much like when Gregg Williams claimed during a press conference that the Jaguars were going to use every defensive system ever created, Buddy Ryan used just about everything.  In his 1993 Houston Oliers playbook, Ryan schemes a 4-3, 4-4, 46, 3-4, and everything in-between.  Again, the crux of his philosophy is to probe the offensive pass protection and exploit a weakness, using one base defense all the time would be ineffective at exploiting the vulnerabilities and would remove the element of surprise and confusion from the attack.

To explore the Ryan and Williams philosophy further, we excerpt from the 1993 Oilers Defensive Playbook. 

"Our defensive philosophy is simple.  We will do anything and everything it takes to win, within the rules.  We can only control what we do on our side of the ball, therefore we will approach every game with the plan of winning the game with defense"

Coachspeak, of course, but just the introduction:

"We will keep constant pressure on our opponent and their offense.  Our multiple defensive scheme will hamper their ability to identify our intentions by giving them an ever-changing picture on defense."

"A quarterback has never completed a pass when he was flat on his back.  We must hit the QB hard and often.  QB’s are over-paid, over-rated, pompous bastards and must be punished.  Great pass coverage is a direct result of a great pass rush, and a great pass rush is simply a relentless desire to get to the QB"

If Gregg Williams can bring this to Jacksonville this fall, we will be in for one hell of a show. 

On the penetrating style of defense:

"In our penetrating defense the purpose of the defense is to force mistakes and throw our opponent for a loss and place great pressure on the passer.  We will use penetrating type of defense a maority of the time in all positions on the field.  The penetrating defense requires ability to read on the move.  We must have great effort in getting into proper pursuit patterns.  We feel, with the speed and ability of our team, we can achieve great success with these defenses."

What does this mean for Jacksonville?

This look back at Buddy Ryan is a healthy mix of speculation and optimism.  The 46 defense is rarely used in the current NFL, Gregg Williams used it on occasion in Tennessee and Rex Ryan will experiment with the formation in Baltimore from time to time.  It's unrealistic to expect Williams to completely undo everything from Jack Del Rio and Mike Smith in one season.  This is why we distinguised between scheme and philosophy in the breakdown of Buddy Ryan and Gregg Williams' approach. 

While it should not be surprising to see the Jaguars come out in a 46 at least once during training camp, it's implimentation as a serious part of our defense is very much in doubt.  The Jaguars lack a serious contender at nose tackle, though situationally it might work with Henderson or McDaniel.  The Jaguars will instead embrace the methodical attack of a Ryan defense, allowing the team to attack the quarterback through carefully measured pressure rather than overwhelming blitzing. 

Much of this depends on the development of our pass-rushers.  Should Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey show promise in their first season, the amount of attacking should be very high.  If the rookies are slow to develop or were injuries to mount, Williams will adjust accordingly and become a bend-don't-break defense. 

Either way, there will be a visible change from the Mike Smith defense to the Gregg Williams defense.  Smith was unafraid to attack when he had the ability, though the chess game of the Buddy Ryan/Gregg Williams system is different by degree than what the Jaguars had previously.  Frankly, we have a great deal to be excited about.  Whatever happens, it'll certainly be uncomfortable for the Mannings, Brady's, and Cutler's of the AFC.

As previously previewed , Tulsa Golden Hurricane Paul Smith is one of four quarterbacks on the Jaguars roster.  While the top two spots in the Jaguars rotation is without doubt, there is a weakness in the long-term development of a new signal caller.  While David Garrard has very low miles for his age, Cleo Lemon is neither a development for the future nor a suitable backup for the next several years.  Part of building a team is to keep an eye three to four years ahead.  In this case, the signing of Paul Smith as an undrafted free agent just might be the Jaguars "jar on the shelf" at the most premium of premium positions.

I recently had the chance to talk with Paul Smith.  He is by far the most engaging of all the players I've had the chance to interview, and we talked for quite some time.  Unfortunately, the answers to my first few questions was lost due to my inability to properly use my voice recorder. 

First off, I would like to thank Paul Smith and Mark Slough of Merge Sports for setting up the Interview.

The Interview:

When I do player interviews, however rarely, I like to pre-write my questions and have an idea of where the conversation will go.  I also get a little bit of anxiety as trying to sound coherent as I ask these questions can get a little overwhelming.  Frankly, it's why I prefer email interviews, though through conversation there tends to be better results.

Talking with Paul Smith was pretty easy, we began with light conversation as I struggled to connect my recorder to my phone.  Once I thought things were set, I began with a tricky question:

"Todd Graham, Tulsa's head coach, recently mentioned after their spring game that they "designed a system" around your ability and playing style: What does a team do as a scheme to put you in the best position to win games?"

This, sadly, is an abridged answer, as his reply was not recorded.  Paul described the system at Tulsa as one that allowed him the freedom to change the play at the line of scrimmage based on what he saw.  The open lines of communication between Smith, Head Coach Graham, and Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn allowed for Paul the freedom to succeed at Tulsa.

Another thing you should know about Paul Smith is that his road to the Jaguars was not the easiest.  The Golden Hurricanes final game of the season was the day before the National Championship on January 6th, Paul had to report to Hawaii for the Hula Bowl on January 7th:

Tulsa had the second to longest season in the nation.  I think our first game was the college opener and then we played the day before the national championship.  We played a lot of football this year, but believe it or not I'm excited about getting  back on the field and getting going again.

I asked him, "Preparing for the NFL is never easy, but you had a particularly intense month of January.  Why were you able to perform so well despite the pressure?

Again, the exact quote is lost, but Paul described his drive to be where he is today, on a NFL Roster, as what kept him going.

Finally, we talked about the role of character in the NFL and if athletes should be considered role models.  Paul Smith, as you might know, was honored with the Wuerffel Trophy, given to the athlete that best combines community service with athletic and academic achievement as well as as being a finalist for the Draddy Award, largely considered to be the Academic Heisman.

The first part of the answer, sadly not recorded, covered the role of faith and wittnessing in Paul's success.  Paul gives credit to his lord and savior and believes that doing good works includes being a positive role model. 

Paul Smith: I remember being on the sidelines of College games and wanting to be like them.  I wasn't around any NFL guys but I definitely  wanted to be like a lot of them.  So I knew if I ever got the opportunity to do this I wanted to be one of the guys the little kids wanted to be like

Big Cat Country: What was draft weekend like for you?

Paul Smith: I didn't have any expectations, thankfully,[Laughs] because if I did they probably wouldn't have been met because you know everybody that comes off a successful career hopes to be drafted.   And so, of course I hoped to be drafted.  Listening to analysts and critics and friends and family, that's just going to make you feel even more that there's a spot that you should be taken and anything worse than that is a negative.  I've  really tried to stay open minded about it and knew that none of it is in my hands so there's no need to worry about it.

So end result, I could not be more happier.  I know Coach Koetter and Coach Shula could tell you the same because ever since the combine.  It's funny, the events leading up to the combine and coming thereafter have really kind of guided my path to Jacksonville. It's just funny that the relationships that i have with people that have relationships with people on that coaching staff and know people from Jacksonville.  It's just funny how the chips, you know, end up in a row.  I'm really pleased with where I'm at now.  I've told a lot of people that were telling me that they thought I was going to be drafted between in the 4th and 6th rounds.  I've told a lot of them that I feel that I'm in the same situation if Jacksonville would have drafted me in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th rounds, I'm coming in there, I'm trying to make the team, I'm trying to prove I can play on this level.  Other than the money that comes in the signing bonus, I'm in the no different situation.  Luckily I'm grounded enough to know that money isn't the answer to everything.

I'm very happy with having the opportunity to come in and try and make that team, you know, learn from the guys that are there.  Everything that I've heard about Coach Del Rio and having met coach Koetter and Coach Shula and know people that are connected to them, I couldn't be more excited.

Big Cat Country: Quarterback Coach Cunerty, who you trained with in your pre-combine time, bragged about you to Dirk Koetter just after the  Combine.  What has your interaction been like with the Jaguars coaching staff? Have you been to Jacksonville yet?

Paul Smith: I have not been to Jacksonville yet, Right now I'm scheduled to come on Thursday may 15th. There's a luncheon at Jacksonville Stadium that Danny Wuerffel actually called me about.  I've maintained a relationship with him.  he runs a ministry called Desire Street Ministries that is having a big luncheon at the Stadium.  Either way Wednesday or Thursday will be my first trip to Jacksonville.

Big Cat Country: What happens when you agree to sign?  Do you get a playbook right away? 

Paul Smith: I'm not sure how much they sent other guys or if at all.  They've sent everyone a packet with a letter from Coach Del Rio with a schedule and what to expect.  Upcoming schedule, what we should bring, stuff that the rookies need to know. 

Big Cat Country: Was it relieving to see that the Jaguars released quarterback Lester Ricard shortly after your signing?  Is it reassuring to know that you're coming into a team that has a clear role for developing a number three quarterback?

Paul Smith: Yeah, there's been some people commenting to me on that.  I'll never shy away from competition, but I don't think it hurts anyones feelings when the competition contains less numbers.  I'm definitely excited about coming in there and like I said, trying to prove my worth and show that this is a good investment on their part to bring me in as a free agent.  I'm very excited to be the underdog.   I'm very excited, believe it or not, to not get drafted and to have an opportunity to come in.  Even though Jacksonville didn't draft me, they were talking to me on the phone throughout  the 5th, 6th and 7th round the whole time, talking to coach Shula and even Coach Koetter some on draft day about their situation and how they still wanted me.  That meant a lot to me, so thats why out of the  10 or 12 teams that showed interest at the end of the draft, that's why I chose to come to Jacksonville.  Because I felt that I had the best opportunity there and also that it'd be the best fit for me, not just as far as playing time, but in that I'd fit the best.

I'm excited about being the underdog and coming in there and competing, getting on the field again.

Big Cat Country: Tell us about the origins of the Golden Hurricane.

Paul Smith: You can say that I'm just as confused as everyone else on the issue of the Golden Hurricane.  One of only two universities that have a singular title.  Goes along with team unity, no individuals, we are one hurricane, even though hurricanes don't exist here, but whatever. {Laughs}

Big Cat Country: What quarterbacks would you compare yourself to?  I've seen names like Jeff Garcia or Drew Brees tossed around, though a lot of comparisons are made based on height and size, which as I've said before, is a lousy way to grade a quarterback.

Paul Smith: I try not to do that.  The only reason I say that is because people are going to try and interpret what you say and I don't feel arrogant enough to even throw any names out there.  Everyone I compare myself to is successful in the NFL Cause you don't want to compare yourself to a flop or someone that didn't play for more than a couple years. I don't mind saying that I don't like comparing myself to anyone right now, cause they've proved themselves and I'm just trying to be like them and become like them.

Names that I do hear, Drew Brees.  People have talked about that.  The ability to make things happen with their feet.  I try and do that.  I try and go through my reads I still try and keep everything the same, but instead of throwing the ball away or crawling forward for a two yard gain I try and keep my eyes down-field and make things happen.  People have compared that to Tony Romo,  I try and play similar to that, I'm not going to improvise when it's not needed, but when things break down I like to try to keep a play alive.  Not to a point where it will become detrimental.  You won't see me take a three step drop and taking off sideways, I really try to stay within the boundaries of the system.  That's what helped me (at Tulsa).  Your instincts and your abilities have to take over at some point and that's what's helped me out.  It's the ability to make things happen when there is not much there.  I don't like comparing myself to the successful guys, they're worth more than I am as a college quarterback.

Big Cat Country: Final thoughts?

Paul Smith: I heard people talking about Tom Brady being drafted in the 7th round and him telling the owner this was the best decision that the organization has ever made.  I guess I'm one step below the 7th round, being a free agent, but I really feel like, I can say the same thing.  I want to tell somebody that this was the best decision that they could have made for a quarterback this year and hopefully it works out that it's the best decision they've made as an organization.  Without being arrogant, you have to have the confidence to want to come in there to compete and  succeed

I have seven chips on my shoulder.

There you go, a little insight into our newest quarterback.  He's certainly an intriguing prospect, and he probably has the easiest road to the 53 man roster.  More so even than some of our draft picks, now that I think about it.  The Jaguars have operated with only two starting quarterbacks in the past, but with Smith as a legitimate developmental player, and one that would be quickly signed were we to put him on the practice squad.

I, frankly, am all about Paul as a future number two for the Jaguars.  Following along with the many position battles in mini-camp and training camp will be interesting this year, but we can expect to see Paul Smith guiding the offense in a preseason game or two.

Your thoughts?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a popular team for undrafted free-agents because they have a good habit finding starters in the ranks of the "undraftable".  Jack Del Rio fosters an environment of competition in his off-season that allows for players that might lack the draft credentials to have a fair and reasonable shot at making the roster.  Remember, the undrafted free agent is playing for his NFL career, just getting a shot to be on the practice squad will increase the chance that a player proves himself to a team and continue to live the dream of playing on Sundays.

In Jacksonville, there's a realistic shot of not only going to the practice squad, but to make the final roster and make an impact.  To be fair, the Jaguars roster is pretty stacked to begin with this year, but with the lack of draft picks due to the Derrick Harvey/Quentin Groves moves, there is just enough wiggle room to allow a hard working and determined UDFA to make an impact and be on the final roster.

One sure fire way to make a roster is for a player to prove he can fill multiple roles, especially special teams, but also in positions on the field.  An offensive lineman who can play guard and tackle might make the roster when a better player that is less useful visits the turk.

One undrafted free agent signing that should prove himself to be a valuable member of the 2008 Jaguars is Louisville linebacker Lamar Myles.  His agent was kind enough to pass along some questions for Myles for Big Cat Country, so let's take a closer look at the player and where he might fit in the Jaguars system.

Introduction

Lamar Myles, the son of Susan and Leon Wilson, grew up and currently lives in Winter Haven Florida and graduated from Lake Region High School.  Myles began his football career playing both linebacker and full back, accumulating 130 tackles a season and 9.0 yards per carry.  He was also ranked in the top 60 Florida High School players, considering how much football talent comes out of Florida, that is a pretty high honor.  He spent his first season at Louisville, 2004, as a redshirt, but found himself starting his first game against Oregon State in 2005. 

Myles became the starting middle linebacker in 2006 and 2007, averaging 10.67 tackles per game.  2007 saw him register a career-high 128 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles, and had 22 tackles against Kentucky.

Notable Quotable: Part One

Thompson:   You had 22 tackles in your game against Kentucky. That's just unheard of...

Myles:  [laughing] That was a very, very exciting game.  I remember watching film early in the summer on Kentucky, I was prepared for them and what they were going to do. And I know when the lights come on, I just have to turn it on and show what I'm about.

Lamar Myles: By the Number

Myles received a 5th round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board and declared himself eligible.  Unfortunately for Lamar, the NFL Scouting Combine did not give him an invitation, so his workout numbers are from the Louisville Pro-Day.  Without sounding like an apologist for UDFA's, the Draft Advisory Board does, in my opinion, a disservice to young players through their "draft grading".  Particularly with potential late round players.  The DAB should give first through third round grades and advise the others that they're 4-7 and to decide accordingly.  It is far to difficult to make serious projections about where a player will fall between the 4th and undrafted ranks and mistakes in the advising process will lead to poor decisions about whether to stay another year or to select an agent and declare eligibility. 

This is not meant to imply that Lamar Myles should have stayed at Louisville for another year, the factors that damaged his "draft stock" have nothing to do with his ability to play football, but rather his height and build.

Some things, such as height and weight, vary across sources.  Myles did not attend the Scouting Combine, so the numbers I have are from the Jaguars themselves and the Louisville Pro-Day.  The Jacksonville Jaguars list Myles as 5'11'' and 230 lbs, NFL Draft Scout records his Pro-Day measurements as 6'0'', 220.  I'd like to think the Jaguars numbers are more accurate, unless they're messing with other teams.  If linebackers come from a mold somewhere (probably in Pennsylvania), Myles is certainly out of the ordinary.  He's about an inch and a half shorter than the other linebackers in the Jaguars arsenal, and with the exception of  fellow rookie Thomas Williams, is between eight and eighteen pounds lighter. 

His workout numbers are very strong, though for reasons that will be explained later, I will compare them to both the Outside Linebacker standards and also Safety.  His 4.63 40-yard dash is great for either linebacker position, and only a hair slower than the desired 4.60 for a safety. NOTE: Because of the varied times, I've seen Myles as fast as 4.59.  When in doubt, I use the NFL Draft Scout numbers. Were Myles to switch to the secondary, it'd be as a strong safety, where speed isn't as critical.  Myles explosiveness is evident by a 38 inch vertical jump and 10'4'' broad jump, better than the targets for ILB, OLB, and Safety positions.   His bench press of 495 pounds (one time max) and 33 reps at 225 show his devotion to the weight room and his absolute strength to size ratio.

On Leaving Early:

Lamar Myles was criticized by some as a player who should have stayed in school for another year.  I disagree, unless someone can demonstrate that Louisville would have tried to add to his bulk in any significant way.  Myles was outperforming his "size" already, I don't know that his coaches would have slowed him down or risked losing his outstanding skills through ill-advised weight gain.  He might have gotten more experience in pass coverage, but as a Middle Linebacker in the cardinals system, it would be negligible.

In my opinion, another year of school would have pushed him into the late round of the draft, for sure, but would not have effected his perceptions as "small".  Frankly, the fact that Lamar was an UDFA might give him a little more flexibility in finding a role on a team that needs a linebacker project rather than slotting him on a team that can't really use him.  While I'm sure it stung to not be selected, Lamar may look back on being "passed over" as a blessing in disguise.

A few questions with Lamar Myles:

First, a big thank you to Nate at PlayersRep for passing these questions to Lamar!

On the Draft Process:

"It was a long process but I met a lot of good people who helped me along the way.  I was surprised when I didn't get the Combine invite, especially since I was given a draft grade by the Committee in December.  But overall, it was a  good learning experience.  Although I wasn't drafted I'm glad to be back in my home state.  Plus it motivates me to go out there and prove people wrong."

On Preparing for the Draft/Training

"I trained with Cliff Marshall and those guys in Cincinnati at Ignition.  I give them a lot of credit.  They prepared me both mentally and physically for my pro day.  I now know what I need to do to keep my body in NFL shape"

On his style of play:

"People have always questioned my siz, but I pay a lot bigger on the field.  I'm fast.  I'm strong.  I love to hit people.  I know I can play any linebacker position in Jacksonville's 4-3 cover two.  I also can convert to Strong Safety, if need be."

On his expectations and hopes:

"Man, I'm just gonna go out there and do my thing.  The fact I was passed up 252 times really adds fuel to my fire. I know that if I go out there and do waht I'm capable of doing I'll be able to help this team compete.  I'm excited to be a Jag."

Scouting Reports:

Positives:

• NFL Draft Scout : Undersized, but has a compact frame with good upper-body muscle tone, a V-shaped torso, good bubble, tight waist and developed thighs and calves...Could trim down and use his range and quickness at the strong safety position, showing the loose hips and depth in his pass drop to handle receivers in the zone...Best athlete on the team and a hard worker in the weight room, displaying true aggression and a competitive nature on the field...Shows good vision and reacts quickly in run support, using a strong hand swipe and arm extension to keep blockers off his feet...For a player his size, he possesses above-average strength and leverage...Despite giving up considerable bulk to offensive linemen, he is a slippery athlete with good avoidance skills on the move, but will also not shy away from one-on-one confrontations...Has good balance and body control flowing to the perimeter to impact outside running plays and is quick to locate and track down the ball through trash...Decisive closing once he locates the ball, as he shows that he can accelerate quickly to the run alleys and good instincts zeroing in on the ball...Has loose hips in his stop-and-go motion with good quick-twitch movements and body lean coming around the corner as an edge rusher...
• NFL Draft Countdown : Very athletic...Good speed...Strong...Good tackler...Physical and will deliver the big hit...Excellent range and really covers a lot of ground...Has a non-stop motor..Very good instincts and awareness...More than holds his own in coverage...Productive.

Negitives

• NFL Draft Countdown :Vastly undersized...Has trouble taking on and shedding blockers...Too aggressive at times...Does not play to his weight room numbers...Just a marginal pass rusher & blitzer...Limited experience..'Tweener who may have to make a position change.
• NFL Draft Scout : Has good range, but needs to refine his technique in deep coverage, as he gets turned around some on head fakes...Lacks crispness in his plant and drive, tending to cross his feet when switching off in the zone...Will get engulfed by larger blockers trying to get through trash...Limited size and bulk could lead to a shift to strong safety at the pro level...Frame might be at maximum growth potential and additional bulk will likely affect his timed speed...Gets overmatched at the point of attack and must rely on rip moves in order to elude, as he has had problems when trying to disengage when the larger blockers lock on to him...Has good range, but tends to leave his feet at times when making tackles, causing him to slip off the opponent...Best when making plays in front of him and, while he has loose hips, he will take false steps at times in transition and does not have the recovery burst to get back on his man when the receiver gets behind him...Has good avoidance skills, but lacks the lower-leg drive to power through double teams.

Why should he be on the Final Roster?

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I like Lamar Myles prospects at being an NFL linebacker better than our 5th round pick Thomas Williams.  Not to knock Williams, but I like the attitude and approach of Myles over the "not quite good enough to be a starter at USC" of Williams.  I understand that the 4th best linebacker at USC is probably good enough to start anywhere, but in my research and observation, I like the quality of player that the Jaguars found in Myles. 

Lamar is a hard working, hard-nosed, and fast linebacker who will find a role on special teams and work his way onto the roster.  He's been slighted a bit in not being drafted, I think that will light a fire underneath him and you'll see him making statements at mini-camp.  He wraps up on his tackles, he can drop into the zone, he'll get in receivers faces, and he can adjust to the ball in flight. 

If nothing else, Myles could find himself outside of the linebacker crowd and instead transition into playing Strong Safety, a position of notable weakness for the Jaguars.  He won't be an interception machine, but he's got the right mix of quickness and toughness to be a nasty strong safety.  This is where being an UDFA is to Lamar's advantage.  Drafting a player and then changing his position is often a "waste" of a draft pick, doing so with an UDFA is smart roster management. 

The crowd is deep in Jacksonville as a linebacker.  Lamar's best shot would be to establish himself as a gunner on special teams and show promise at strong safety.  I don't see him playing Middle Linebacker anytime soon, even though I've argued that his size shouldn't hurt him in the NFL, he's better suited on the outside. 

Without a doubt it will be an uphill battle for Lamar Myles to make the team, but I see in him the potential for a solid well-rounded player that could find a niche at strong safety. 

Your thoughts?