Jared Odrick is a solid defensive lineman and a very interesting personality. He’s great at setting the edge on running plays and offers versatility in that he can play up to three positions across our defensive line. Odrick also brings a decent pass rush from time to time when lined at defensive tackle. So you may be asking now, “So what exactly is the conundrum then?”
The Jared Odrick Conundrum
Jared Odrick has battled a triceps injury that has allowed the Jacksonville Jaguars to give their young talent on the defensive line the chance to flourish. The main issue, however, stems from the Jaguars’ coaching staff’s aversion to change within their defensive philosophy. The staff is hesitant to give their young, talented players proper reps in meaningful game situations. Odrick could not play in Sunday’s match-up in London against the Indianapolis Colts because of the triceps injury he incurred in the game against the San Diego Chargers.
With Odrick out, the defensive line was given the ability to have their two young, promising LEOs, Dante Fowler and Yannick Ngakoue, on the field together for the majority of the game. Not having Odrick available to kick inside on passing downs also opened the door for Sheldon Day. On Sunday, the defense brought down Andrew Luck to the tune of six sacks. Having Fowler and Ngakoue on the field at the same time instead of just having half of the duo led to more pressures. The Jags were able to have their best pass rushers on the field for a more extended amount time besides the typical second and third downs.
Time to Move on from the Big End Position
The combination of Fowler, Ngakoue, and Malik Jackson was simply too much to handle for the Colts offensive line. The coaching staff has been tied down to using the big end position to set the edge on running plays. Now that the defense has such explosive athletes at LEO, it is high time the transition was made to more of a traditional 4-3 front. The Seattle Seahawks made the same switch years back after they signed Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett. The big end position leaves the Jaguars with only two pass rushers capable of providing a decent rush. Yannick is not able to defend the run well yet, but having him on the field with Dante offers the defense the ability to pressure the quarterback more consistently throughout the game.
Pressure Inside from the Youth
Sheldon Day flashed quite a bit on Sunday. He beat blocks with quickness to penetrate and disrupt the running lanes. Day also provided the necessary pressure to affect the quarterback. In fact, Chris Smith has Sheldon to thank for getting Smith his first sack of the season. Day had a brilliant outside rush that forced Luck back up into the pocket where Smith was able to finish the job and collect the sack. He’s a more disruptive and explosive pass rusher than Odrick has ever really been. Odrick can win with technique, but Day has a ton of potential and comes at a severely reduced price tag.
This defense has a very promising trio of young pass rushers in Fowler, Day and Odrick. The use of Odrick in this scheme drastically affects that trio’s impact and ultimately our defense’s future growth. Odrick again is a solid player, but we can do so much more without him and the big End position. The secondary is vastly improved and for the most part playing pretty well. They will look even better when the ball is leaving a quarterback’s hands who is simultaneously trying to avoid being crushed by Dante Fowler, Yannick Ngakoue, Malik Jackson, and Sheldon Day while also looking down the field at Jalen Ramsey, Prince Amukamara, Tashaun Gipson, and Aaron Colvin.
