STRENGTHS
Jack has the size and overall athleticism to play at the next level. He has those long strides that help him to cover ground quickly, making his speed on tape very deceiving. Because of those long legs and arms, he has good lateral agility and in-zone coverage can take up a bigger passing lane affecting a quarterback’s accuracy. He shows excellent leadership skills and in big games, Jack will make a big play because he is an emotional player and plays with the passion needed to be better than his athletic talent suggest. Jack is a very solid linebacker with excellent size, and leadership skills and in the future could become a coach-on-the-field type of player that all defenses need to be good.
CONCERNS
Ten years ago, Jack would be a very highly-rated linebacker who might be considered in the top ten of a draft. In this day and age, he will struggle to make plays unless he is in the right defensive system and in most cases plays as a linebacker in a 4/3 defense because he lacks the burst, speed, and change of direction agility the NFL is looking for in its defensive backfield players. The NFL really doesn’t have linebackers anymore, they just have defensive backs who play the linebacker position and are excellent at defending against the pass.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.94
Jack is solid and could be a very impacting linebacker if teams start running the ball more but, in this day and age, Jack might be too much of a throwback type of player to impact with the new style of linebacker coaching. That being said, he has excellent size and overall athleticism to be an impact player in the right system and with the right coaches. Use him to attack the line of scrimmage, on the line or off the line, and in spy situations, and Jack will impact. Expect him to cover tight ends and receivers all over the field and guess what, he will do his best but he will not be as impacting or make as many plays. I feel bad for Jack because I have no confidence in the coaching in the NFL. I have no confidence that they will understand how to use Jack and his talents and skills. If I’m running a 4/3 defense I’m all over selecting Jack early. Nevertheless, in spite of about half the teams in the NFL using the 4/3 defense, most are using defensive backs instead of pure linebackers. Jack could fit a 3/4 defense as an ER/LB because of his size but he would have to learn better “on-the-line” pass-rushing skills and that could take some time. Now that I think about it, that just might be Jack’s “calling” for the next level or a Defensive End in a 4/3 defense. His talent is intriguing.
