AN ADVANTAGE FOR JAGS IN 2021 DRAFT, MEYER'S STAFF TAKING SHAPE

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

The Jaguars may have a distinct advantage in this year's draft and Urban Meyer's is close to completing his staff. 

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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​Coaching Staff

Since taking on the Jaguars head coaching gig, Urban Meyer's top priority has been rounding out his coaching staff. Rumors and reports have swirled for weeks about who will serve as Meyer's assistant coaches, but it appears that the Jaguars are close to filling out their staff completely. 

The list of coaches reportedly set to join the Jaguars' staff is robust. Here's a quick overview (keep in mind, none of these hires have been confirmed by the team):

Offensive Coordinator - Darrell Bevell (NFLN)
Defensive Coordinator - Joe Cullen (Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic)
Special Teams Coordinator - Brian Schneider (NFLN)
Special Teams Assistant - Carlos Polk (Field Yates)
Passing Game Coordinator - Brian Schottenheimer (Multiple reports)
Wide Receiver Coach - Sanjay Lal (NFLN)
Tight End Coach - Tyler Bowen (Sean Fitz, Lions 24/7)
Offensive Line Coach - George Warhop (Dennis Dodd, CBS)
Defensive Line Coach - Tosh Lupoi (Bruce Feldman)
Linebacker Coach - Both Zach Orr and Charlie Strong linked to job
Defensive Back Coach - Chris Ash (Jeremy Fowler)

My guess regarding the linebacker coach situation is that Zach Orr will be the linebackers coach while Charlie Strong will hold a more significant title, such as rush defense coordinator or assistant head coach, but again, none of this information has been confirmed. This would still leave Meyer in need of a quarterback coach and running back coach. 

This staff has a solid blend of college coaches that Meyer is comfortable with and long time NFL assistants that will help Meyer bridge the gap. 

I expect the Jaguars to officially announce their full staff within the week.

Jags Advantage?

Albert Breer, the author of the Monday Morning Quarterback, believes that having Meyer and a staff filled with many college coaches will give the Jaguars an advantage when it comes to the 2021 NFL Draft. 

"Every little bit of information is going to count in this year's draft," wrote Breer. "And I really believe that positions the Panthers and Jaguars as teams that'll be playing from ahead in April. Both have coaches coming from college football (Matt Rhule and Urban Meyer, respectively), and assistants who came from separate programs at that level (Joe Brady in Carolina, and Charlie Strong and Chris Ash in Jacksonville), which means there'll be dozens of players that those teams have background on going back to when the kids were teenagers."

With no NFL Combine this year, teams that have longer and more seasoned relationships with this year's batch of prospects, thanks to recruiting and coaching in college, should have a leg up in the information department. I follow the same line of thinking as Breer, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Jacksonville excel in undrafted free agency this year, either. Still, the Jaguars have to hit on their picks just like every other team in the league.

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