MYLES JACK FOCUSED ON MENTAL SIDE OF GAME IN 2018

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

The Jaguars young, athletic linebacker is focused on mastering the mental side of the game this year. 

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​The Jaguars third year linebacker, Myles Jack, enjoyed an impressive sophomore campaign, playing strong side linebacker in the Jaguars base defense and middle linebacker when the Jaguars were in nickel. It was a season of growth for Jack, who spent far too much time on the sideline during his rookie year, which was admittedly a mistake on the part of the coaching staff. 

In 2018, with the retirement of Paul Posluszny, Jack will assume the role of the full time starting middle linebacker. Jack has all the physical tools - he may be the freakiest athlete at the linebacker position in the entire league - but now must focus his efforts on mastering the mental side of the game. 

Jack joined Sirius XM NFL Radio earlier this week and had this to say about his lack of reps during the Jaguars offseason program (due to the team wanting him to be fresh for training camp) and becoming a better middle linebacker: 

"Obviously since I wasn't out there, I got a lot of mental reps. But just moving forward my main goal is just mentally understanding the game and understanding how offenses attack our defense, and just looking at other defenses across the league and how other teams attack them. Just really trying to get a mental aspect of the game where maybe I could have one (step) ahead of the offense. Obviously I couldn't do anything physically (while being held out of OTAs and minicamp), but work out and monitor drills, but other than that, really just focusing on becoming a better mike linebacker and just knowing how to quarterback the defense."

The pieces are in place for Jack to make the jump from a good, athletic linebacker to being a Pro Bowl type of player. That is if he can master the mental side of the game. With his unparalleled skill set and the immense wealth of talent surrounding him on the defensive side of the ball, the sky is the limit for Myles Jack.