Telvin Smith is not happy with the progress of the Jaguars defense

5/30/2017

The Jaguars defense looks really good on paper but Telvin Smith made it clear they are not yet where they need to be.

By Jordan de Lugo

Telvin Smith took the time to talk to local media after the Jaguars OTAs on Tuesday. Following the long weekend the Jaguars needed to put Memorial Day behind them and focus on football. For Telvin Smith the Jaguars defense isn't where it needs to be and he made that very clear - not only to the media, but to the team as well. He said he spoke with the defense after practice to let them know his thoughts on where the team was.

I just think as a team we should be further (along) than we are.
TELVIN SMITH

The Jaguars defense has been constructed with a nice blend of veterans and young draft picks. The unit appears loaded at nearly every position, at least in the starting lineup. With the additions of Calais Campbell, AJ Bouye, Barry Church, Tashaun Gipson, and Malik Jackson over the past two seasons via free agency and the emergence of draft picks and Jalen Ramsey, Telvin Smith, Aaron Colvin, and Yannick Ngakoue the defense is expected by some to be a top 5 unit. That list doesn't even include veteran Paul Posluszny, second year pass rusher Dante Fowler, second year linebacker Myles Jack, former undrafted free agent Abry Jones and several other key pieces.

I was a little heated today.
TELVIN SMITH

The Jaguars defense has quite a bit of time to improve throughout the offseason process, but to this point they aren't where they need to be. It doesn't help that practically the entire starting secondary has yet to participate in practice. The fact that Telvin has the foresight to acknowledge the importance of OTAs at such a young age is a great sign for his and this team's future - that is if they are able to agree on a new contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March.

Stay tuned for more.

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