For the Foles Era to Get Off to a Good Start, Jaguars Must Keep Tabs on Darius Leonard
When the Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense takes the field against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, they know who they will have to be aware of on every down.
The Jaguars(4-5) know that if there is any Colts defender who can ruin their day, it is Darius Leonard, the second-year linebacker who has been dubbed “Maniac” and is the heartbeat of the Colts’ defense.
Only a year ago, the second-round pick from South Carolina State was NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and was a First-Team All-Pro, racking up 163 combined tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He has had a bit of a down year in terms of production this season, but he has still shown an ability to completely disrupt an offensive gameplan.
For a Jaguars’ offense that flows through running back Leonard Fournette and will feature quarterback Nick Foles for the first time since Week 1, keeping an eye on where Leonard is and, somehow, trying to stop him from making a game-changing play should be priority No. 1.
When JaguarMaven asked Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone Wednesday about the challenge Leonard presents for an offense, he had a lofty comparison for the 24-year old middle linebacker.
“I go back to he reminds me when we used to play - when I first came into the league, we played Miami (Dolphins) and they had a guy named Zach Thomas,” Marrone said during his Wednesday press conference.
“And I know I used to talk to the team and I’d say ‘We have to make sure we get at least maybe two (blockers) at a times and we have to change up our scheme and we have to do a lot of different things because this guy can make every play, every tackle.’”
Considering what Thomas did in his career with the Dolphins, that is some high, high praise from Marrone. After all, Thomas was a seven-time Pro Bowler, was named to the First-Team All-Pro squad five different times, and was listed on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. He changed the way offenses played the Dolphins, and Marrone said he thinks Leonard’s presence causes a similar effect.
“I mean, East, West, North, South. Passing game, he is always around the football,” Marrone said.
“So he is someone that you have got to know where he is and you have got to make sure you have at least one, maybe two guys on him because he is going to find a way to make the tackle and be where the ball is and disrupt it.”
Marrone noting that Jacksonville may have to devote two blockers to Leonard on a constant basis is big considering Jacksonville has traditionally had a mantra of “we are going to play our game.” while under Marrone’s leadership. For the offense to change their blocking scheme for one player, there is not much higher praise.
For the Jaguars’ offense to get to a fast start during the Foles era, and for the team to improve upon its middling 19.6 points per game, Jacksonville will have to make sure Leonard doesn’t look much like Thomas on Sunday.
