Former UCLA Football Linebacker Myles Jack Makes NFL Debut
In his first game action in almost a year, former UCLA Football linebacker, Myles Jack ran the second unit defense as though he never missed a snap.
Under the bright lights of New York seemed like the most fitting debut for former UCLA Football star Myles Jack as the Jacksonville Jaguars traveled to take on the New York Jets.
While he wasn’t the starting middle linebacker, it was clear that day will come sooner rather than later. Once inserted into the lineup Jack quickly demonstrated his athletic ability.
On his first play in the NFL, Jack made a beeline to take on an offensive lineman on a run play freeing up another defender to make the tackle. Jack received criticism during the draft process for being unwilling to take on offensive linemen and choosing instead to run around blockers.
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On the very next play he laid the wood to a ball carrier that immediately had the commentators buzzing.
Throughout the game the public got the opportunity to see him more and more in pass coverage either in man or in zone where he created a very hostile middle of the field. His impact was so immediate that Jets rookie receiver Jalin Marshall dropped two balls over the middle as he ran drag routes when Jack was patrolling the area.
His debut wasn’t perfect however. Jack did lose his footing a few times with one of those occasions almost costing his team a touchdown. Jack also drew two flags, one of which was waved off, for a hit to the head and neck area. Both hits were questionably late and those types of hits are something the league is looking to remove.
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It was his first game back with true, live tackling and so while it isn’t a chronic problem for Jack, it is something he will have to watch as he moves forward.