Jaguars contemplating rookie change at linebacker vs. Ravens – Jacksonville Jaguars Weblog

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rookie linebacker Chad Muma might make his first begin for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday towards the Baltimore Ravens (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

Muma is likely one of the few energetic NFL gamers recognized to be enjoying with Sort 1 diabetes. One other? Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews, who Muma may have the prospect to line up towards when the Ravens journey to Jacksonville. November, by the best way, is Diabetes Consciousness Month.

“It’s sort of all coming collectively proper this week,” Muma mentioned.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell aren’t saying whether or not Muma will certainly substitute fellow rookie Devin Lloyd within the beginning lineup, in order that will not be revealed till Sunday. However the third-round select of Wyoming is unquestionably going to be getting considerably extra enjoying time within the last seven video games.

It’s partly as a result of Muma’s enchancment because the season has progressed but in addition as a result of Lloyd, whom the Jaguars chosen 27^th general, has struggled since his scorching begin.

“Consistency [in Muma’s play], however I believe, too, it helps, generally, in Devin’s case, simply popping out of the sport and seeing it from the sidelines, seeing slightly totally different perspective,” Pederson mentioned. “Permitting Chad to get precious reps, it’s so much like Buster [CB Montaric Brown] enjoying and getting precious reps at nook and seeing the place Chad is with every little thing.

“Proper now, he’s been sort of restricted to particular groups. He is an effective linebacker, and we wish to get him on the sector.”

Muma received probably the most intensive enjoying time of his profession within the Jaguars’ loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on Nov. 13, enjoying a season-high 25 defensive snaps. He was on the sector late within the first half and performed extra within the second and completed with six tackles, together with 4 solo tackles.

Muma had performed double-digit defensive snaps in just one different sport (11 towards the Houston Texans on Oct. 9) this season. Most of his enjoying time has been on particular groups — he’s fourth on the group with seven particular groups tackles.

“Reflecting again on that first preseason sport, the Corridor of Fame sport, it felt actually quick in comparison with the final sport towards Kansas Metropolis,” Muma mentioned. “It actually slowed down for me. I used to be in a position to see performs faster, react sooner, and so I am feeling extra assured now.

“… I really feel rather more assured in my protection abilities, whether or not it is previously sport, and in addition simply utilizing my arms. When an offensive lineman would come as much as me I can have interaction them higher and get off and make a play.”

Lloyd was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for September after compiling 24 tackles and intercepting two passes and breaking apart 4 others, however he hasn’t constructed on that. He has missed assignments and gotten out of place at occasions and Pederson admitted they benched him late within the first half of the Chiefs sport.

Lloyd did play within the second half however completed with a season-low 38 defensive snaps (60%) in that sport. He had performed each defensive snap in six of the Jaguars’ 9 earlier video games.

“I began off scorching after which the previous couple of weeks it wasn’t pretty much as good as I used to be to start with,” Lloyd mentioned. “For me, it is simply going out and simply executing, making performs that I do know I could make and actually simply belief my means.”

Lloyd mentioned he’s going to try to make one of the best out of his lowered enjoying time and concentrate on persevering with to develop over the ultimate seven video games.

“I do know what Doug had talked about, [that] generally from the sideline you get slightly bit totally different perspective,” he mentioned. “Me personally, I really like enjoying. I really like enjoying the sport. I clearly do not wish to exit however for me, it is simply all about progress. As excellent as we wish it to be, it is by no means going to be excellent. So for me, it is nearly studying from my errors and ensuring they do not occur once more [and] persevering with to progress day-after-day.”