The Jacksonville Jaguars didn’t do a lot of winning before they added Joe Schobert this March and it’s something he says he want to try his best and fix.
“I want to be able to change the culture into a traditional winning culture,” Schobert said in a recent conference call with the media. [I want us] to be able to go to the playoffs year after year and become one of the more successful franchises in the AFC, competing for titles every year.”
While those words should get Jags fans pumped, they shouldn’t surprise anyone as it was clear the Jags not only wanted him because of his skills on the field, but also because of the example he’d be in the locker room.
Roughly three weeks ago on an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Schobert explained that he joined the Jags because of the message the front office stressed to him about leading in the locker room. He also said playing next to Myles Jack was very enticing as the young linebacker is one of the best athletes the league has to offer at the position.
“It came down to a couple of teams,” Schobert said. “Coach [Doug] Marrone and GM Dave Caldwell wanted me to join the team. They preached a message to me about bringing in good football guys, good character guys, to set a right way in the locker room — leading and speaking. [Also] for me especially to get to play with a guy like Myles Jack another linebacker. Be the MIKE linebacker, take over the defense, do the things I do well, setting the defense, diagnosing plays, calling things for other people to get set and letting Myles go play football and be the animal he is.”
Schobert also mentioned that the Cleveland Browns went 1-31 during his first two years there, so if it’s anyone who knows how hard wins are to come by and the work that has to be put in, it’s him.
Alongside Schobert, the Jags were able to land Rodney Gunter in free agency, who should bolster the defensive line. Afterward, they added more pieces to the unit by selecting seven (of 12) players on defense. Three of those picks were drafted in the top-3 rounds in cornerback C.J. Henderson, edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, and defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton. Those are a lot of additions made around the veteran, and if he can mold the group together, the Jags could be well on their way to compete for an AFC South title.
