Brandon Linder is success story on offensive line

One position the Jaguars won’t be looking to address when the offseason begins next month is right guard.

The decision to trade up 12 spots — dealing Nos. 105 and 179 to New England — to draft Brandon Linder 93rd overall has worked out.

Sure, the Jaguars have allowed an NFL-worst 54 sacks entering Sunday’s game at Baltimore, but Linder drew praise this week for his progress.

“He’s probably made the greatest strides [among the linemen],” Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. “He’s just really strong in there — really stout and has really good poise.”

Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch agreed and added: “His jump from Year One to Year Two will be great as well.”

Linder’s speed-bumps were allowing 2 1/2 sacks against Washington in Week 2 and two sacks against Tennessee in Week 6.

He has only one enforced penalty in 733 snaps.

“He’s got a lunchbox mentality. He comes to work every day ready to work,” said Fisch, who was with Linder for two years at Miami. “He’s what you want in an offensive lineman in terms of toughness. There was never a doubt in college that he was going to be a workhorse. There was never a doubt he was going to take every rep.”


(jacksonville.com)