AFC Notes: Colts, Jaguars, Jets

Colts

Colts GM Chris Ballard told reporters on Friday that they plan to use John Simon at defensive end in their new 4-3 base defense.

“We’re going to play him at defensive end. We’re going to play him at right end,” Ballard said of Simon, via Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. “At the end of the day, even in the 3-4, you’re still in a four-man front. It’s the difference between putting your hand on the ground and standing up. John Simon played in a 4-3 at Ohio State, so he’s done it before. Great effort, he’s strong. He’ll fit in.”

Ballard added that a change in position should also benefit Jabaal Sheard and Tarell Basham.

“I think Jabaal Sheard is an ideal fit. I think Jabaal Sheard will take off in this defense,” Ballard said. “… And Basham, that’s what he was. Really, you’re doing the projection more for the 3-4 out of college because these guys have never stood up. We saw that with Basham last year. He struggled early. There’s a difference. There’s few people who can really get off the ball in a two-point stance. It’s much harder to do. They start the 100 meters in the Olympics out of the blocks. They don’t start standing up. So, it’s harder to rush from a two-point than a three-point stance, and I think it’s going to benefit those guys.”

Jaguars

Both Jaguars executive VP Tom Coughlin and GM Dave Caldwell spoke highly of Louisville QB Lamar Jackson during their press conference on Friday.

“I think he’s an outstanding young man,” Coughlin said Friday, via the Florida Times-Union. “I think he’s an extremely talented athlete.”

“He’s a rare athlete,” Caldwell said. “As a quarterback, he’s a good player. He won a lot of games at that position. [Drafting him] depends what your scheme is, what you want to do and how you want to play and how he fits. I can’t say he’s the prototypical pocket passer, but you can win games with a guy like him.”

Jets

Wyoming QB Josh Allen tells Rich Cimini of ESPN that he would relish the opportunity to play for the Jets.

“Absolutely,” Allen said. “They’re a couple of pieces away from winning a lot of football games. I really enjoyed the coaching staff and I think it would be a really good fit. I think they’ve got some weapons on offense and they have a really young defense that’s ready to win right now.”

Allen says the Jets gave him some plays to learn and then had him go through them on the board to see how he digested the information.

“First they got me on the board,” said Allen. “They gave me a quick lesson on their offense and how they handle themselves, then I went up on the board and regurgitated it back to them. I talked about some of my plays and the things we did at Wyoming. Then we went down on the field and threw a lot of footballs. They had some free agents come out and I made all the throws, so there’s no question about that.”

As for playing in New York, Allen says he isn’t concerned about dealing with the media and scrutiny that can come with playing in the top market in the country.

“I think where I come from is going to help me with a market such as New York,” Allen said. “I’m not afraid of the media. I think I know how to handle them because I’ve been around them enough. I understand the New York media is a lot more magnified than most markets, but I’m up for that challenge. I’d definitely be suitable and I’d be primed for a market like that.“