Myles Jack stat should excite Pittsburgh Steelers fans
The Pittsburgh Steelers were the benefactors this week of another franchise's tough salary-cap decision. Linebacker Myles Jack was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this week. On Wednesday, he was scooped up by the Steelers. Pittsburgh signed Jack to a two-year deal worth $16 million (with only a $4.75 million cap hit in 2022). Jack, […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers were the benefactors this week of another franchise's tough salary-cap decision.
Linebacker Myles Jack was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this week. On Wednesday, he was scooped up by the Steelers.
Pittsburgh signed Jack to a two-year deal worth $16 million (with only a $4.75 million cap hit in 2022).
Jack, who is only 26 years old, was the Jaguars' leading tackler in 2021 with 108.
It shouldn't be a surprise that Jack was Jacksonville's leading tackler — he very rarely misses tackles.
Jack had a missed tackle percentage of just 3.6 percent last year. That was second-lowest of all inside linebackers who played at least 15 games last season.
That style of play should fit in well with the Steelers' hard-nosed, tough defense.
The only downside to signing Jack is that he wasn't very good in pass coverage last season. His Pro Football Focus pass coverage grade in 2021 was 43.3 — significantly below average.
There's some hope, though, that Jack can be better in coverage in 2022 than he was in 2021. Jack's coverage grade in 2020 was 65.0.
Perhaps we can attribute Jack's bad year in coverage to playing under Urban Meyer in 2021 (Meyer didn't do anyone on the team any favors).
If Jack's coverage grade improves in 2022, and he continues to be automatic when it comes to making tackles, this signing could be one of the biggest free agency steals of the offseason.
The Steelers have been nailing it so far this offseason. And the Jack deal looks like yet another good move by Pittsburgh.
Featured image via Bob Self/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK
