Ex-Jaguars LB Tom McManus eyes a revamped roster, highlighting powerful rookie Emmanuel Pregnon and returning sophomores poised to overcome injuries and secure vital roles in the trenches.
On Monday, former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Tom McManus took over the 1010XL Jaguars radio show, where he shared some of the players he is looking forward to seeing in Duval this weekend at rookie minicamps.
McManus played in Jacksonville from 1995-1999, racking up 118 tackles and a forced fumble. He mans the 1010XL show each Monday and Friday.
"I want to see Pregnon," McManus said. "I want to see how he's built. Being big in public is one thing. Being big on the football field on the field is another."
Pregnon was my highest graded draft pick among the ten Jacksonville selections, as I tagged the third rounder as an A.
Last season, Pregnon was perhaps the best offensive lineman on an Oregon team that made it to the second round of the College Football Playoff. Oregon also finished as a finalist for the best offensive line in college football.
Pregnon started all 15 games last season, earning First-team AP All-American honors. He uses his 6-foot-4, 314 pound frame to dominate defensive lineman in pass protection, providing an instant plug-and-play option for Jacksonville to utilize.
The interior of the Jaguars' offensive line was a weakness last season, and Pregnon will compete for big minutes right away.
McManus also tagged two second-year players, CB Caleb Ransaw, and OL Wyatt Milum as two players that he will be looking for at minicamps.
"Two guys I do want to see out there aren't rookies and that is Caleb Ransaw and Wyatt Milum. I want to see both those guys. I want to see how they look," McManus said. "Both of them should have a year, but Wyatt should have a year under his belt getting bigger, stronger."
Both Ransaw and Milum missed significant time due to preseason injuries during their rookie campaigns, but showed flashes of potential in training camp before going down.
Milum, next to Pregnon, could be Jacksonville's interior guard pair of the future if LG Ezra Cleveland departs in free agency next season.
Ransaw has a similar opportunity in a young and hungry Jacksonville secondary.
"But Caleb Ransaw, same deal. Like, you should feel really good. You should know the book now. You got to get used to the the the instincts, you know, the reactionary instincts and all that. Just playing the position," McManus said. "But I know you've been working on your back pedal, twisting, turning, cutting, going deep, cutting it off, breaking, coming up, whatever. Working on man-to-man, working on zone. You should feel very confident. Hopefully, for both these guys, the injuries are out of their heads."
McManus talked about the importance of flushing past injuries and not "playing on eggshells," rather than worrying about re-injury.
Both Milum and Ransaw should be more comfortable in their second years with the franchise and have opportunities to make big impacts in their first full seasons.
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