It’s easy to look at a 32-year-old defensive lineman and assume he’s just here to collect a paycheck, play 35% of the snaps, and hand out veteran advice. 

But the Jaguars didn't bring in Arik Armstead to be a glorified coach in pads. 

Even though he is in the final year of his contract with the Jaguars, Edwards has some unwavering trust in Armstead. 

Defensive line coach Matt Edwards already has a blueprint to maximize his impact without wearing him down.

“Let’s just start with the things that he gives us day in, day out, and that’s a veteran presence,” Edwards said, viaJags Wire.

“That’s a lot of knowledge, not just for young players, but for everybody in the room. We’ve seen Arik impact games in both the run and the rush, and the biggest thing for us is just making sure that we are taking the proper steps in maintenance, because it is a long season,” Edwards added. 

With San Francisco, injuries limited him down the stretch, but his per-snap efficiency was still incredibly high. Edwards explicitly highlights their priority, with Armstead taking care of his body. 

“So we make sure that we can take care of his body, which is unbelievable. He’s a true pro in that sense. Our biggest job is getting Arik the looks that he needs every week so that he’s prepared for the game, and then getting him to the game so that he can be his most effective,” Edwards continued.

By limiting his early-down wear-and-tear in September and October, Ryan Nielsen's defense can ensure Armstead is fresh, explosive, and fully unleashed as an interior rusher during the critical December push and playoff stretch. It’s about the quality of snaps over quantity.

The Jaguars' DL coach also mentioned getting him the resources he needs every week to play his best game. That shows the staff isn’t planning on just utilizing his leadership inside the locker room. It’s much more likely that Nielsen will use him as a chess piece. 

Because he has the unique size and athleticism to play both the interior gap and kick outside to set the edge, Nielsen can hunt mismatches. 

If an opponent has a weak left guard or a struggling right tackle, the Jags can shift Armstead to exploit it, maximizing his effectiveness while keeping his physical burden low.

Jaguars have the plan and the player. Now it all boils down to execution.

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