JACKSONVILLE – Early on in his new role, Mark Ellenz likes what he sees.
Ellenz, recently promoted to the Jaguars' director of college scouting, joined Jaguars.com LIVE Wednesday and discussed a variety of topics associated with his new position.
One topic: the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft, one in which many expect the Jaguars will heavily address a defense that struggled through much of the 2015 season.
Ellenz, the Jaguars' eastern regional scout from 2013 until moving into his current position, wouldn't say the Jaguars were going to be completely defensive-minded come late April. What he did say was the 2016 NFL Draft appears strong in some areas that could benefit the Jaguars.
"There's a good strength in the defensive line, throughout the various defensive line positions," Ellenz said Wednesday on Jaguars.com LIVE with John Oehser and J.P. Shadrick.
"That showed up actually in the Senior Bowl. There were a lot of good defensive linemen there."
Ellenz also said the upcoming draft appears strong at wide receiver and in the secondary.
Ellenz and the Jaguars' scouting staff spent last week scouting the 2016 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where the Jaguars' coaches led the South team to a 27-16 victory Saturday. It was the third consecutive year the Jaguars' coaches worked the game.
"It's really good," Ellenz said. "I think it's really good for the coaches as well. They get their hands on the players and get to see how they act on the field, and how they act in the meeting rooms – and find out some more character stuff. Are they coachable guys? Are they Jaguars fits?
"For the scouts, we get to evaluate them on the field against basically the top competition in the country – then we get a chance to sit down and interview them and get to know them better."
Also Wednesday, Bleacher Report NFL Draft/NFL Lead Writer Matt Miller joined Jaguars.com LIVE and discussed – among other topics – possibilities for the Jaguars' selection at No. 5 overall in the '16 draft. Highlights:
*Miller said he likes UCLA linebacker Myles Jack to be selected No. 5 overall by the Jaguars. "I think he [Jack] is a rare talent at linebacker. I think once [Head Coach] Gus Bradley and the crew get a look at him they're going to say, 'This could be our [Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker] Bobby Wagner '– a coverage linebacker who can lock down the run. He might be the best running back in this draft if he wanted to play on offense. He's that athletic. … It comes down to who's the best player on the board at No. 5; if Myles Jack is there, that's got to be a slam-dunk of a pick." …
*Miller also discussed Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., the No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. Miller ranked Fowler – who missed his rookie season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament -- as his co-No. 1 player entering the '15 draft. "The thing to remember is ACL injuries are not what they used to be," Miller said. "It's not a career-ender. A lot of times it's just a temporary setback. When I watched Fowler at Florida, I saw a guy who could do it all. You're always looking for that player who can truly take over a game; he's able to do it from a rush-end spot." …
