INDIANAPOLIS – Brandon Linder could play center for the Jaguars.
Head Coach Gus Bradley's media availability at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday morning wasn't incredibly newsy, but that stood out.
Linder, who played right guard at a high level for the Jaguars throughout his 2014 rookie season before missing all but three games with a shoulder injury this past season, could play center next season. Bradley discussed the possibility while addressing the media at the Combine Thursday.
"He's one of our most talented offensive linemen," Bradley said of Linder Thursday morning at Lucas Oil Stadium. "I think there was a preseason game where he did play the center spot.
"At this time of year, you look through different scenarios, different options, how you can strengthen your team. We do that at every position. That [the ability to play center] is a trait he has. He has a skill set that could play that position. What's best for our team? We'll see how it goes."
The move is one of several possibilities for the Jaguars as they address the interior of the line. General Manager David Caldwell mentioned the possibility shortly after this past season of right guard A.J. Cann – a rookie last season – playing center. Tyler Shatley and Luke Bowanko are also possibilities at both guard and center.
The team made a free-agency run at center Alex Mack of Cleveland two years ago, and he is expected to opt out of his contract with the Browns before free agency begins. Aside from Mack, center is not considered a deep position in free agency this offseason.
Guard is considered likely to be significantly deeper than center in this year's free-agent class, so the Jaguars in theory could move Linder to center, sign or draft a guard and also leave Cann at guard.
Also on Thursday, Bradley said the first few weeks of defensive meetings, planning and review with defensive coordinator Todd Wash have gone well. Wash was promoted to the position from defensive line coach/run-game coordinator in late January.
"It's gone very smooth," Bradley said. "He's been very challenging. I've been very pleased that we're a similar system. We may have to tweak it a little bit, but I'm very excited how the last couple of weeks have gone."
Bradley on Thursday also said:
*He believes left tackle Luke Joeckel can continue to improve in his fourth season. "I've been around left tackles that it has taken a couple of years for them to really find their groove," Bradley said. "There was part of the season [last season] where we really thought he was in that groove and really performed well. Then, there were a couple of games where he expected himself to be better. His biggest thing is getting in the weight room to become stronger. That's what he's doing this offseason."
*He believes the same about safety Johnathan Cyprien, who like Joeckel showed flashes this past season but also was inconsistent. "I think there are some things we can do within the scheme to get him more comfortable with things that we're asking him to do," Bradley said. "Then, it's just the consistency part, because he had really good games –really strong flashes – of being the player we thought we got in the second round [of the 2013 NFL Draft]." …
*He likes the pass rushers at the top of the 2016 NFL Draft, a list that many analysts believe includes Joey Bosa of Ohio State and Noah Spence of Eastern Kentucky. "Going into the draft class, there were some unknowns there," he said, "but as we've looked at more and more guys, there are some guys who have the traits we're looking for." …
Take a look back at some of your Jacksonville Jaguars at the NFL Combine.
Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus does a tackling drill during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 28 in Indianapolis, Ind. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
USC wide receiver Marqise Lee makes a catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Southern California wide receiver Marqise Lee looks on at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs runs the 40-yard dash during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
University of Southern California wide receiver Marqise Lee runs the 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
USC wide receiver Marqise Lee makes a catch during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
LSU wide receiver D.J. Chark (WO08) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
University of Florida Taven Bryan at the NFL scouting Combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Florida defensive lineman Taven Bryan runs a drill during the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Will Richardson runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Will Richardson (OL37) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast via AP Images)
Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs runs during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
LSU wide receiver D J Chark runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida defensive lineman Taven Bryan performs in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Florida defensive lineman Taven Bryan runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison competes in the Vertical Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Stanford defensive back Quenton Meeks participates in the Vertical Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Florida defensive lineman Taven Bryan runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Will Richardson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU wide receiver D J Chark runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Will Richardson runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
North Carolina State offensive lineman Will Richardson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 2, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU wide receiver D J Chark runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida defensive lineman Taven Bryan is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Alabama defensive back Ronnie Harrison participates in the Broad Jump the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Stanford defensive back Quenton Meeks runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Stanford defensive back Quenton Meeks runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Stanford defensive back Quenton Meeks participates in the Broad Jump at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Wisconsin linebacker Leon Jacobs runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 4, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Stanford defensive back Quenton Meeks runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 5, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
LSU wide receiver D.J. Chark is seen at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday, March 3, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
*He likes the progress shown by Leo end Dante Fowler Jr., the No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft who missed his 2015 rookie season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained in May rookie minicamp. "After the season, he's really amped it up," Bradley said. "I know a lot of his testing, the results have come back and they've been really, really good numbers. We're really pleased with how his rehab has gone." …
*He didn't want to comment further on the video released by TMZ Wednesday depicting Fowler. "Our organization has released a statement," Bradley said. "I'll just stand by that. I've had conversations with him and I'm here to support him and his family." …
