Lorenzo Mauldin Now a Strong Side Linebacker

Darryl Slater and Kimberly Martin noted today rookie Lorenzo Mauldin is being used as a strongside linebacker.

Lorenzo Mauldin says coaches have locked him in, for now, as strong-side LB. He talks about how he can thrive there: http://t.co/Y8jBQXLBzZ

— Darryl Slater (@DarrylSlater) August 4, 2015

Slater:

Collins told Mauldin the coaches want to look toward the future at the strong-side linebacker position, where the starter, Calvin Pace, is about turn 35. If the Jets cut Pace after camp, it would cost them next to nothing — just $125,000 in dead money against their salary cap.

Spoke to Lorenzo Mauldin today. He told me when he arrived to camp, #Jets coaches told him he was going to switch from WILL LB to SAM. (1)

— Kimberley A. Martin (@KMart_LI) August 4, 2015

The Jets could use a replacement for Pace sooner rather than later. At Pace's age, he will probably be at his most effective if his snaps are limited.

I was kind of expecting the Jets to go in this direction. Mauldin doesn't profile as the type of explosive pass rusher suited for the rush linebacker role.

For reference, Pace rushed the passer on around 56% of his snaps on passing downs last year vs. 44% in coverage. By contrast, rush linebacker Quinton Coples was rushing the passer 84% of the time, and that counts his excessive usage on snaps lining up at cornerback.